Works is Fundamental

Concordia University has posted on their web page a piece by a pre-seminary student Adriana Thompson entitled “What are the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation?”

In researching the former Augustinian Catholic monk, Martin Luther, who protested the teachings of the Catholic Church, Thompson concluded from his work and those other reformers there emerged five major doctrines essential to salvation.

These are identified with Latin phrases as the “five solas.”

• Sola Gratia–”Grace alone.”
• Sola Fide–”Faith alone.”
• Sola Christus–”Christ alone.”
• Sola Scriptura–”Scripture alone.”
• Sola Deo Gloria–”To the glory of God alone.”

In a summary statement Thompson wrote, “The five solas state that Christians are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.”

While these “five solas” are fundamental to our faith, what about works? Where does works fit into the equation? This further raises the ago old debate among religious folks about the relationship between faith and works.

While some say works is not at all fundamental to our salvation, the inspired writer James wrote, “ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (Jas. 2:26).

In the James text, He offers Abraham, often touted as the “Father of Faith,” as an example of the importance of works.

“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” (Jas. 2:21-24).

I once read that this text so perplexed Martin Luther and his theology of “salvation by faith alone” that he called James’ letter “an epistle of straw” and left it out of the canon of New Testament books.

Luther and more modern critics pit Paul and James against one another. Paul argues that Abraham was justified by faith (Rom. 4) by quoting Genesis 15:6. James rhetorically asks, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? (Jas. 2:21). Some scholars see this, as one of my former college Bible teachers, Edgar Syrgley once called it, “a seemingly apparent contradiction.”

Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Is there really a contradiction? No. The answer is that faith works.

Genesis 12 records God’s call to Abraham, He was instructed to leave his father’s house and his homeland, and go into a land that God would show him. The Bible says, “And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Heb. 11:8).

Why?

Abraham had faith in God.

More incredibly, God promised to bless him. Make his name great. Produce from his descendants a great name. Give them a land. And from his seed would come One who would bless the entire world. What makes this so amazing is that at this point Abraham is unknown, obscure and childless. Oh, and he is 75 years old. It would be 25 years before Isaac was born.

No wonder Abraham is identified with the moniker “the father of faith.”

But Abraham didn’t just believe. He did. Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed…” This text tells us that his faith worked.

• Abraham went.
• Abraham dwelt.
• Abraham waited.
• Abraham offered.

Suppose Abraham said, “God, I believe you can do all of this, but I’m not going anywhere. This is my home. I’m staying. But I believe you can fulfill all these promises.” Would that have pleased God? Would his refusal to go where God commanded him be an expression of faith?

What if Abraham refused to offer Isaac? What if he decided to sacrifice a dog instead? Would that have been sufficient? Would God have been satisfied? Could his protection of and love for Isaac superseded God’s command? Would such dissent and defiance demonstrate his faith?

There’s no contradiction between Paul and James. One complements the other. Faith is active, not passive. Faith is not mere mental assent. Faith issues itself in physical effort. Faith is energetic. Enthusiastic. And on the go.  Faith works.

As one writer expressed it, “Paul and James are in perfect harmony in their teaching on this matter. Both make it clear that faith and obedience are not in opposition to each other. They are two sides of the same coin in God’s plan for the salvation of man.”

Hebrews 11 illustrates this fact with other great Believers.

By faith…

…Abel offered.

…Enoch walked.

…Noah built.

…Isaac blessed.

…Moses forsook.

…Joshua marched.

And the list goes on of named and unnamed spiritual heroes and heroines who put their faith into practice.

What about salvation by the “five solas”?

James leaves no doubt. He says, “talk is cheap.” No one is fed or clothed by words alone. Works are required. From Abraham to Rahab to even the demonic world, all proclaim that “faith without works is dead.”

Works. The works of God’s righteousness are indeed fundamental to our faith.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman