Dear BPCWAians, The relationship between works and faith is a subject that has stirred much controversy in Christendom. This very topic prompted the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation, and continues to stir much debate in many Christian circles. Importantly, do you personally know if you were to die today, you will surely go to heaven? There are 2 extremes today – one is “I believe in Christianity, so I am going to heaven even if I hardly have any works in my life”, and the other is “I do what Christians do, so I will go to heaven.” What is the relationship between genuine saving faith and good works?

Can genuine faith exist without works? The answer simply is “no”. True, genuine saving faith will always be evident in a believer’s life. The Bible makes this point clear. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26) A body that is alive shows some signs of life, no matter how weak the breath may be. Likewise, a true faith will always be demonstrated in the life – in varying degrees, according to the strength of that faith. But it is without a doubt that there will be some evidence in that life. Mere mental understanding of a “concept” is not faith. Faith begins with the understanding of the mind, received into the heart and eventually demonstrated in the life. True and genuine conviction – which is what true faith is – always brings about signs of it in the life of the person. Everyone believes in something, exercises some degree of faith. And often, what we do will be an outward representation of what we trust in, what our beliefs are.

What kind of works does true faith produce? The fruit will be reflective of that faith. Because of this, Christ tells us that “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matt 7:16). What you do and how you live your life will reflect what you believe in. 1)Works that demonstrate saving faith. Saving faith is through the gracious gift of God. One evidence of saving faith is a profession and trust in Christ as Saviour as the only way to be saved (Rom 10:9). This means that you will readily reject all other “gods” and all other ways of salvation. Another fruit of saving faith is that there will be signs of repentance in the person’s life (Lk 3:8). This is because of the work of the Holy Spirit in his life that will change his way of thinking, and hence his walk – “behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor 5:17). This newness of life will be demonstrated by 2) Works that follow saving faith. This will be demonstrated in varying degrees in the lives of Christians. That new life will be evidenced by a love and desire for God’s Word. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” (1 Pet 2:2). Adopted as children of God, God puts in every one of His children that desire to know Him and to please Him – and He does this through His Word. Once enemies of God before salvation and haters of His Truth, God’s law is now his delight and he will love to learn more about His heavenly Father (Ps 1:2). A person who hardly reads or has little regard for God’s Word must surely be very alarmed and should take care to check his salvation. Moreover, true and genuine faith produces a work of obedience in the life of God’s children. True faith will produce a natural and genuine desire

to obey God’s commandments. A person who outwardly acts like a Christian at church but bears no semblance of honouring God in secret or at home must also be concerned if he has genuine faith. While the Christian’s obedience will not be perfect in this life, the Holy Spirit working in his heart will cause him to know that he is living in sin. He cannot be happy while he lives away from the fellowship of God. Even when he is backslidden, the sin in his life and of those around him will vex him (2 Pet 2:7). So, the good works that God expects in a believer’s life is the life of obedience to His commandments. And throughout his life, God progressively works in the believer’s life through His Word to increase our sanctification (Eph 5:26).

The Apostle James was not advocating salvation by works in James 2:26. His great concern was that professing believers have false sense of security because of their false faith. He was teaching that genuine saving faith is always accompanied by an obedient life of works according to God’s Word. Do you truly have a such saving faith? Well, examine your own public and private life in the mirror of God’s Word. This is a very important question that you must answer for yourself today.

Yours in our Lord’s service

Pastor