The Result Of Salvation Is Good Works

Salvation is the free gift by God’s grace through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross (1 Cor 6:20). It “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom 1:16). It is only through “faith toward our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21), and “not of works” (Eph 2:9), any addition of works, tradition, or religion (Col 2:8), to faith. Because we are “justified by faith” (Rom 5:1), alone! This is not contradictory to our passage which states “that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” Because the context of what James was addressing has nothing to do with getting saved, but with the believer’s life concerning daily provisions such as food and clothing (v. 15).

James also mentioned Abraham’s testing “when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar” (v. 21). Paul on the other hand, wrote that Abraham was not “justified by works” (Rom 4:2), but he “believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Rom 4:3). Abraham was clearly saved “by faith” (Heb 11:8)! And his faith was clearly demonstrated by his obedience (Gen 26:5). James emphasized that genuine faith will always produce good works by stating, “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (v. 26).

Because after salvation, we become the Lord’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Eph 2:10). This is the product of true “repentance” (Acts 26:20)! Any “works of righteousness which we have done” (Titus 3:5), have nothing to do with salvation. It is “the gift of the grace of God” (Eph 3:7). And we cannot add anything to the completed work that was already done by our Lord Jesus (Col 2:14). However, we are expected to obey and do the will of God (Mt 7:21). This is manifested by “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal 5:22). They are not part of it, but are both the result and evidence of the new birth in Christ! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera