Contradiction: Faith or Works?
Romans 4:2-4
"For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt."James 2:20-24
"But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only."
The different statements in Romans 4:3 and James 2 have caused many Bible readers a headache as they thought they had encountered a contradiction here. It even led the great reformer Martin Luther to call the book of James a difficult epistle. While James 2:21 uses the example of Abraham to show that a person is justified by worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More, Paul uses the same example and even the exact same quote from Genesis 15 to explain that Abraham was not justified by worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More, but by faith.
These seemingly contradictory statements are a feast for any biblical critic. But the believer knows that all Scripture is inspired by God, and that it is therefore impossible to find even the slightest contradiction in the Bible. But how can the problem be resolved? Are we justified by faith or by worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More? A comparison of the two passages makes the matter clear.
- Paul and James are Addressing Different Audiences
Paul writes to the "beloved of God" and the "called saints at Rome." His letter addresses believers who must be confirmed in the gospel (Rom. 1:7, 11, 15). Not only did they have a Christian confession, but their changed lifestyle demonstrated their faith so clearly that it was proclaimed "throughout the whole world" (Romans 1:8).
Therefore, they did not need to be admonished that their faith should be manifested in worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More. No, Paul wanted to strengthen them in the truth that their salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More was based solely on the work of redemptionRedemption is part of God's plan of salvation. Redemption means that someone is freed from bondage. The redemption of Israel from the power of Pharaoh is an example of this.... More accomplished by the Lord Jesus on the cross and that they could not add anything to it by their efforts.
In his letter, James addressed "the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad" (James 1:1). He had in mind the Jewish people, a mixed society of believers and unbelievers. Although many professed the Christian faith, James had to expose evil and unrighteous behavior among them. They made distinctions between rich and poor in their meetings, tolerated envy and strife, and talked against one another; others amassed wealth and withheld their workers' just wages.
James must address their consciences and tell them that their faith, of which they talked so much, lacked the corresponding worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More. THE faith that does not manifest itself at all in Christian behavior, that is limited to believing specific facts about God and Jesus ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More to be true (which the demons also did), THAT faith cannot save. It is dead. - They speak about a Different Kind of WorksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... MorePaul and James both speak of works. But they do not mean the same thing. Paul speaks of works of the law (cf. Rom. 3:20, 26; Gal. 2:16) by which someone tries to become righteous before God. Paul makes it very clear in Romans 3 that this is not possible because no human being can keep the law. James does not contradict this when he says that "a man is justified by worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More" (James 2:24), because the worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More James is referring to are not worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More of the law, but worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More of faith. Faith must have worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More, worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More of faith, otherwise, it is dead (v.17). So it is not worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More by which one seeks to obtain a positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More before God, but worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More that are produced in a person by the faith that has already brought him to that positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More.
Incidentally, when James speaks of worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More of faith, he is not thinking of good worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More in the conventional sense, i.e. charity, otherwise, he would certainly have chosen other examples from the Old Testament than Abraham and Rahab. The sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More of the son or the betrayal of the land were not good from the point of view of the people, and yet they were worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More that proved their faith because they showed that they put their love for God (Abraham) or God's people (Rahab) above their natural relationships. In this way, the Spirit of God avoids giving the impression that one can earn heaven through charity.
It remains the same: "But without faith it is impossible to please him", because "those who are in the fleshThe term "flesh" is used in different meanings in the Bible: a) as an expression of physicality or humanity, which is inextricably linked to our life on earth. Examples: “the... More cannot please God" (Heb. 11:6; Rom. 8:8). - Different Sides of JustificationAn act that God performs on guilty people who were under his judgment of condemnation. God declares people who believe in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to be... More
Paul sees man before God: "Therefore by the worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More of the law no fleshThe term "flesh" is used in different meanings in the Bible: a) as an expression of physicality or humanity, which is inextricably linked to our life on earth. Examples: “the... More will be justified in his sight" (Rom 3:20). James, on the other hand, sees man before his fellow man. "Show me your faith", says one to the other. God does not need worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More to see whether someone has faith. He imputes righteousness to people at the moment of their conversion without them having done a single good work – apart from their conversion. But the believer must show other people his faith, and this requires worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More that prove that someone has faith. Only when these works become visible is faith "perfected", i.e. confirmed before people.
The quotation from the life of Abraham used by both writers makes it clear that they are thinking of different things when they speak of justificationAn act that God performs on guilty people who were under his judgment of condemnation. God declares people who believe in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to be... More. Paul sees Abraham as justified (before God) at the moment he believes God (Gen. 15). James, on the other hand, sees Abraham as justified (before men) only at the moment when he proved his faith in the sacrificeA sacrifice/offering to God (or deities in pagan religions) that differed in occasion, purpose, and form. The most important sacrifices required by the Old Testament law include burnt offerings, grain... More of Isaac (Gen. 22).
Abraham had already believed in Genesis 15 that God could bring life from the dead, but how could he prove it better than by sacrificing the one of whom God had said: "In Isaac shall your seed be called" (Gen. 21:12).
The example of Rahab also illustrates James' particular view of justificationAn act that God performs on guilty people who were under his judgment of condemnation. God declares people who believe in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to be... More. Rahab had already believed when she heard the news of Israel's crossing of the Red Sea. But she was not justified before men (and this is James' point) until her worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More proved her faith. Only then did the spies realize what God had already perceived in her heart.
It is also significant that James does not speak of salvation by works. Salvation comes only from God. James therefore fully agrees with Paul when he writes to the Ephesians: "For by graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More Jesus for good worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10). First we need salvation by faith. And then good works "should" come out of faith, proving the possession of faith – not worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More to be saved, but worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More because we are saved.
If this does not happen, then faith is dead.
Does James' view of justification not appeal to our consciences? Are we not neglecting some of the good works that God has prepared for us? "Show me your faith" – do we sometimes need to be told? We see that the letter of James is not so difficult at all, as Luther meant. My faith should also "show itself more by my works"!
