[Natural Law]

James 2:14-26

Faith and Works

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

18 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

19 You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.

24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

[HarleyD]

In Romans we read that Abraham was saved by faith. In James we read that Abraham was saved by works. There are 17 years that separates the two events that are recorded; where Abraham believed God (saved by faith) and later where Abraham offering to sacrifice Isaac (saved by works).

I would say that Abraham offering of Isaac was a in relationship of his 17 years of walking and growing in God. James is point out that one's work is evidences of one's salvation-just like Abraham's sacrifice of Issac was evidence of his 17 year walk with God.

But you don't need 17 years. The thief on the cross had only hours, yet our Lord said that he would be with Him in Paradise. So what was his work?

Joh 6:28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?"

Joh 6:29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

[Salvation]

**Good works are only such as God has commanded in His holy Word**

Knock me over with a feather. Protestants believe in good works?

[Bruinator]

We are justified by faith alone, the view of James not withstanding, works are not neccessary but faith is.