BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS (Part 4)

Romans 3:28 Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

James 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

What then? Do we get justified by faith or by works?

THE MEANING:

Both passages above seem to contradict each other, but when read in the context of the issue being addressed by the writers (Paul and James), they are actually not.

To be justified means “to be declared righteous.”

In the book of Romans, Paul was addressing the early church in Rome, and the emphasis was that their reconciliation with God is based solely on salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. So, he was telling them that the price for their justification has been paid by God’s grace (Greek charis: good will, loving-kindness, favour), which comes through faith in Christ Jesus, not by works. The “works” referred to, in this context, are works of the Jewish Law, which governed the Jews’ spiritual and physical lives.

James 2, however, addresses another matter entirely. His emphasis here is that our faith in Christ Jesus ought to prompt us to do good works. He goes on to state that faith without works is dead. This means, when you come to the Lord based solely on his favour to all men, and begin to grow in the knowledge of His words, you begin to grow in faith (Romans 10:17). Building upon that, you begin to show by your works how strong or active your faith is.

READ NEXT: BIBLE CONTRADICTIONS (PART 5)

LIVING FAITH VS DEAD FAITH

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. Ephesians 2:8‭-‬10 BSB

So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2:17‭-‬18 BSB

In summary, Romans teaches us that we are not saved by works, but by grace through faith. And then James goes on to tell us that as we grow, our faith is proven by what we do, not by what we know or believe. It’s complementary, not contradictory.