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Faith or Works?

Matthew Baalham looks at a debate which has divided the Church for centuries

In the days of Luther and the Reformation, the faith or works question was at the heart of Christian debate across Europe. The importance of the issue has not gone away, it is as relevant today as then and will always be, so long as there is disagreement on the matter. The essence of Christianity itself is found in the answer to this question and our understanding of it is crucial if we are ever going to truly find the only way to God. A common misconception among people today as in the sixteenth century, both professing Christians and those who are not, is the notion that if you live a ‘good life’ you’ll somehow be fine, that good works can earn you a place in heaven — that maybe God will accept me if I go to church, help the poor, am baptised or simply that God will accept me because my quiet, harmless, little life has been good enough. It is to those who believe such things that I appeal in this article; I want to dispel these myths and show that it is not works that save a person, but solely a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I would like to show what the Bible clearly says on the issue — and yes maybe some reading this will not be interested in what the Bible says, but I plead with you to consider it as essential. If what I am saying is purely my own opinion, then it is as valid as any other, but in the Bible God reveals to us the truth, so that we need not fumble around in the dark, never coming any closer to finding the real answers about God and the way to him. To begin with, the Bible clearly demonstrates that there is no work which can save us. By this I mean no amount of good deeds will ever get you through the gates of heaven. As Paul says, “for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — not by works, so that no-one can boast” (Eph 2:8–9 NIV). “By grace” he means that we do not deserve heaven at all, that if we did try and enter heaven when we die on the merits of what good works we had accomplished in this life, that we would all be turned away. For the Bible also says (and repeats it) that “there is no one who does good, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Psalms 140) and also that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Examine the ten commandments; have we kept them all every day of our lives? Compared to God’s shining blaze of glory we are all a mere flicker and the penalty for “falling short” is serious for the Bible also tells us that “the wages of sin is death”(Rm 6:23); not life in heaven but punishment in hell. There is no one who has or will ever live, who could ever earn, on the basis of their merits, a place in heaven with God. God’s standards are just too high.

Jesus however, was the one exception to this rule, and thankfully, that is where faith steps in. Jesus Christ did meet God’s standard, living a life of perfection, though being tempted as we all are. Jesus was fit to pass through the gate into heaven and for that very reason he was able to help us who are unable. He exchanged places with us, receiving the punishment we deserve nailed to the cross so that we might go unpunished through the gates of heaven and inherit the eternal life we do not deserve. The only way we can enter heaven is clothed in the righteousness which Christ earned for us, not by our own good works which are inadequate. It is righteousness we need to enter heaven and to be saved from hell; the Bible says “this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Rm 3:22). Faith in Jesus means that we trust him, that we say ‘ Lord I cannot make it into heaven by my works, instead I am trusting that you will get me there, by paying the entrance fee with your blood shed on the cross for that very purpose’. You cannot trust in Jesus and trust in your own efforts as well, “for if righteousness could be gained through the law, (living a good life) Christ died for nothing” (Gal 2:21). To say you are in some way saved by both is a nonsense; to not fully trust in Christ and his work on the cross delivering you from hell’s punishment is as good as not trusting in Jesus at all.

But what about works? As many people have said, rather smugly, does the Bible not also say in James “you see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” (James 2:24)? No doubt this one verse of Scripture is often used to justify views opposed to what I am saying, but to distort it in such a way is folly. The verse is not contrary to the principle of “faith alone” but actually enriches it. The passage in which it appears talks about how faith is not some abstract concept, but a lifestyle. It is a challenge to all Christians as it explains how “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (Jam 2:17); that faith is made complete in one’s actions. The reality of trusting in Jesus, means that we receive his Holy Spirit, gradually changing our wills so that we will want to do good works and flee from the sin we know Jesus hates. This does not mean that these works in any way save us, but that they highlight the faith in our lives which does. So that yes, a person is justified by what he does in that if he does nothing, he has no faith to justify him. All the passage is saying, is that the idea of a Christian who does not repent of sin in any way, nor tries to imitate the life of Christ but somehow has faith that can save, him is an impossibility.

If we claim that good works can get us through the gates of heaven, we prove two things about ourselves. Firstly we fail to know God whose very nature is holiness itself and whose standard is so beyond us. Secondly, we fail to see ourselves as the fallen beings we are, incapable of reaching God and in desperate need of a saviour. If you fail to realise these things which are true, you will never enter heaven. There is only one way to heaven and that is Jesus, as he said himself: “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me” (John 14:6). Your works will not get you there. If you choose to rely on your own efforts then on Judgement Day that is what you will be judged upon, and you will fail to meet God’s requirements. Instead, trusting in the Lord Jesus and his total provision to grant you the righteousness you need to enter heaven is your only hope. Again, Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”. (Matt 11:2–9). The wonderful news about Jesus Christ is that we do not need to struggle on weary and burdened, never knowing if our efforts will quite reach the mark. In Jesus the way to heaven is made available to us completely freely and undeservedly, if we would only believe it. Living by faith in Jesus is not the easy option, but it is ultimately the more satisfying (ie. we find rest). If you live your life by faith in Jesus as your only saviour, and a living faith as James spoke of, then truly you “shall not perish but have eternal life”(John 3:16).

Matthew Baalham

Do you agree with Matthew? If you have anything to say about this subject or any other you see printed in Christis, write to submissions@christis.org.uk

Last modified: 25th November 2005