Faith Vs. Works

Faith That Works: Paul, James, and the Truth About Deeds

“So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.” – James 2:24

This verse has launched a thousand debates. At first glance, it seems to contradict everything we’ve been told about salvation by grace through faith. But when you examine the full testimony of Scripture—including the writings of Paul himself—you discover something beautifully consistent: we are saved by grace through faith, but the kind of faith that saves is never alone. It works. It transforms. It proves itself by action.

Introduction: Wait… Works Matter?

If you've been in church for any length of time, you've probably heard it said: “We’re saved by grace, not by works.” And that's absolutely true. The gospel begins with grace—unearned, undeserved favor from God. But here’s the tension: if that's all there is, then why does the Bible spend so much time talking about how we live, what we do, and whether or not we obey?

What about James 2:24? “So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.”

That sounds like a theological left hook to everything we thought we knew.

Is James contradicting Paul? Is one teaching grace and the other works? Or are we misunderstanding both?

This chapter explores the biblical harmony between faith and works. We’ll show how Paul, James, Peter, and John all agree on this truth: salvation is by grace through faith—but that faith will always result in action.

We’ll also look at historical perspectives, how early church leaders handled these “tensions,” and what the Reformers had to say when wrestling with the relationship between grace, works, and assurance.

Spoiler alert: this isn’t a contradiction. It’s a confirmation.

Biblical Views: The Whole Testimony of Scripture

Let’s start by getting the full biblical picture. The Bible does not contradict itself; it complements itself. And when it comes to the topic of works, here’s what Scripture consistently teaches:

1. Salvation Is by Grace Through Faith—Not Earned

• Ephesians 2:8–9 – “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done…”

• Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”

  
  

2. But That Faith Produces Works

• Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

• James 2:17 – “Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”

• Titus 2:14 – “He gave his life to free us… and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

  
  

3. We Will Be Judged by What We Do

• Romans 2:6–8 – “He will judge everyone according to what they have done.”

• 2 Corinthians 5:10 – “We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done.”

• Revelation 20:12 – “The dead were judged according to what they had done.”

  
  

4. Faith and Obedience Are Interwoven

• 1 John 2:3–6 – “We can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.”

• 1 Peter 1:17 – “He will judge or reward you according to what you do.”

• Galatians 5:6 – “What is important is faith expressing itself in love.”

The Bible does not pit grace and works against each other. It presents a living faith—one that transforms the person who possesses it.

Historical Views & Debates: What the Early Church Believed

The Early Church Fathers

Church leaders in the first few centuries saw no contradiction between Paul and James. For example:

• Origen (c. 184–253) taught that justification begins with grace but must be expressed through obedience.

• Clement of Rome, in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Clement, c. 96 A.D.), emphasized both faith and virtuous living.

• Augustine famously said, “We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.”

They didn’t pit James against Paul—they viewed them as allies. Paul taught the root of salvation. James focused on the fruit.

The Reformation Era

Enter Martin Luther in the 1500s—who, ironically, called James an “epistle of straw” because of its emphasis on works. But even Luther, over time, softened his view and never removed James from the canon. He believed in salvation by faith alone but fiercely opposed antinomianism—the idea that Christians are free to live however they want.

The Reformers universally held that true faith produces obedience. They weren’t anti-works; they were anti-legalism. John Calvin wrote, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.”

Modern Confusion

Today’s confusion arises mostly from misunderstanding both James and Paul, especially in American Christianity, where we've traded discipleship for decision cards. Faith has become more about believing in God’s existence than surrendering to His lordship. But that’s not how the early Church—or the apostles—understood it.

But here's where the debate heats up. Those who want to drive a wedge between James and Paul often claim that James was written first—implying Paul came along later and had to clarify or “course correct” the early Church’s legalistic tendencies. It’s an attractive theory for those trying to minimize Paul’s teachings about grace—or, ironically, to dismiss James altogether. But does the historical timeline support that? Is there really a contradiction between these two apostles, or is something else going on? To get clarity, we need to look at the authorship timeline, what the early Church believed, and whether James’ epistle was a reaction—or a reaffirmation.

Was James Written Before Paul?

One of the most common arguments used to “diminish” James is the claim that it was written before Paul began writing his epistles, making James a kind of pre-grace relic. But this is not the majority scholarly view.

Most scholars date James to the mid-40s to 50s A.D., while Paul’s major letters—Romans, Galatians, and 1 Corinthians—are dated around the same time or even earlier. Many believe Galatians was written as early as 48 A.D. and 1 Thessalonians around 50 A.D. Others place James in the 60s, making it not earlier but possibly even later than Paul’s writings. In short: there is no consensus that James came first.

Further, early church fathers like Origen and Eusebius acknowledge both James and Paul without contradiction, and there’s no indication from them that James and Paul were in theological conflict. So the idea that James was some primitive gospel gets demolished by the evidence—historical, textual, and theological.

Did Paul Ever Say Works Matter?

You bet he did. Repeatedly. Paul absolutely affirms that we are saved by grace through faith—but he also insists that what we do proves whether our faith is genuine.

Let’s look at just a handful of verses where Paul clearly says deeds matter:

• Ephesians 2:8–10 – “God saved you by his grace when you believed… but he has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

  Salvation isn’t from works—but it is for works.

• Romans 2:6–8 – “He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good.”

  This is not about legalism—it’s about perseverance.

• Titus 1:16 – “Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.”

  Paul says your life preaches louder than your lips.

• Titus 2:14 – “He gave his life to free us… and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

• 1 Timothy 5:10 – Speaking of qualified widows: “She must be well respected… because of the good she has done.”

• 1 Corinthians 3:13–15 – “But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done.”

• 2 Corinthians 5:10 – “We must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done.”

This is Paul. Not James. Paul is laying out the same message: your deeds don’t earn salvation, but they certainly evidence it. Faith is real when it produces fruit.

Even Peter and John Agree

This isn’t just a Paul-vs-James conversation. Peter and John are in complete agreement.

• 1 Peter 1:17 – “And remember that the heavenly Father… will judge or reward you according to what you do.”

• 1 Peter 2:12 – “Live such good lives… that they will see your honorable behavior.”

• Revelation 20:12 – “And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.”

• 1 John 2:3–6 – “We can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.”

John, the apostle of love, says the proof of knowing God is doing what He says.

Why Deeds Matter to All of Them

Here’s the consistent logic:

• We are saved by grace, through faith.

• That faith results in a new creation (Eph. 2:10).

• That new creation lives differently—good deeds, love, and obedience.

• The fruit doesn’t save us. But it proves we’re alive.

To quote Jesus: “A good tree produces good fruit.” (Matthew 7:17)

That’s why James could say “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26), and Paul could say “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), and Peter could say “make every effort to confirm your calling and election” (2 Peter 1:10)—because these are not contradictory truths. They are the same gospel, expressed in different emphases.

Conclusion: Let Faith Live

The early Church understood something we must recover: real faith is alive. It’s not a moment of belief followed by a life of passivity. It is active, growing, refining—and yes, working.

So whether it’s James, Paul, Peter, or John, they’re all on the same page:

Your works don’t save you. But they do show that you’ve been saved.