Last week I preached from James 2:14-26, a passage that speaks of the importance of good works in the life of the believer. I stressed that, for James, it’s NOT FAITH + WORKS = SALVATION. He didn’t preach “add some works to your faith, then you’ll be saved.”

What he does say is FAITH = SALVATION + WORKS.

Or better

FAITH –> SALVATION –> WORKS

Works are the fruit of salvation, which is the fruit of true faith. He says, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

We looked at Abraham’s life and faith last week. Abraham was called by God in Genesis 12, and God made extraordinary promises – I will make you a great nation, I will bless you, I will bless all the families of the earth through you. Abraham followed God in obedience. In Genesis 15, God reiterates the promises, but Abraham asks, “How, I have no descendants, no heir?” God takes Abraham out into the night and shows him the starry sky. He again promises, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them….So shall your offspring be.” Abraham believed God, and it is counted to him as righteousness – he is justified by faith in God and his promises (Romans 4). Then, several decades later, God tests Abraham’s faith, asking him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, whom he loves, on Mount Moriah. Abraham again follows God in obedience and is about to go through with the sacrifice when God stops him and provides a ram for the offering in Isaac’s place (Genesis 22). James looks at this and says, “Abraham was justified by his works when he offered up his son Isaac.” He means that Abraham’s claim to have faith in God and God’s declaration that Abraham was righteous are proven correct [justified] by this act.

Then this phrase: “faith was completed by his works.”

Completed here is the Greek word telos. It’s the same word Jesus uttered on the cross, “It is finished.” His work was complete. It had reached its intended end, it’s goal.

James is saying that faith aims at something, a goal, and an end to be achieved. And good works are the goal. Faith is incomplete; it hasn’t “done its thing” unless/until it produces good, godly works in us.

Paul makes the same point in Ephesians 2:8-10.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

It’s not by works we are saved, but by grace through faith. But, by grace through faith, we are saved and made into new creatures. We are his workmanship created to do good works – the good works are the end goal of our being remade (saved), which is the goal of our faith. So FAITH –> SALVATION –> GOOD WORKS in Paul, too.

There is freedom and beauty when things are working as they should. Christian, find that freedom in doing good. It’s what you were made for. Those good works bring glory to God, which is the chief end of man.