Prove yourselves doers of the word, and
not merely hearers who delude themselves.
I have a Facebook Friend, Victor Anthony, who has posted multiple times in multiple different ways, the same basic post: Works won’t save you! Only faith in Christ can do that!
His posts are always met with many comments in agreement and in vehement disagreement. Both throw out proof-texts to support their points of view, and often terms like “heretic” are bantered back and forth.
Grace, Faith, Works, and Salvation, are very important subjects in the life of a Believer, and they are often misunderstood. There is a need to define terms so that those discussing these doctrines begin on the same page. Very often the arguments continue with the two sides arguing over different topics, while using the same terminology. Let’s give these terms some definition so we can understand what we’re talking about:
Grace: God’s unmerited favor. It is not deserved or earned, but is given freely by God to men because of God’s love.
Faith: Belief in the finished work of Jesus Christ. That is, belief that Jesus died, bearing the sin of sinful man, was buried, and rose on the third day. That faith causes the believer to submit to the Lordship of Jesus. That faith is not something man can come up with in and of himself, but it is God’s gift.
Works: Works are the logical evidence of what a person truly believes. We always act in accordance of our beliefs. This is something of a simplistic definition in as much as we struggle with the fleshly desire for instant gratification and the spiritual desire for eternal sanctification. However, what we truly believe will always be seen in the works (the way we live out our lives) we do.
Salvation: Salvation is eternal life, through Christ and with Christ. It is being removed from judgment for our sin (hell) through the forgiveness provided by Jesus Christ, and rewarded with eternal life with and in Christ because of what He has done to save us.
These are basic, not extensive, definitions. They give use a common understanding in the discussion of Grace, Faith, Works, and Salvation.
The two general disagreements on these subjects are these:
1. Salvation is by grace and faith alone. Our works are in no way involved in our being saved.
2. Salvation is by grace, faith, and our good works. All three are necessary to receive salvation.
While both Paul and James explain the doctrine of salvation well (and I will discuss these in a later article), let’s consider the words of Jesus Himself.
“And why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood arose, the river burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who has heard, and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house upon the ground without any foundation; and the river burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:46-49 NASB)
There were those, during the earthly ministry of Jesus, who were amazed at His works and His teaching. Some of these truly believed that Jesus was the Messiah, called Him “Lord” because they believed, and practiced what Jesus was teaching. Others were likewise amazed and called Him “Lord”, but they didn’t truly, in their heart of hearts, believe that He was the Son of the Living God. They claimed to believe, but didn’t feel any necessity to follow His teaching.
It is the second group, those who said they believed Him to be Lord, but did not follow His teaching, whom Jesus is addressing in this passage. “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Jesus is pointing out the fallacy of their proclamation. If you say one thing, but do something else, what you say is untrue. You are either lying outrightly, or you are self deceived. Either way, you are in a very bad place.
Jesus gives the illustration of two types of builders. One who builds on a foundation of bedrock, and another who builds upon the surface of the ground. Presumably both claim to believe that the river could rise and reach their houses. However, the one who built on the ground without foundation shows, by his action, that he truly does not believe.
Jesus is saying that true faith will always produce works which are the logical result of that faith. If you are building near the river and truly believe that the river could rise and damage the house, your building will reflect that belief. In the same way, if Jesus is truly your Lord (your Master), you will obey His word and your works will be the evidence of your belief.
The one who called Jesus, ‘Lord, Lord’ and does not do what He says does not possess saving faith. Jesus is telling us that true faith, that faith which saves, will always produce works commensurate to that faith.
It is faith that produces works. It is not faith that produces license. Faith never gives the professor of that faith the freedom to sin. Quite the opposite. Faith gives the professor the ability to forsake sin and truly serve the One who saved him.
Jesus made this so very clear in just a simple statement: “You shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7:16, 20)
Now comes the challenge: examine yourselves. Are you of the faith or not? What do your works say? Do they testify to the strength or weakness of your faith? Do you serve the Lord or the flesh? Confess your sin to Him and ask Him to produce in you the works of your faith in Him.