Works
Do you agree that someone who claims to believe in Jesus but has no works is not saved?
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" (James 2:14).
"The devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:19-20).
"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
"He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:8-9).
"Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12).
"God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:5-7).
"He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).
"Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).
"Thou wicked and slothful servant... Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:26, 30).
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away... He is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:2, 6).
"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Matthew 7:19).
"Let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful" (Titus 3:14).
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love" (John 15:10).
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14).
"Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him" (2 Corinthians 5:9).
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16).
"They should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance" (Acts 26:20).
"For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work" (Mark 13:34).
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
"That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:17).
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness" (Romans 12:6-8).
"They which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them" (2 Corinthians 5:15).
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" (Luke 9:23-25).
"I have not found thy works perfect before God" (Revelation 3:2).
"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:5).
"And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works" (Revelation 2:23).
"And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (1 Peter 1:17).
"We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord..." (2 Corinthians 5:10-11)
"That servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes" (Luke 12:47).
"I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8).
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (Hebrews 10:24).
"Purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14).
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
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Faith By Grace
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). I believe this to mean that God did not give us the gift of faith based upon our prior works, for we have "believed through grace" (Acts 18:27); "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5). But once we have received by grace the gift of faith it must be accompanied by works, for "by grace are ye saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8), but "faith, if it hath not works, is dead" (James 2:17); "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
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How Many Works?
Some ask, "Well then how many works must we do?" The answer will be different for each person, for "to his own master he standeth or falleth" (Romans 14:4), and "unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more" (Luke 12:48).
The Lord gives each person his or her own work to do and his or her own cross to bear daily:
"For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work" (Mark 13:34).
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" (Luke 9:23-25).
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness" (Romans 12:4-8).
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What Percentage?
Some ask, "What percentage of our salvation comes from faith and what percentage comes from works?" But this question doesn't make sense, for it's like asking "What percentage of me is my body and what percentage of me is my spirit?" "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26).
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Grace Not Of Works
"And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace" (Romans 11:6).
We cannot be saved by faith and works of faith apart from grace.
See also Faith By Grace section above.
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Work, For God Works In You
Note that Paul said "we are labourers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9), "workers together with him" (2 Corinthians 6:1). I believe we have to hold onto both Philippians 2:12 and Philippians 2:13 at the same time. If we take one and not the other we can fall either into the wrong kind of fear (1 John 4:18) or into complacency (Titus 1:16).
While "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13), and "thou also hast wrought all our works in us" (Isaiah 26:12), and "without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5); note that at the same time it says "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), and "we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him" (2 Corinthians 5:9), and "I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8), and "let every man prove his own work" (Galatians 6:4), and "every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour" (1 Corinthians 3:8), and "I will give unto every one of you according to your works" (Revelation 2:23), and "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
"I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" (James 2:18-25).
If we contribute nothing toward our good works getting done, what does it mean to "be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8), and to "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (Hebrews 10:24), and why would Paul say "the labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:18), and why would Jesus say "I know thy works, and thy labour" (Revelation 2:2) and "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21), and why would the Spirit say "that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13), and what will we be rewarded for at the judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10-11)? "Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour" (1 Corinthians 3:8); "let every man prove his own work" (Galatians 6:4).
Though all our good works come from Christ, we must still make an effort, for a branch in Christ can fail to bear fruit: "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away" (John 15:2); "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" (Luke 13:24); "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run" (1 Corinthians 9:24-26), "I press toward the mark" (Philippians 3:14).
When I speak, both sides of my mouth work at the same time, just as when I do a work in the Lord, both the Lord and I work at the same time.
Note that labouring in something and allowing someone else to completely do something for us are different matters, just as earning money by our labour and gaining money through the sweat of others via stockholding and interest are different matters.
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This Is The Work Of God, That Ye Believe
"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:28-29).
In John 6:28-29, Jesus meant that we can't do any works of God without first believing in Jesus; he wasn't saying that our works of God stop with believing in him, for as he said elsewhere, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
"They should repent and turn to God, and do works" (Acts 26:20).
"I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8).
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away" (John 15:2).
"I have not found thy works perfect before God" (Revelation 3:2).
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16).
"Thou wicked and slothful servant... Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:26, 30).
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Works Of Faith Not Of The Flesh Or The Law
A work of faith, "remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love" (1 Thessalonians 1:3), "faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6), "the work of faith with power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11), is not a work of the law (Romans 3:28) or a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).
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The Gift Of Faith
If a feminine component of a neuter concept is the sine qua non of the concept, how can a neuter pronoun for the concept not include a reference to the feminine component, that is, how could the neuter touto (that) not include a reference to the feminine pistis (faith) in Ephesians 2:8 insofar as it is only by God's gift of faith that we are saved, just as how could the neuter touto (this) not include a reference to the feminine trophe (meat) in Acts 27:34 insofar as it is was by God's gift of meat that they were to receive health, just as how could the neuter touto (this) not include a reference to the feminine didache (doctrine) in Mark 1:27 insofar as it was by God's gift of a new doctrine that they were amazed, just as, similarly, if a neuter action is the sign of a feminine concept, how can a neuter pronoun for the action not include a reference to the concept, that is, how could the neuter touto (that) not include a reference to the feminine soteria (salvation) in Philippians 1:28 insofar as their steadfastness and unified striving (Philippians 1:27) was the sign that they were saved?
For isn't our faith and repentance itself the gift of God by grace?
"Helped them much which had believed through grace" (Acts 18:27).
"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake" (Philippians 1:29).
"As many as were ordained to eternal life believed" (Acts 13:48).
"If God peradventure will give them repentance" (2 Timothy 2:25).
"Give repentance to Israel" (Acts 5:31).
"God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18).
"Saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).
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Sharing In His Glory
God alone is to receive glory as being God (Acts 12:22-23), and all glory is his (Matthew 6:13), but by his grace he allows us to share in his glory (2 Thessalonians 2:14; Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 5:1) just as he allows us to share in his work (Mark 13:34, 1 Corinthians 15:58).
"He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:14, NIV).
"If we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Romans 8:17, NIV).
"To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed" (1 Peter 5:1, NIV).
"For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work" (Mark 13:34).
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
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Saved As If Through Fire
I believe the prior context of 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 shows that Paul is speaking of any man's work of church planting (1 Corinthians 3:5-11), not of all his good works. The wicked, slothful servant will be cast out:
"Thou wicked and slothful servant... Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:26, 30).
"Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12).
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away... He is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:2, 6).
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Him That Worketh Not
Note that the context of Romans 4:5 shows that Paul is not referring to works of faith but is consistently referring to works of the law:
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28).
"For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith" (Romans 4:13).
"For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect" (Romans 4:14).
"Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all" (Romans 4:15-16).
Note that a work of faith, "remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love" (1 Thessalonians 1:3), "the work of faith with power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11), is not a work of the law (Romans 3:28).
Note that this is why James explains the exact same verse in Genesis as Paul does, showing that Abraham was justified by a work of faith:
"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6).
"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3).
"Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness" (James 2:23).
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:21-24).
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The Thief On The Cross
Note that it doesn't give us any history of the life of the thief on the cross who performed the act of publicly confessing that Jesus is Lord (Luke 23:42, compare Romans 10:9). He could have been as devout as Simeon (Luke 2:25) at one time and then backslidden. Are we to say Simeon had no works because none are specifically mentioned?
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Matthew 7:19-29
Note that in Matthew 7:19-20 the fruit of the tree is the lifestyle of the individual, while the tree itself is the individual himself.
Note that in Matthew 7:19-29 Jesus is not distinguishing between believers and unbelievers, but between those who believe in Jesus but do not obey him (don't bear good fruit, don't do his sayings), and those who believe in Jesus and do obey him (bear good fruit, do his sayings), for "not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
Note that those in Matthew 7:23 are not rejected for their good works, but for their sinful works, showing that the obedience required for salvation which Jesus refers to in Matthew 7:21 and which the writer of Hebrews refers to in Hebrews 5:9 includes not only doing good works but also at the same time keeping ourselves from all sinful works (Hebrews 10:26-29).
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John 3:16 &Ephesians 1:13-14
Note that just as Matthew 24 31's only stipulating that our gathering will be from one place (heaven) doesn't require that our gathering will be only from one place instead of from two places (heaven and earth, Mark 13:27), so John 3:16's only stipulating that our salvation is by one cause (faith) doesn't require that our salvation is only by one cause instead of by two causes (faith and works, James 2:24), for "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20); and "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21); "Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12), "for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:8-9); "God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:5-7), "wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him" (2 Corinthians 5:9); "He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).
Note that just as Mark 13:27 doesn't change what Matthew 24:31 says even though it adds "earth" to "heaven", for both verses refer to the same gathering, so verses such as James 2:24, James 2:20, James 2:14, Matthew 7:21, Hebrews 5:9, Galatians 6:8-9, and Romans 2:5-7 don't change what John 3:16 says even though they add obedient "works" to "faith", for all of them refer to the same eternal salvation.
Note that just as Mark 13:27 contains additional information, not contradictory information to Matthew 24:31, so James 2:24 contains additional information, not contradictory information to John 3:16.
Note that just as the fact that only Cana is seen in a verse as a destination for Jesus doesn't require that only Cana was a destination for Jesus, especially in light of other verses which show him visiting other cities, so the fact that only faith is seen in John 3:16 doesn't require that only faith is required for salvation, instead of faith and obedience, especially in light of other verses such as Matthew 7:21 and Hebrews 5:9.
Just as I don't believe that a verse which says only that Jesus went to Cana alters another verse which says only that Jesus went to Jerusalem, for neither verse requires that Jesus went only to Cana or only to Jerusalem instead of going to both places, so I don't believe that James 2:20 alters what Ephesians 1:13-14 says, for neither verse requires that we are saved only by faith or only by works, instead of both, for "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20); "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).
Note that both James 2:19-20 and Ephesians 1:13-14 are written in the context of salvation (James 2:14, 24; Ephesians 1:13).
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James 1-2
Note that James 2:24 is referring to the same justification before God which James had just finished referring to in James 2:23, which is the same justification before God which Paul refers to in Romans 4:3, for they are both referring to the same justification before God referred to in Genesis 15:6.
Note that James 2:14 is referring to the same salvation and the same works that James had just finished referring to in James 1:21-22.
Note that James 1:21 is referring to the same process of being born-again/saved by the word of God that James had just finished referring to in James 1:18, and which Peter refers to in 1 Peter 1:23 and Paul refers to in 2 Timothy 3:15.
Note that 1 Peter 1:9 refers to the salvation of our souls as that salvation and grace which was foretold in the OT and which will be brought to us at the second coming (1 Peter 1:9-13).
Note that Matthew 10:28 refers to the damnation of souls in hell.