Gospel of Works versus Gospel of Grace

Sir Thomas More (Devout Catholic Genius) Martin Luther (Devout Protestant Reformer)

The debate over the gospel of works and gospel of grace has festered for over seven hundred years of Church history. The arguments on both sides are convincing, those in camp of Solae Gracias, claim that only Jesus Christ can save you and this is free gift of salvation known as grace, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) and "No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." (Acts 15:11), "and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24). Those in camp of the Sacrament of Penance disagrees by quoting, "faith without works is dead," (James 2:17),  "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.." (Phillippians 2:12), and "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:12-13). How do we reconcile these two opposites? We have believe and works salvation, "believe and you shall be saved," (John 3:16) and "the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 23:13).



Martin Luther, whom I highly respect and quote, spoke against James and did great harm by preaching against the Apostle James. Martin Luther viewed James as being like the Catholic Church, supporting penitential salvation, "faith without works is dead." (James 2:17). But James does not talk about works saving you, he is referencing Christ and talking about fruit, "Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions." (Matthew 7:16-20, NIV, last verse NLT).
James goes on to say that faith must be connected with works, as one, just as God is one, not partisans of faith versus partisans of works:
"¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith (Protestants), and I have works (Catholics).” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:14-26, NKJV, Protestant and Catholic added by Jeffrey Gassler ). James is not talking about works based salvation or the gospel of works, he is simply saying if you are saved there should be signs, works, which are in love, "Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." (John 14:23-24). This has been problem of Church since its beginning, people either want to be like Catholic Church (all works) or the Protestant Church (faith and grace), they do not combine the two! You are saved by faith and belief in Jesus Christ, but that requires a work too, "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 1:9). So do not disregard the Apostle James because of Luther's mistaken views of him and His book. Luther and many great Reformers went too far at times in their goal of emancipation. They were right about much, but got too radical about things like condemning anything that talks about works. Luther and some of his contemporaries threw "The baby out with the bath water." They swung on pendlum from works to grace, without seeing that works stem from grace, that because you are saved by grace through faith and belief in Jesus Christ (John 3:16) you will automatically do good works not to be saved, but because you are saved! And that to be get grace you have to accept (take action) and confess you believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16).

The reason we are drawn to both Protestantism and Catholicism, both the Church of Grace and Church of Works is because we suppose to be both! James says Faith and works at once, together, as one! That means we suppose to be Church of Grace and Works. This is why we love the Reformers, and Ritters (Crusaders). This is why we enjoy the freedom of Reformed theology, but cannot help be riveted when we read about High Churches and its history and rites. We are suppose to be both, to love both Sir Thomas More and Martin Luther, to revere the prophets of Protestantism and the popes of the Papacy. There was never suppose to be sides, in fact the Apostle James mentions the sides, “show me your faith, and I will show you my works,” (James 2:17-19) but we need both! Faith, salvation, and belief are both a inner gift of grace and action, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from dead, you shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9). It must be a bridge of both, a combination of both, a symbiotic relationship of grace and works makes up faith, and this is problem in church. We have splintered into “grace” and “works” so that neither church is safe or walking in fullness!!!

This is why we as Christians are restless in the Church of Rome or in Church of Reform. In the Church of Rome and Catholicism it is all works without grace, and in Church of the Reformation it is all grace without works. You cannot separate the two, as Romans 10:9 clearly states, and so then both the Roman and Reformed Churches are sharing only a half gospel, which Paul said, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!” (Galatians 1:8) or “For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily.” (2 Corinthians 11:4). This is why we dissatisfied in our churches! We as Protestants long for works and action as we see it in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, while those in the Catholic churches long for grace and assurance of salvation and movement of holy spirit found in our Reformed churches. If we were one, it would be full faith. We need a Church of both grace and works, both gospels: works and grace make the One Gospel! If we remain separate you get the Catholic church which is all works,  "having a form of godliness but denying its power.. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." (2 Timothy 3:5-Colossians 2:23) or the Reformed Protestant Church which neglects works, "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (James 2:17-Phillipians 2:12). We need the full Gospel of Works and Grace (Romans 10:9). AMEN.