The biggest
problem with the Church in America today is antinomianism, believing that works
are not required for salvation. Antinomianism
takes both liberal and evangelical forms born of misunderstanding.
Confusion
results from the apparent conflict between Paul and James in the New Testament:
For
if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not
before God. (Romans 4:2 ESV)
VS.
You
see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.(James 2:24
ESV)
What is the explanation for these seemingly variant words? How might these statements be reconciled?
The answer is quite simple.
The men are employing two different frames of reference. Paul is thinking polemically, arguing against
the circumcision party and Judaizing teachers that harassed him and his new
converts among the Gentiles. He uses Abraham
as the exemplar for a class of people, the new Gentile Christians for
whom he is the apostle and chief spokesman, justifying their access to covenant
grace in terms of the big picture of God’s unfolding purpose in salvation
history:
[Abraham]
received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by
faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father
of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be
counted to them as well, (Romans 4:11 ESV)
Note the plural “to them” in Romans 4:11 just above. Paul’s statements about justification
by faith and not by works have a narrow and specific meaning within Paul’s
polemical argument: Christianity, which includes believing Gentiles, supersedes Judaism
as the new way of righteousness from God.
James uses the singular “a man” because he speaks to personal
salvation. James uses Abraham as the model
and example of an individual whose saving faith must be completed by
works. His conclusion is clear: no works
means a faith that cannot save. The
works required are found in the New Testament.
To believe in Jesus means to adopt his religion and obey his commands. Therefore, one must be careful to do
everything the New Testament says in order to be saved, all else being equal.
