Salvation Contradiction
Apologetics 101. One of the most famously quoted contradictions of the Bible. Is salvation gained through faith or by works. Paul accents faith, while James puts high importance upon works. They can’t both be right, it can’t be both by faith alone and by works alone. Alone connotates aloneness. So who is right? But then if only one is right, the other must be wrong. But they are both biblical. So does this raise questions about whether the Bible is trustworthy?
Whenever an “either-or” statement is created, it is prudent to first ascertain whether it is truly one or the other. If I say choose either option ‘A’ or option ‘B’ but there is an option ‘C’ then I am being dishonest. When we look closely to both Paul and James’ writings, we do not see a contradiction in salvation methods but rather two sides of the same coin, though it can be hard to see sometimes.
“You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). On first glance it looks like a contradiction, pure and simple. But on closer look at James 2, it may become more clear.
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:14-17). James is not saying works rather than faith is what saves you, but he is saying faith without works is no faith at all. Any boy can tell a girl he loves her, but if his actions does not follow through then they are just that, empty words.
James does not contradict Paul, but brings up a different and very important point. As it is important what you put your faith in, it is also just as important if not more to truly believe. James was not saying you have to have works to be saved, he was saying if you do not have works you do not really believe. If it is by grace through faith that we are saved, our faith must be genuine otherwise it is simply empty words. Christianity is not simply a religion. It is a relationship. God is real and His love is great. Christianity is not just a relationship though, it is a lifestyle. It is a code of ethics and standards. Yes, of do’s and don’ts, but it is also about mercy and grace and the greatest gift we could ever receive, love.
In the words of Rich Mullens, to have faith without works, well, “It’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.” And that is a challenge to us all, no matter who we are. It brings us to question, I may bring lip-service to this belief or that, but do I truly believe it? Do I believe it enough to act upon that belief? Even if I have to make a risk to do it? Even if I have to risk everything to follow? Even if it makes me uncomfortable? Can I do it? Or will I continue to sit here doing lip service to what I want to believe while I watch my house burn up around me? It is a question we should all have to face and all must answer on their own.
Jared Williams
Whenever an “either-or” statement is created, it is prudent to first ascertain whether it is truly one or the other. If I say choose either option ‘A’ or option ‘B’ but there is an option ‘C’ then I am being dishonest. When we look closely to both Paul and James’ writings, we do not see a contradiction in salvation methods but rather two sides of the same coin, though it can be hard to see sometimes.
“You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). On first glance it looks like a contradiction, pure and simple. But on closer look at James 2, it may become more clear.
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:14-17). James is not saying works rather than faith is what saves you, but he is saying faith without works is no faith at all. Any boy can tell a girl he loves her, but if his actions does not follow through then they are just that, empty words.
James does not contradict Paul, but brings up a different and very important point. As it is important what you put your faith in, it is also just as important if not more to truly believe. James was not saying you have to have works to be saved, he was saying if you do not have works you do not really believe. If it is by grace through faith that we are saved, our faith must be genuine otherwise it is simply empty words. Christianity is not simply a religion. It is a relationship. God is real and His love is great. Christianity is not just a relationship though, it is a lifestyle. It is a code of ethics and standards. Yes, of do’s and don’ts, but it is also about mercy and grace and the greatest gift we could ever receive, love.
In the words of Rich Mullens, to have faith without works, well, “It’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.” And that is a challenge to us all, no matter who we are. It brings us to question, I may bring lip-service to this belief or that, but do I truly believe it? Do I believe it enough to act upon that belief? Even if I have to make a risk to do it? Even if I have to risk everything to follow? Even if it makes me uncomfortable? Can I do it? Or will I continue to sit here doing lip service to what I want to believe while I watch my house burn up around me? It is a question we should all have to face and all must answer on their own.
Jared Williams
