Faith and works are mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible, yet man has trouble seeing their relationship. It has been declared many times that salvation is by faith alone and that man has noting to do with his salvation. Let us examine one Bible example that clearly demonstrates how faith and works are inseparable in obeying God. "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son," Heb. 11:17. "Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the alter?" Jas. 2:21. Was Abraham justified by faith or works? There are three kinds of works mentioned in the Bible. Works of the Law of Moses. Rom. 3 :28; Gal. 3:2. Works of good men. Mt. 7:21-23. Works of obedience. Acts 10:35. Jesus said that faith is a work. "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Jo. 6:29. Paul also said faith was a work. I Thess. 1:3; II Thess. 1:11. In the book of Hebrews chapter eleven, we are given a list of people God considered faithful because they obeyed His word. The faith that men claim is needed for salvation is one separate from works and is the kind James said the devils possess. Jas. 21:9. John wrote of some who were afraid to let their faith act. Jo. 12:42. A faith that does not obey is dead, vain, useless and without power to save. Abraham's faith acted or worked. He is the example God gave to man of a living faith. Jas. 2:21,22. A living faith is one that completely obeys the commands of God without question. So faith and works are inseparable.

 

By Earl B. Claud