Do Romans 4:5 & Ephesians 2:8-9 contradict James 2:17, 20, 22, 25 & 26 about the necessity of works for justification & salvation?
Written by: Yeow Chin Kiong
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness (ROMANS 4:5)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast (EPHESIANS 2:8-9)
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. …. 20 faith without works is dead. … 22 Do you see that faith was working with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? …. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. …. 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (JAMES 2:17, 20, 22, 24, 26)
There is NO contradiction between Romans 4:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9 on the one hand and James 2:17, 20, 22, 24, 26 on the other hand because each scripture reference refers to a different type of “work” from the other two. This is clear from their immediate context in the New Testament.
The “work” meant by Romans 4:5 is human effort (specifically by Israelites before the Cross) under the Law of Moses, while the “works” meant by Ephesians 2:8-9 are works devised by men of which they may boast (i.e. bringing them glory and not, as should be the case [Matthew 5:16], to God). However, the “works” meant by James 2:17, 20, 22, 24, 26 are works done in obedience to God’s will, which must be coupled with faith or belief in Him. As the three passages of scripture teach, the “works” of Romans 4:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9 DO NOT justify a sinner nor save him BUT the “works” of James 2:17, 20, 22, 24, 26 DO.
Hence, all three passages of scripture are true, Romans 4:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9 NOT contradicting James 2:17. 20. 22, 24, 26.
First, in the background to Romans 4:5, Paul insists that works of obedience DOES, at God’s judgment, bring “… eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness - indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil …” (Romans 2:6-9). Notice the necessity of good works for eternal life.
Romans 3 has to do with the Law of Moses, which is revealed to be not availing towards justification and salvation. “21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe, for there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus’ ….. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:21-24, 27-28)
it is the “works” of the Law of Moses which Paul touches upon in the verses following (i.e. Romans 4:1 following)
The imputation of righteousness upon a sinner is, in effect, the forgiveness of his sins or transgression of the law (any Divinely-approved law, including the Law of Moses). It is the accounting of righteousness upon the sinner when, in fact, he actually had sinned and does not deserve forgiveness. The imputation or accounting of righteousness upon the unjust was based upon the undeserved death of Jesus on the Cross as a sacrifice for mankind.
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