Question:

I have a friend who believes that “good works” get you into heaven. When I told her that the Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by faith and not by good works (Ephesians 2:8-9), she responded by telling me to read James 2:24, where it says we are made right with God by what we no, not by faith alone. I explained that doing good works by having faith in God is pleasing to God, but just doing good works, in and of itself, doesn’t cut it. My friend insists that “her way” is right. I think she is taking the easy way out. What do you think?

Answer:

James 2:14-26 is a classic passage quoted by legalists (those who think that works will get you into heaven), but they miss the point of what James is saying.

James never says, “you need good works to get to heaven,” or “it is good works that save you.” His point in this passage is that genuine faith will show itself by good works. When he says, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17), he is saying that faith that does not produce good works is dead. There are plenty of people who claim to be followers of Christ, but their lives never give any indication that they are doing what Christ asks His followers to do. James says that if there isn’t any indication, then they don’t have faith at all. Their faith is dead.

Only God knows the heart, so only He can judge who is truly saved and who is not (and He will judge). It’s not our place to decide who is “in “ and who is “out.” James isn’t writing so we can judge others. Each of us is to look at our own lives and see that we are truly following Christ. If we are, then good deeds will be part of our life.

Paul puts this in perspective in Ephesians 2:8-10. He makes it clear that we are not saved by works, but by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. Then he says that we are saved to do those good things God planned for us long ago.

Another way to look at this is to say that we are saved unto good works, not by good works. In this, James and Paul are completely consistent in their messages.

Even if your friend isn’t persuaded, ask her this: If God is going to judge her according to her good works, how does she know she has been good enough? What’s the standard? The Bible says the standard is perfection (Romans 3:23). Has anyone ever lived a perfect life? Has your friend? Where does it say God is going to judge on the curve? The Bible is clear that there’s only one standard—God’s perfect standard—and the only person who has ever been able to live a perfect life is Jesus.

Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law’” (Galatians 3:10). Another way of saying this is: “All who rely on their good works are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who sins.’”

Sinful people can’t save themselves. Only Jesus, who is sinless, can save us, and he had to take on the curse that belongs to us. That’s what Paul means when he writes, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).

Hope this helps you as you talk with your friend!