Jesus, the Son of God, has been raised from the dead with power according to the spirit of holiness (Romans 1:3&4). Grace and apostleship were given to Paul and others for the specific purpose of witnessing to all nations that Jesus is truly Lord and King, the anointed one of God. Faith should not be separated from obedience. Obedience is the fruit of faith. The extent that ones believes can be determined by the extent one obeys. A dead, disobedient faith is not a true, rescuing faith. God, through the work of the Spirit has sent Jesus to bless us by "turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:26). If one has not been rescued from sin and ungodliness to righteousness and holiness, true faith is lacking. We must deny ourselves, pick up a cross, and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23).
Jesus and the Apostles were clear: it is the followers and the doers of the Word and not the hearers only who are wise (Matthew 7:24-27, Romans 2:13, and James 1:22). Further, James tells us that we are not justified by faith alone (2:17). Works must demonstrate our faith. True, we enter into covenant and right relationship with God through our faith by His grace and not by any man-made system or self-appointed identity, but it is the evidence of the Spirit of Life that truly reflects that we have been converted. In other words, it is our works that prove our faith. The goal of our life should be obedience, striving to do the will of God (Matthew 7:23). And we must start with faith and believing His teachings regarding sin, salvation, the Kingdom of God, hell, repentance, etc.. This will naturally change us. He calls and we answer. A changed life is demonstrative that one has truly answered the call of God. It was the Father who loved us enough to redeem us and it is by His power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, that we can repudiate sin and the world and walk in His ways, obeying His commandments. Faith alone is dead (James 2).
Consider the penitent thief on the cross. "The conversion of the thief on the cross has frequently been used to illustrate salvation without works. Many ministers have affirmed that this is a proof and an example of 'salvation by faith, plus nothing'. It is argued that his hands and feet were tied, rendering him altogether helpless to do anything. As previously noted, however, some of the most difficult thing we have to do are done by mental or spiritual work. Anything difficult to do or that takes effort to do must be considered work. A careful look at the experience of the thief is enlightening. At first he was in party with those who mocked and reviled Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:44). But suddenly he changed his thinking, repented, and began paying serious attention to Jesus. He observed how unjustly Christ was treated, and probably he heard Jesus plead forgiveness for those who crucified Him. He was impressed with his gracious spirit. The thief believed in Jesus in perhaps the most difficult and unpromising hours ever to believe in Him. It was the hour when religious and political leaders were mocking and scoffing the Lord. He had been betrayed, forsaken, and denied by His own beloved disciples. The thief believed in Jesus with no help or encouragement from anyone. He acknowledged that he deserved his own punishment, and he confessed the righteousness of Christ. 'This man hath done nothing amiss' (Luke 23:41). He witnessed to the other thief, who was continuing his reviling mockery. He acknowledged Christ as Savior and Lord, and called upon Him for mercy. He acknowledged Him as a king on His way to possess His kingdom. Did all this take any effort? Was it easy or hard? This may actually have been one of the most difficult and outstanding conversions to Christ on the pages of history. Indeed the thief's conversion was very far from 'salvation by faith, plus nothing'." (1)
The beginning and the end of faith is Jesus. To love, obey, and serve Him. It is by the death and suffering of Jesus that God justifies the ungodly by His pure grace not imputing sin to those who repent. Then, a transformation occurs where the sinner is changed from wicked to righteous by the outpouring of the Spirit.
"By the doctrine of justification of the sinner by faith alone, the judgement of condemnation is upon the proud pharisee who wants to be justified by the works of the law. However, there is great comfort for the poor sinner in it because he does not have to bring anything with him for his justification except a broken heart, a broken spirit, and faith in Christ, the Crucified. Nevertheless, this faith and justification by faith do not extend to all of the life that comes afterwards, and the works of grace (of the new divine nature) are not rejected like the works of the law. These new works are just as required for salvation as the old works are inadequate for justification. He who has received Christ, the image of God, that Adam lost can and must be minded and walk as Christ was upon earth. That is not a difficult art. However, he who does not have Christ in him by the Holy Spirit is not a child of God and consequently is not an heir of God by Christ, the inheritance cannot be earned legally. Instead, it depends on the adoptions of sons, which results from the new birth and must then be shown by new obedience under the law of the Spirit or liberty. Then it must be shown whether the man of God who has been pardoned and set up again from Adam's fall will do better than Adam did, for the children of God, in whom the image of God has been renewed by Christ, are tested just like Adam. They can do all things by Christ who indwells them. That is why those who do not have Christ in their spirit say it is impossible to live like Jesus Christ was. However, man's last justification before God certainly takes place by works and not faith alone." (2)
Let us remember that it is God's good pleasure to give us the Kingdom (Luke 12:32) and that He is faithful (1st Thessalonians 5:24). As we submit to God, let us not get bogged down with unfruitful discussions about faith vs. works to the point that we fail to realize the simple message of the Gospel: Jesus calls us to the Kingdom via repentance, Jesus saves us from sin and death via His death, Jesus redeems us with real power because He is alive, and Jesus inspires us to live obediently...for we must all appear before the judgment seat of the Lord (Romans 14:10 and 2nd Corinthians 5:10).
References
1. Shank, Aaron M. (2011). Faith and Works in Salvation. Rod and Staff Publishers, Inc. Crockett, Kentucky. pg. 30-31.
2. Froehlich, Samuel H. (2017). Meditations on the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans. The Heritage Center Foundation. Fairbury, Illinois. pg.38.
