Two scriptures appear to contradict each other:
Ephesians 2:8-10
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
James 2:24-26
"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."
What I usually hear is a pastor or teacher focusing on one scripture or the other to prove their point. So which is it? After all:
Psalms 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
If the law of the Lord is perfect, then what is going on with the apparent contradiction of these two scriptures?
Matthew 19 16-17
"And behold, a man came up to him, saying, 'Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?' And he said to him,'Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.'”
Jesus is telling this man if he would enter eternity with God, do works. This seems to answer it, but scripture also tells us that we are saved through faith, not works. Hmmmm.
In James 2 Abraham is seen as being righteous by faith and works, but in Romans 3 Abraham is described as being saved by faith alone. I go into more detail in my sermon "Salvation How? Faith? Works? Faith and Works?" and context/audience does play a key. Bottom line is this though, if you have been changed by the blood of Jesus Christ you are a new person and both of these scriptures are true.
Quick answer: When made new (faith saves) you want to love God and love your neighbor (works). No contradiction. The works reflects the change that you no longer follow the old rules that lead to death, but you are now following the commandments that lead to life.
God is good! May your actions glorify Him!
Commentaires