Saved By Faith Alone Without Works?

[PaladinGirl]

Ok, so I know that Baptists believe that you are saved by faith alone but this confuses me. How do you reconcile salvation by faith alone with a verse from the Bible like this?

Jam 2:24 ESV You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Emphasis in bold is mine.

[PaladinGirl]

I think I understand this now. I think it means that we are justified in the eyes of men by our works. Is this true? :confused:

[NewGuy101]

I think I understand this now. I think it means that we are justified in the eyes of men by our works. Is this true? :confused:
This verse is speaking about the tie with works and regeneration. When one is regenerated one aka "has a new nature" good works are a natural by product. What James is speaking about is how WORKS show you are regenerated. If you claim to be Christian and you behave as heathen how can you possibly say you are saved?

James:2-20
2:20 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=20) But would you like evidence, 33 (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jam&chapter=2#n33) you empty fellow, 34 (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jam&chapter=2#n34) that faith without works is useless?35 (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jam&chapter=2#n35)
2:22 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=22) You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. 2:23 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=23) And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” 36 (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jam&chapter=2#n36) and he was called God’s friend. 37 (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jam&chapter=2#n37) 2:24 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=24) You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Also remember when exegeting scripture, it must be examined in context. You can place one verse and make a whole theology out of it and has NOTHING to do with what the author intented.

James: 2:25-26
2:25 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=25) And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? 2:26 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=26) For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

[Hisbygrace]

This verse is speaking about the tie with works and regeneration. When one is regenerated one aka "has a new nature" good works are a natural by product. What James is speaking about is how WORKS show you are regenerated. If you claim to be Christian and you behave as heathen how can you possibly say you are saved?

James:2-20
2:20 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=20) But would you like evidence, 33 (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jam&chapter=2#n33) you empty fellow, 34 (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jam&chapter=2#n34) that faith without works is useless?35 (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jam&chapter=2#n35)
2:22 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=22) You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. 2:23 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=23) And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” 36 (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jam&chapter=2#n36) and he was called God’s friend. 37 (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Jam&chapter=2#n37) 2:24 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=24) You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Also remember when exegeting scripture, it must be examined in context. You can place one verse and make a whole theology out of it and has NOTHING to do with what the author intented.

James: 2:25-26
2:25 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=25) And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? 2:26 (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Jam&chapter=2&verse=26) For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.


I agree here with NewGuy101.....We are saved by grace alone that none should be able to boast, but once saved and regenerated you will desire to do the works of the Father. It is then that faith and works go together.

[DeaconDean]

First off, people you are forgetting just to whom James was addressing.

James' epistle was addressed to a Jewish audience.

This epistle is called "general", because not written to any particular person, as the epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon are; nor to any particular churches, as the epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, &c. but to the believing Jews in general, wherever they were.

http://www.freegrace.net/gill/

The fact is, in light of what James says just a little further on, we can see that we are justified by faith, but that our faith will produce works:

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone...Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" -Jas. 2:17-20

Look at what God said to Abram in the first place.

"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him;" -Gen. 12:1-4

God spoke to Abram and said get out of this place and go to a land I'll show you and make you a great nation. And by faith Abram departed Haran.

Abram took God's word as it was, on faith, and then his faith acted out by following as God told him.

When James makes reference to Abraham's sacrifice of Issac, notice what the OT says of that:

"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him." -Gen. 22:2-3

Abraham did not argue with God. He didn't try to bargin with God. God told him to do something and Abraham's faith acted out.

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out," -Heb. 11:8

Our faith will produce works, not the other way around. That is why James said, show me your works without faith and I'll show you my faith by works.

God Bless

Till all are one.