In the Christian world there is much debate on the bounds of grace, the works we do and the faith that we share. However, the three are vastly different from each other and the bible gives a clear explanation of what each are and what they do.
Paul put the grace and faith of humanity into proper prospective in Romans 5:12-21. He starts with talking about Adam and how sin entered into the world by one man. Through one man the world was turned on its side and sin was poured in because of the sin of one man. Paul establishes the fact that because of Adam’s sin entering the world death then entered into the world and death spread to all men because all men have sinned. That sin lead to condemnation to all, death, and destruction to all. From Adam to Moses and from Moses to all, sin entered into the world and destroyed the world of mankind. It reigned in the hearts of men and resulted in the death of man.
Paul then goes on to talk about the free gift entering into the world not because of one man, like sin did, but because of the free gift resulting in justification rather than condemnation. Judgment came into the world and condemnation however the free gift Paul speaks of came into the world so that the sin which is committed could be reconciled and therefore making man kind justified not in its sin but in life. Paul is saying man has no reason to live because of the sin that entered into the world but the free gift entered the world so that man could have life even though man didn’t deserve it.
The kicker of what Paul is saying occurs in verse 19, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Despite the fact we are born into this sinful and terrible world because of the sin of man in the beginning, there is one man that lived also in this awful, terrible world that loved us so much that he didn’t sin facing the same things we do, tempted and tried in everyway but didn’t fall. And he being the son of God is the ultimate sign of grace. In fact he is grace.
Between his our stretched arms on the cross we find grace. He able to take on all the present, past and future sins of all humanity is the perfect sacrifice. In fact it pleased God to crush his son so that we could be justified in life and be found without sin through his son’s blood and without it we are seen with the awful sinful creation that we are. However, the blood makes us righteous and able to come to God without fear knowing that we will not crush us in our sin but will find us faithful through the blood of his son. And if in the course of this life we find ourselves facing the harms of sin, we have an advocate with the father, he being Jesus Christ is able to see us, hear us, and forgive us.
How is it that we are able to live this life of forgiveness in the sinful world we live in? Paul tells us in Romans 3:28 that man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. The works are separated from the faith of the believer. It is that faith that is through grace that Christ gives that we are able to be justified. Grace is the beginning of how we are able to be saved. It is the grace of God he are able to be saved and our faith makes us justified in the sight of God. It is by grace that we are saved through faith and not of ourselves but it is the gift of God.
Christians have been saved by grace. The grace of God is the source of salvation; faith is the channel not the cause. God alone saves. Salvation never originates in the efforts of people; it always arises out of the loving kindness of God. Truly, Salvation “is of the Lord” (Jon. 2:9). The past tense of the word saved in Ephesians 2:8 indicates that the believer’s salvation has already occurred in the past, at the cross. The gift of God that the verse talks about is saying we can’t do anything to earn our salvation. Paul is saying that even our belief in God does not originate in ourselves. This too is a gift, so no one can take pride in their position as a Christian. Everything is received from our merciful and gracious father.
The real thing that gets misunderstood in scripture with faith, grace, and works is what James says in James 2:14-19 especially in verse 16 “faith without works is dead.” Is is that Paul and James are disagreeing about faith? Is Paul saying it is by grace we have faith and James saying that faith is works and its through works? Absolutely not, James is addresses this section to people who have exercised genuine faith. This issue in this section (2:14-26) is faith without works (v.17) versus faith accompanied by works (v.18). Genuine faith will naturally produce good work; the two complete each other. When someone truly believes in a cause, that belief will change the way the person lives. WORKS: are actions which follow the “royal law” of love (James 2:8, 15, 16). James is implying in this verse that faith in Christ will demonstrate itself in love for others.
James is saying to us that if you really got the goods (sort of speak) there should be signs of that faith. There should be a “working” of your faith. Your seeds you plan with your faith should be reaping good. If there is a real change in your life then it will be noticeable. There will be a sign to know that you have true faith if you have true faith. It is not your works that save you, but if you have true faith you should have works that are noticeable. Not working for the homeless or adopting children (all of good things to do and should be done) but your attitude and your lifestyle more than anything is what James is talking about here. Your life should imitate your faith!
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