But isn't this what James 2:14 does? I believe it does, and stamps the entire package as true faith. The "faith" James rebukes, and asks "can that faith save him?" has no works as evidence, therefore it is not genuine.
In James 2:14, we read of one who
says/claims he has faith but has
no works (to evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a
bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can
that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an
empty profession of faith/dead faith. *So James
does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to
show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine
Faith and works are two sides of one coin. I'd have to say works are inherent in faith. I hope you understand my point and believe it is entirely biblical.
I believe that repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin - "repent -- change of mind -- new direction of that change of mind -- faith in Christ for salvation. Works are the fruit of faith, but not the essence of faith. To say that works are inherent in faith is to make no distinction between faith and works and basically define faith as works, as that Catholic did.
I would agree with this guy to a certain extent because faith has works sans his Catholic ideology of "works." Here is what he is doing, he is decrying simple "believe-ism" as do I. So does James.
I also decry simple "believe-sim" if you define that as simply believing "mental assent" in the existence and historical facts about Christ "apart" from trust/confidence/reliance in Jesus Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation.
We all know we are justified by faith; Romans 5. Faith is evidence of conversion, faith justifies us, faith is not mere believe-ism, it has evidence of being genuine by works. Some are so "We aren't saved by works!!!!" oriented, any mention of works and they are saying "You're preaching a works Gospel!"
It's not wrong to say that works are the evidence of genuine faith. James said I will
show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18) Yet that is
show, not establish. James is discussing the
evidence of faith (
says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18),
not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God (Romans 4:2-3).
There are many people not in church that we know of, who decry works, evidence, going to church and much more who believe they are saved because they gave mental assent to facts and have no evidence of conversion. They have been taught to do these things, to decry works and evidence of conversion. We are in prayer now for friends who are in this predicament, if they do not return to Christ they were never his; 1 John 2:19.
Faith involves trust and reliance in Christ for salvation and not mere mental assent belief to facts. In James 2:19, we read that the demons believe "mental assent" that "there is one God" but they do not have faith in/trust in Christ for salvation. There are people in the world who believe "mental assent" in the existence of Christ and also believe that His death, burial and resurrection "happened" but are not trusting exclusively in Christ for salvation, but instead are trusting in works for salvation. The belief/faith of such people is no better than the belief of demons.
We had an errant pastor threaten our family because in a SS class lead by another we were discussing evidence of conversion. He screamed at me and others telling us we were preaching a works gospel, and had a woman call the police on us. Many stood with us and against this preacher, nevertheless we left as did others. He is the epitome of this problem. He is in fact preaching a truncated Gospel.
Here is the balance that gets out of balance. Man is saved through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is vindicated, substantiated, evidenced by works (James 2:14-24).
*Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works.
It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not by the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies is never alone (solitary, unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine (James 2:14-24). *Perfect Harmony*
Here is the needed distinction: works are in no way salvific.
Amen!
Your Catholic friend is correct in his stance against mere believe-ism, but Catholicism is wrong concerning true faith because it has created its own faith contrary to Scripture, adding to the word of God.
It's not wrong to say that faith results in producing evidential works and that works are the fruit of faith, but as soon as someone crosses the line (as Catholicism does) and teaches that faith is defined as works and that works are the essence of faith and we are saved by works, then they are perverting the gospel and adding to the word of God.
