Day 5 (Nov. 21)

Just how do faith and works relate? Romans 3:28 says "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." "But," you reply, "James 2:20 says: '...faith without works is useless.'" Isn't that a contradiction? One verse says faith without works saves us, and the other says that faith without works is useless. Many people get caught up in these verse - Martin Luther, for example, condemned the book of James as being uninspired at one point in his life because it so emphasized works.



So what is more important: faith or works? To understand these verses in James and Romans you must understand their context. Earlier verses in James 2 say:



"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."



James was writing to a group of hypocrites (much like ourselves, most of the time). These people claimed to be believers in Christ, but acted nothing like it. It's the same today - if you took a survey in your school asking how many students were "Christians," a large majority would say that they are. However, Matthew 7:13 says "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it." A majority believe they are Christians, but Christ said that a minority (through the narrow gate) really are.



But Romans 3:28, which says we are saved apart from works is wrong? No! A person is saved solely by genuinely believing in and surrendering to Christ: faith. After a person is saved, they will long to live for Christ, which will prove to them and to others that they have been saved: works. Faith, then works. They go together.



Many topics like this confuse believers. Christians tend either to stray toward faith without works or works without faith. Therefore you get liberalism or legalism. The key is balance. One should strive after faith and works.





*Look at your life circumspectly and list one major aspect of your spiritual life that is "out of balance" (e.g. faith and works, patience and action, etc.). Spend the day determining how this aspect is out of balance and investigate Biblical ways to rebalance the area.





"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
- Ephesians 5:15-16

"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."
- Romans 3:28

"Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."
- James 2:17