Nov 16 - James 2:17

So faith by itself,

if it has no works,

is dead.

James 2:17

In Romans 3:23-28, Paul gives us the formula for salvation. He says,

Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

they are now justified by his grace as a gift,

... effective through faith ...

apart from works prescribed by the law.

If we wrote that out mathematically, we'd have ...

Justification + Grace + Faith + Works = Salvation

Paul, just said, however, that our salvation does not hinge on our works, therefore, in mathematical terms, 

Works = 0

or

Justification + Grace + Faith = Salvation

Martin Luther absolutely latched onto this powerful concept. He'd grown up in an age when "Works = 100%," and when he learned that "God's love and grace = 100%," his tortured soul was absolutely set free.

But then a problem emerged. He read James. James seems to say that ...

Works = Faith

Luther, therefore -- and quite literally -- wanted to cut the book of James out of the Bible. 

I like people with passion. But Luther needn't have worried. James does not contradict Paul.

James was just talking about a different part of life and theology. While Paul was talking "in order to," James was talking, "because I'm." Read the following two statements and see if you see the difference:

I do works in order to be saved. (No!)

I do works because I'm saved. (Yes!)

Paul rejected the first statement. And Luther absolutely rejoiced in rejecting that first statement along with Paul. Our works don't save us. Works = 0.

James, however, celebrated the second statement. "I do good works -- not to be saved -- but because I'm saved!" 

Because I'm saved,

I want to love my neighbor,

I want to quit stealing from my brother,

I want to honor God's commands.

James is not legalistic. Like Paul, James is talking about living freely and boldly.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who liked numbers and math

more than words and grammar

(could you guess?)