Nothing in the Bible is stated more clearly or with greater emphasis than the blessed Pauline revelation of justification by grace, through faith, without works.
βTo him that worketh not, but believethβ¦his faith is counted for righteousnessβ. Ephesians 2:8,9: βFor by grace are ye saved, through faithβ¦it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boastβ. Titus 3:5: βNot by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved usβ Romans 4:5.
Yet James states, just as clearly that βfaith, if it hath not works is dead, being aloneβ (Jas. 2:17). He challenges professing believers: βShow me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith BY my worksβ (Jas. 2:18), and declares that βby works a man is justified and not by faith onlyβ (Jas. 2:24), since βfaith without works is deadβ.
Some have imagined a contradiction here, while actually there is none. There is a dispensational distinction, for to Paul had been committed βthe dispensation of the grace of Godβ (Eph. 3:1,2). His was βthe preaching of the crossβ (I Cor. 1:18), offering salvation by grace, through faith alone, to all who would trust Christ as Saviour.
James, on the other hand, was an apostle of the kingdom, proclaiming the kingdom rights of Christ and offering a changed way of life on earth which had already been experienced by the disciples in Judaea (Acts 2:44-47; 4:32-35).
Hence with James the emphasis is on works, not because good works can save or even help to save, but because true faith inevitably bears fruit and we can judge true faith only by the fruit it bears. Our Lord said: βBy their fruits ye shall know themβ. Hence Jamesβ epistle abounds with such phraseology as, βye seeβ, βshow meβ, βI will show youβ, etc.
What we must be careful to remember is that according to both Paul and James, faith comes first, then good works. Faith is the root, good works the fruit. The absence of fruit indicates that the root is dead, that while there may be an intellectual assent, there is no true heart faith, and βwithout faith it is impossible to please Godβ (Heb. 11:6).
The source of justification is grace; the basis, Calvary; the means, faith; and the evidence, works. Think this through; accept Godβs grace and trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord. He will cause you to produce good fruit. source
