3507 — Faith and Works
By Editor
Our inquirer is correct, the difference is only seeming. There are no works without faith, but the faith which works is the only faith that is worth anything. What James is showing is this: that if a man has faith, he will have works. The faith will demonstrate itself in doing just what God asks us to do, and acting on God's promises. The expression in Hebrews simply refers to faith, but through faith they did things. In fact, it is a good illustration of what James means,—who through faith wrought victories, obtained promises, and did a great many things. That is, their faith worked. So with all of the characters mentioned in Hebrews 11. This is well expressed by the apostle Paul in Gal. 5:6: "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Those who try to set Paul against James are certainly doing violence to both. Preeminently, the apostle to the Galatians exalts justification by faith in Christ; but in the same epistle Paul the apostle tells us that the only faith that is worth anything, that avails, is the faith which works by love. James also refers to the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ in chapter 2:1, but it is the faith which works. The question relative to our Lord's prayer has been recently answered.