This 7min episode provides a peek into what is the biblical understanding of faith vs. works. The faith vs. works debate often comes up in discussions of salvation. There are many who say that a person is saved based on some mixture of faith and work. Biblical Christianity teaches salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, apart from any works we do. Perhaps the best place to start is to clearly define faith and works:
Saving faith is always a living faith that does not stop with the mere confession of Christ as Savior, but also prompts obedience to Him as LORD. Thus, those who obey can believe, and only those who believe can obey.
Is there a contradiction between what Paul said and what James had to say? There is no contradiction between the Word regarding the matter of saving faith. Normally Paul emphasizes faith as how we accept Christ as Savior (Rom 3:22). James calls attention to the fact that true faith must be an enduring faith that shapes our very existence. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Faith without works is a dead faith because the lack of works reveals an unchanged life or a spiritually dead heart. There are many verses that say that true saving faith will result in a transformed life, and that faith is demonstrated by the works we do. How we live reveals what we believe and whether the faith we profess to have is a living faith.
True saving faith is so vital that it cannot but express itself in godly action and devotion to Jesus Christ. Works without faith are dead works. Faith without works is dead faith. True faith always manifests itself in obedience to God.
See what Matt 7:17-20 says:17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Wiersbe/GQ
