How can James say, “ faith without works is dead.” When it’s by faith and not by works?
Especially, when Paul says, we are justified by faith.
It’s sounds like an oxymoron. A contradiction in terms. If it is by faith then how is it by works?
Faith and works seem irreconcilable in the Scriptures. As though they both contradict each other.
If works is defined as evidence of faith then it’s possible to do good works without actually having faith.
So what did James mean when he said, “faith without works is dead.”?
Faith itself naturally produces good works. Not as though good works are performed to demonstrate faith. But as a consequence of faith, good works are naturally produced. In this sense good works are evidence of faith. And not unnaturally performing good works as acts of faith.
When it is known you don’t believe nor trust in what God says. Having absolutely no confidence, but doubts and unbelief. Putting on a performance of faith by doing good works. It’s disingenuous to think our evil can be overlooked by doing good.
Which begs the question. How can a good, righteous and just God be bribed by good works to excuse evil?
And equally, how can we say we have faith where there’s no evidence in how we live to demonstrate it?
God who is the author and finisher of our faith gives us the gift of faith, and works faith within us through the indwelling of His Spirit relative to His word until it’s completed. It’s God’s work in us. Not our work on ourselves.
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