A Working Faith

Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James 2:18

Ask the average man or woman on the street what the prerequisite is for a person to go to heaven, and the response you are likely to receive is that he or she must “be a good person.” This view might be termed the “merit system” of salvation. On a practical level, this belief is untenable because it is impossible to know in this life how many good works are sufficient to win paradise. But more importantly, the “merit system” of salvation is contrary to the clear teaching of Holy Scripture.

The Bible says that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and that a man is justified—that is, has had his sins forgiven and has established a right relationship with God—by faith alone in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16) apart from good works.

But have good works no role to play in our salvation? Yes, they validate and make manifest to others that the faith we profess is indeed a saving faith in Jesus Christ. And because this kind of faith produces good works, those who view our actions will also see the light of Jesus and glorify God the Father (Matthew 5:16). So let your faith be revealed in your actions today.

We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is not alone.

JOHN CALVIN