Logical Equivalence of Faith and Works

[tonychanyt]

Faith and works are two sides of the same coin. Here I will give the First-Order Logical proof of that.

Let proposition F = you have faith in his heart.
W = you exhibit (faithful) deeds.

James 2:

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​

¬W → ¬F
⇒ F → W

Now let's look at the converse.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.​

Works show faith. But what kinds of works?

Galatians 2:

16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.​

Works of the law (works according to the letters of the law, i.e., works without faith) are not good enough. Only faithful works or deeds will do.

Matthew 5:

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.​

My good faithful works show my faith.
W → F

Altogether, it is saying F ⟷ W.

F ≡ W. James 2:

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.​

What about saving by faith alone as expressed by Paul?

Ephesians 2:

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of [faithless] works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.​

We are saved by grace through faith for good works.

ESV 1 Timothy 4:

16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.​

Titus 3:

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit​

Philippians 2:

12b work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.​

Right. Works apart from faith (i.e., faithless works) are useless in saving you. However, after you have been saved by faith, you will naturally show faithful deeds because F ⇔ W according to James 2 and Galatians 2.

Basically, faith and faithful works are logically the same things. You can't have one without the other. Your invisible vertical faith will produce observable horizontal works.

See also JUSTIFICATION by works, grace, or faith?.

 

[d taylor]

-
​

...Faith makes one righteous before God who can see the mind/heart. Works can show people (who can not see the heart/mind), who a believer is, that is if the person has believed in Jesus for God's free gift of Eternal Life.

...But sadly many that are doing works have yet to believe in Jesus for Eternal Life. So their works are showing nothing.

 

[Kale100]

You introduce a lot of interesting and informative topics, keep up the good work(s), or is it faith? I guess they equate so either way! Haha.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Faith and works are two sides of the same coin. Here I will give the First-Order Logical proof of that.

Let proposition F = you have faith in his heart.
W = you exhibit (faithful) deeds.

James 2:

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​

¬W → ¬F
⇒ F → W

Now let's look at the converse.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.​

Works show faith. But what kinds of works?

Galatians 2:

16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.​

Works of the law (without faith) are not good enough. Only faithful works or deeds will do.

Matthew 5:

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.​

My good faithful works show my faith.
W → F

Altogether, it is saying F ⟷ W.

F ≡ W. James 2:

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.​

What about saving by faith alone as expressed by Paul?

Ephesians 2:

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of [faithless] works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.​

We are saved by grace through faith for good works.

ESV 1 Timothy 4:

16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.​

Titus 3:

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in [faithless] righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit​

Philippians 2:

12b work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.​

Right. Works apart from faith (i.e., faithless works) are useless in saving you. However, after you have been saved by faith, you will naturally show faithful deeds because F ⇔ W according to James 2 and Galatians 2.

Basically, faith and faithful works are logically the same things. You can't have one without the other. Your invisible vertical faith will produce observable horizontal works.

Faith without works is dead is juxtaposed to phrases that tend to contradict what most people correlate it to, that being the Moses law.

James chapter 2 is preceeded by a helpful saying:
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

8 ¶ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
The passage then says "because" if you offend in one point of the law, you are guilty of all, listing various offenses from the Mosaic law. And then "Therefore" exhorts to be judged according to the law of liberty (in contrast to Paul's concept of the law of slavery)

14 ¶ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

The example is about helping someone who is hungry by giving them food. The text even speaks against the Word of Faith "speaking into existence" response. And is not referring to the law, it is referring to treating others as Jesus treated you. You were in need, so Jesus met that need. The expression of faith in Jesus centres around treating others as Jesus has treated you.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

This passage provides additional examples defining faith as more than an emotional reaction, but taking action when required. Abraham sacrificed his son, but his son did not die, it was about demonstrating that Abraham trusted God. Rahab harbored spies of a force hostile to the city she lived in, and helped them escape. Rahab on faith applied in reality the promise of the red cord and she was not killed. It was trust in the promise that brought salvation.

This tells me: You have faith in the integrity of this chair, therefore sit in it. God has a deep regard for those who are considered "less than" to the point of considering them His proxy. To "have faith" in such a God, is to take this into account.

 

[Clare73]

Faith and works are two sides of the same coin. Here I will give the First-Order Logical proof of that.

Let proposition F = you have faith in his heart.
W = you exhibit (faithful) deeds.

James 2:

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​

¬W → ¬F
⇒ F → W

Now let's look at the converse.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.​

Works show faith. But what kinds of works?

Galatians 2:

16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.​

Works of the law (without faith) are not good enough. Only faithful works or deeds will do.

Matthew 5:

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.​

My good faithful works show my faith.
W → F

Altogether, it is saying F ⟷ W.

F ≡ W. James 2:

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.​

What about saving by faith alone as expressed by Paul?

Ephesians 2:

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of [faithless] works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.​

We are saved by grace through faith for good works.

ESV 1 Timothy 4:

16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.​

Titus 3:

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in [faithless] righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit​

Philippians 2:

12b work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.​

Right. Works apart from faith (i.e., faithless works) are useless in saving you. However, after you have been saved by faith, you will naturally show faithful deeds because F ⇔ W according to James 2 and Galatians 2.

Basically, faith and faithful works are logically the same things. You can't have one without the other. Your invisible vertical faith will produce observable horizontal works.

You can't have true faith without works, but the works of that true faith do not save, only the faith saves.

 

[tonychanyt]

You can't have true faith without works, but the works of that true faith do not save, only the faith saves.

That depends on your definition of save. I see salvation (or being saved) as a 3-stages process:

1. Paraclete indwells the human spirit. Some call this justification or regeneration.
2. Sanctification of the soul involves faithful works.
3. Bodily glorification on the last day.

 

[Soyeong]

Faith and works are two sides of the same coin. Here I will give the First-Order Logical proof of that.

Let proposition F = you have faith in his heart.
W = you exhibit (faithful) deeds.

James 2:

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​

¬W → ¬F
⇒ F → W

Now let's look at the converse.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.​

Works show faith. But what kinds of works?

Galatians 2:

16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.​

Works of the law (without faith) are not good enough. Only faithful works or deeds will do.

Matthew 5:

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.​

My good faithful works show my faith.
W → F

Altogether, it is saying F ⟷ W.

F ≡ W. James 2:

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.​

What about saving by faith alone as expressed by Paul?

Ephesians 2:

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of [faithless] works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.​

We are saved by grace through faith for good works.

ESV 1 Timothy 4:

16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.​

Titus 3:

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in [faithless] righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit​

Philippians 2:

12b work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.​

Right. Works apart from faith (i.e., faithless works) are useless in saving you. However, after you have been saved by faith, you will naturally show faithful deeds because F ⇔ W according to James 2 and Galatians 2.

Basically, faith and faithful works are logically the same things. You can't have one without the other. Your invisible vertical faith will produce observable horizontal works.

We have a choice between whether we are going to lean in our own understanding of right and wrong by doing what is right in our own eyes or whether we are going to are going to trust in God with all of our hearts to correctly make that distinction through what He has instructed (Proverbs 3:5-7), and that is what it means to have faith. Obedience to any set of instructions is about putting our faith in the one who gave them to correctly guide us, which is why there are many verses that connect our faith with our obedience to God's law. However, there can be any number of reasons for obeying God's law other than faith, such as love, or in order to earn something, so the Bible can speak against incorrect reasons for why our salvation requires us to obey God's law while still speaking in favor of correct reasons. For example, even though we God's law was never given as a means of earning our justification as a wage (Romans 4:1-5) our justification still requires us to choose to be doers of the law (Romans 2:13).

Our salvation is from sin (Matthew 1:21) and sin is the transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4), so while we do not earn our salvation as the result of obeying it, living in obedience to it through faith in Jesus is nevertheless intrinsically part of the concept of him saving us from not living in obedience to it. In Titus 2:11-14, our salvation is described as being trained by grace to do what is godly, righteous, and good, and to renounce doing what is ungodly, so it is neither the case that we will be saved as the result of having done those works nor will do those works as the result of having been saved, but rather God graciously teaching us to do those works is itself the content of His gift of saving us from not doing those works.

 

[tonychanyt]

it is neither the case that we will be saved as the result of having done those works nor will do those works as the result of having been saved, but rather God graciously teaching us to do those works is itself the content of His gift of saving us from not doing those works.

I define salvation (or being saved) as a 3-stages process:

1. Paraclete indwells the human spirit. Some call this justification or regeneration.
2. Sanctification of the soul involves faithful works.
3. Bodily glorification on the last day.

How do you define salvation?

 

[Soyeong]

I define salvation (or being saved) as a 3-stages process:

1. Paraclete indwells the human spirit. Some call this justification or regeneration.
2. Sanctification of the soul involves faithful works.
3. Bodily glorification on the last day.

How do you define salvation?

The Bible speaks about our salvation in the past, present, and future tenses, so we have been saved from the penalty of our sin (Ephesians 2:5), we are being saved from continuing to live in sin (Philippians 2:12), and we will be saved from God's wrath on the day of the Lord (Romans 5:9-10), In Titus 2:11-14, it also says that Jesus gave himself to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people of his own possession who are zealous for doing good works, so there is an aspect of our salvation that has already been accomplished and an aspect of our salvation that is ongoing in the present. For example, having the experience of honoring our parents is intrinsically the content of God's gift of saving us from having the experience of not honoring our parents, so that aspect of our salvation straightforwardly requires us to obey the command to honor our parents in order to have the gift of that experience.

The three tenses of salvation roughly correspond to the three stages that you listed, however, it is more complicated than that. For instance, we have been sanctified (Hebrews 10:10), we are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:14), and when he who began a good work in us is faith to complete it on the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6), then that means that we also will be sanctified. Likewise, Hebrews 11 lists examples of justifying faith and Abraham is listed twice. Abraham was justified in Genesis 12:1-5 when he obeyed the call to go to the land where he would receive his inheritance (Hebrews 11:8), he was justified in Genesis 15:6 when he believed God (Romans 4:1-5, James 2:23), and he was justified in Genesis 22 when he offered Isaac (Hebrews 11:17, James 2:21), so there were at least three times when he was justified.

 

[Soyeong]

Faith without works is dead is juxtaposed to phrases that tend to contradict what most people correlate it to, that being the Moses law.

James chapter 2 is preceeded by a helpful saying:
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

8 ¶ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
The passage then says "because" if you offend in one point of the law, you are guilty of all, listing various offenses from the Mosaic law. And then "Therefore" exhorts to be judged according to the law of liberty (in contrast to Paul's concept of the law of slavery)

14 ¶ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

The example is about helping someone who is hungry by giving them food. The text even speaks against the Word of Faith "speaking into existence" response. And is not referring to the law, it is referring to treating others as Jesus treated you. You were in need, so Jesus met that need. The expression of faith in Jesus centres around treating others as Jesus has treated you.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

This passage provides additional examples defining faith as more than an emotional reaction, but taking action when required. Abraham sacrificed his son, but his son did not die, it was about demonstrating that Abraham trusted God. Rahab harbored spies of a force hostile to the city she lived in, and helped them escape. Rahab on faith applied in reality the promise of the red cord and she was not killed. It was trust in the promise that brought salvation.

This tells me: You have faith in the integrity of this chair, therefore sit in it. God has a deep regard for those who are considered "less than" to the point of considering them His proxy. To "have faith" in such a God, is to take this into account.

Do you think that we we should have faith in God to correctly divide between right and wrong through what He has instructed in the Mosaic Law?

To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world is all in accordance with what is commanded in the Mosaic Law. Likewise, the Mosaic Law is perfect (Psalms 19:7), it is a law of liberty (Psalms 119:45), and it blesses those who obey it (Psalms 119:1-3), so when James 1:25 speaks about a perfect law of liberty that blesses those who obey it, he wasn't saying anything about the Mosaic Law that wasn't already said in the Psalms. If God saved the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt in order to put them under slavery to His law, then it would have been for slavery that God sets us free, however, Galatians 5:1 says that it is for freedom that God sets us free. In Psalms 119:142, the Mosaic Law is truth, and in John 8:31-36, it is sin in transgression of the Mosaic Law that puts us into slavery while it is the truth that sets us free. Jesus set a sinless example of how to walk in obedience to the Mosaic Law, so that is the way that we are to treat others as he treated us.

 

[Halbhh]

Do you think that we we should have faith in God to correctly divide between right and wrong through what He has instructed in the Mosaic Law?

To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world is all in accordance with what is commanded in the Mosaic Law. Likewise, the Mosaic Law is perfect (Psalms 19:7), it is a law of liberty (Psalms 119:45), and it blesses those who obey it (Psalms 119:1-3), so when James 1:25 speaks about a perfect law of liberty that blesses those who obey it, he wasn't saying anything about the Mosaic Law that wasn't already said in the Psalms. If God saved the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt in order to put them under slavery to His law, then it would have been for slavery that God sets us free, however, Galatians 5:1 says that it is for freedom that God sets us free. In Psalms 119:142, the Mosaic Law is truth, and in John 8:31-36, it is sin in transgression of the Mosaic Law that puts us into slavery while it is the truth that sets us free. Jesus set a sinless example of how to walk in obedience to the Mosaic Law, so that is the way that we are to treat others as he treated us.

Yes, and as Christ said: "No one is good except God alone."

So, we must add to the above about how the Law is truth the wonderful new thing Christ brought to us all -- that we can become able to bear good fruit, fruit that lasts, after we come to Christ in faith by then abiding in Christ, that is, remaining in Him, and His word in us, looking to Him, remembering Him, fixing our gaze upon Him....and when we do, then we can bear good fruit because we are on the Vine:

So, this is the only way we can bear good fruit that lasts:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other."

John 15

 

[tonychanyt]

Abraham was justified in Genesis 12:1-5 when he obeyed the call to go to the land where he would receive his inheritance (Hebrews 11:8), he was justified in Genesis 15:6 when he believed God (Romans 4:1-5, James 2:23), and he was justified in Genesis 22 when he offered Isaac (Hebrews 11:17, James 2:21), so there were at least three times when he was justified.

Right, there is some ambiguity in the term justification. Check this.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Do you think that we we should have faith in God to correctly divide between right and wrong through what He has instructed in the Mosaic Law?

To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world is all in accordance with what is commanded in the Mosaic Law. Likewise, the Mosaic Law is perfect (Psalms 19:7), it is a law of liberty (Psalms 119:45), and it blesses those who obey it (Psalms 119:1-3), so when James 1:25 speaks about a perfect law of liberty that blesses those who obey it, he wasn't saying anything about the Mosaic Law that wasn't already said in the Psalms. If God saved the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt in order to put them under slavery to His law, then it would have been for slavery that God sets us free, however, Galatians 5:1 says that it is for freedom that God sets us free. In Psalms 119:142, the Mosaic Law is truth, and in John 8:31-36, it is sin in transgression of the Mosaic Law that puts us into slavery while it is the truth that sets us free. Jesus set a sinless example of how to walk in obedience to the Mosaic Law, so that is the way that we are to treat others as he treated us.

Paul identified a problem with relying on the law. The problem however is not with the law, it is with us. We can't handle the law, it makes us more sinful.

Since relying on the law does not net the results required under kingdom standards, we need to rely on what became available as a result of Jesus's incredible gift.

 

[Clare73]

That depends on your definition of save. I see salvation (or being saved) as a 3-stages process:

1. Paraclete indwells the human spirit. Some call this justification or regeneration.
2. Sanctification of the soul involves faithful works.
3. Bodily glorification on the last day.

Salvation (past) is from the wrath of God (Ro 5:9) on sin
through faith in (works totally excluded) and trust on the atoning work (blood, Ro 3:25) of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sin
and right standing with God's justice; i.e., not guilty.

Salvation (present) is the life of sanctification in the Holy Spirit through works of obedience.
Salvation (future) is the resurrection (not by works).

In common Christian parlance, "salvation" usually refers to salvation past, as in Eph 2:8-9.

 

[Soyeong]

Paul identified a problem with relying on the law. The problem however is not with the law, it is with us. We can't handle the law, it makes us more sinful.

According to Deuteronomy 27-28, relying on God's law is the way to be blessed while not relying on it is the way to be cursed and Paul quoted from this passage in order to support his point, so he did not disagree, and it would be absurd to think that quoted from this passage in order to support a point that was arguing against this passage, especially when he considered Deuteronomy to be Scripture, so he did not identify a problem with relying on God's law. God's law teaches us to refrain from sin, so it makes us less sinful, and it is completely absurd to think teaching us to refrain from sin makes us more sinful. If you understand Paul as saying something completely absurd, then it would be better to have the self-awareness to recognize that you must have misunderstood what he said instead of promoting absurdities. A law that makes us sinful would be a law that is sinful, but Romans 7:7 says that God's law is not sinful, but how we know what sin is.

Since relying on the law does not net the results required under kingdom standards, we need to rely on what became available as a result of Jesus's incredible gift.

God's word accomplishes what it sets out to do and does not return void. It is contradictory to think that we should rely on God, but should not rely on His word and to speak against relying on God's word is to speak against relying on God and God's word made flesh, it is refusing to rely on what became available as the result of Jesus' incredible gift.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

According to Deuteronomy 27-28, relying on God's law is the way to be blessed while not relying on it is the way to be cursed

That's only if you're under the law. The whole Israelite assembly swore that they would follow God and were placed under the blessing and curse system of the mosaic law. However, those who believe in Jesus do not have that burden.

 

[Kale100]

Tony, what are your thoughts regarding the logical equivalence of faith and works applied to specific instances or subsets of faith? Faith has up to this point in the topic more or less only discussed at a macro/whole level. To give an easy example of what I'm trying to get at, if someone has faith in God's mercy, do you think that would equate to the work of them being merciful to others? What about in less clear cut areas, like say in literal versus non-literal interpretations of pieces of scripture?

 

[tonychanyt]

if someone has faith in God's mercy, do you think that would equate to the work of them being merciful to others?

Excellent point. It works both ways. If a person is merciful to others, God will be merciful to him.

Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

 

[pasifika]

Faith and works are two sides of the same coin. Here I will give the First-Order Logical proof of that.

Let proposition F = you have faith in his heart.
W = you exhibit (faithful) deeds.

James 2:

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​

¬W → ¬F
⇒ F → W

Now let's look at the converse.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.​

Works show faith. But what kinds of works?

Galatians 2:

16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.​

Works of the law (without faith) are not good enough. Only faithful works or deeds will do.

Matthew 5:

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.​

My good faithful works show my faith.
W → F

Altogether, it is saying F ⟷ W.

F ≡ W. James 2:

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.​

What about saving by faith alone as expressed by Paul?

Ephesians 2:

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of [faithless] works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.​

We are saved by grace through faith for good works.

ESV 1 Timothy 4:

16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.​

Titus 3:

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in [faithless] righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit​

Philippians 2:

12b work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.​

Right. Works apart from faith (i.e., faithless works) are useless in saving you. However, after you have been saved by faith, you will naturally show faithful deeds because F ⇔ W according to James 2 and Galatians 2.

Basically, faith and faithful works are logically the same things. You can't have one without the other. Your invisible vertical faith will produce observable horizontal works.

I agree that Faith equal faithful works. But what is "works of the law"? What law that would be? Thanks

 

[tonychanyt]

I agree that Faith equal faithful works. But what is "works of the law"? What law that would be? Thanks

Good question.

I would define works of the law as works according to the letters of the law, any OT or NT law, without faith.