There is a seeming contradiction between Paul and James concerning justification by faith alone. Paul, especially, in Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians emphasizes that justification is by faith alone. Works have no part in justification. - Romans 4:5 To the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. Notice the emphasis, it is the man who does not work but rather, in place of work, he believes, - his faith is accounted righteous.
However, James clearly states that a man is justified by faith and works. How can we resolve these two?
The key is in the semantic range of words. James uses "justification" in the sense of "demonstrate," or "vindicate." James 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James is using "works" in the sense of "the fruit of faith." In Galatians 5:23b "against [the fruit of the Spirit] there is no law." "Against," from the Greek "kata" means alongside. Clearly God does not hold the law alongside the fruit of the Spirit. They are fruit, not works of merit. This is key. James is not using "works" as "works of merit," but as "fruit of faith."
The fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of faith are works of God in a believer's life. - There are no such things as "works of merit." No fallen human being can perform "works of merit."
This sermon then uses the faith of David's lament in Psalm 13 to show the meaning of fruit of faith. David trusts God even in the midst of great trouble and sorrow. His faith moves from the faith to call on God in anguish to the faith to trust God completely.
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I am thankful for the privilege of being able to help care for the souls of God's people wherever they may be. Even being a very small part of applying the healing balm of the gospel to a lost world is a blessing beyond imagining.
Being married to my wife, Pam, for 42 years, we...
