Does a Christian need to be only a hearer of the Gospel of Christ and accept it? The Apostle Paul wrote: “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.” (Rom. 2:13, English Standard Version) As these words indicate, walking in the Christian way requires being both “hearers” and “doers” of God’s law. By this the Christian will mature in faith and bring forth spiritual fruit. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. … and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”—II Cor. 9:8,10, New King James Version
An oft repeated theme in the Apostle Paul’s ministry is that none will be made righteous by works of the law. This has frequently been misunderstood by Christians to mean, “No works are required.” This has contributed to a misunderstanding. It is the works of the law given to Moses that will not, and cannot, make us righteous. However, being made righteous by faith in Christ and his shed blood, works will come forth. This is the fruit-bearing Jesus spoke of in the Gospel of John, and it is an evidence of our union with Christ and the working of his spirit within us. “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”—John 15:8, ESV
Faith is manifested in actions. Paul acknowledged this Christian ethic in I Corinthians 15:10. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (ESV) Paul clearly understood the purpose of God’s grace manifested toward us. His grace makes our works of faith acceptable, even when they are inevitably stained by our human sinfulness and frailty.
James affirmed the relationship between our standing with God by faith and the consequent works that must accompany it. “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”—James 2:17,18, NKJV
James affirmed the relationship between our standing with God by faith and the consequent works that must accompany it. “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”—James 2:17,18, NKJV
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