Works of faith

So James says, "Faith without works is dead."  He doesn't really give much context outside of that though.  The book of James itself is about being humble and loving in view of God's mercy and love.  So perhaps these works he discusses are works of love, just as Jesus (James' brother) preached and commanded.  That would be a perfectly sound biblical stance and view if one holds to that.  Faith without works of love is dead....

But what if there is more to it?  What if those "works" were more than just love?

To be sure, water baptism was heavily preached by the Apostles, even the early church.  I do not believe the act alone saves anybody, no more than I believe uttering a "Sinner's Prayer" saves anybody.  Faith is what saves us.

Abraham was justified by his faith as expressed through his work.  So are we.

Notice also in the types given in NT writings of water baptism, those who pass through the waters signifying baptism, leave behind their old lives and enter into a new beginning:

NOAH as written and described by Peter

to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 3:20, 21 NIV)

ISRAELITES as written and described by Paul

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4 NIV)

They left the old behind and through the water are entering a new beginning.  God even gives both a new covenant once they pass through the water.

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-17 NIV)

Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Exodus 24:6-8 NIV)

So we can see the biblical precedent for water baptism as being pertinent to enter into a new covenant with God.  But as in all things, our faith is what justifies us.  Faith expressed through works.  I view baptism as just one of these as necessary.

What are the others?

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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9, 10 NIV)

Confession is necessary.  We must not only confess Christ as our Lord, we must make Him Lord meaning He is in charge not self.  Most Protestants have no issue accepting this act as necessary for salvation, not even considering confession is a work that one must do.  They even preach that in a very blind sense.  You can not work for salvation but you must do this one work, confession, to be saved.  I used to accept that and teach it, so I understand.  It’s just not so.  You either teach no works can save us or some works save us.  But confession is an act, a work that is done.

Now look at this statement Paul made as he was testifying about his conversion to the Jews in Acts 22:

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (Acts 22:16 ESV)

Be baptized and call on his name….

Aeneas as he ministered to Saul told him both were needed.  Paul seemingly agreed and complied, then taught as much.

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, (Titus 3:5 ESV)

“THE WASHING OF REGENERATION”

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:3-5 ESV)

Even Jesus said in context of being born again that one is born again through water and Spirit.

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (John 3:3-5, 7 ESV)

So while most, if not all, accept confession as necessary for salvation, almost none (in Protestant circles) accept baptism in the same light, even though it appears scripture says both are necessary.

Works of faith that save us.  Faith justifies, works save.

What is salvation anyway?  You are not saved yet.  That comes when Jesus returns correct?

who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5 NIV)

Salvation in the eternal life sense is not received until we hear, well done good and faithful servant.  We see Paul clearly states in Romans 3:28, 5:1, 10:10 and Galatians 2:16, 3:24 that only through faith in Christ are we justified.  Yet he also states in Romans 10:10 that confession saves us, in Titus 3:5 that washing of regeneration saves us.  Peter joins in and says in 1 Peter 3:21 that baptism saves us (Washing of regeneration).  For again, as Paul explains in Romans 6, by baptism we join ourselves with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

So it is my opinion that faith without works means:

We initially validate our faith through baptism and confession, and then continue to demonstrate that faith through acts of love.