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It is believed by some that the Apostle Paul’s teaching concerning justification/righteousness is not in harmony with the Apostle James. They view Paul as teaching justification by faith alone and that a person cannot be justified by works of the law or obedience to Torah. This study will show that the Apostle Paul is in complete harmony with James.
The Problem
The verses that lead to the erroneous conclusion above and which appear to contradict and lack harmony are as follows;
James 2:24 - You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
As opposed to:
In the last four verses above, Paul seems to be saying that righteousness/justification can come by no other means than by faith. Therefore, the first question we need to answer is, “Is the Apostle Paul teaching that justification or righteousness can only come through faith?” I believe the answer is, “No!” Looking at the whole of his teaching we find this:
These two verses seem to teach that there is a righteousness that comes through works, that is, works of obedience to the law. Indeed, that is what the next two verses teach.
The Solution
Philippians 3:9 above gives the essence of Paul’s teaching on this subject. The righteousness that comes through obedience to the law is NOT the same righteousness that is imputed to believers through the faith of Messiah. The former righteousness comes from the work of man and the latter righteousness comes from Yahweh.
How, then, can we explain Paul’s meaning in Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16, 21; and 3:11?” The righteousness Paul addresses in these verses is a righteousness that can only come from Yahweh. It is Messiah Yeshua’s imputed righteousness through his faith and the believer’s faith in him. Of course, having faith in Yeshua comes through having faith in Yahweh. This kind of imputed righteousness by faith ALWAYS precedes the righteousness that comes through works whether they be works of obedience to the law or works such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or hiding spies as Rahab did.
In the examples the Apostle James used to show justification/righteousness by works, all the works mentioned were the fruit of people that had faith.
Example #1 - What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit? (James 2:14-16)
James is addressing believers who have already received Yeshua and his imputed righteousness. They already have a living faith. If, however, they did not have a living faith, they would not provide the necessary food or clothing. Doing such good works as feeding the hungry and clothing the naked are the fruit of having a living faith.
Example #2 - Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Do you see how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (James 2:21-22)
Abraham was already declared righteous before Isaac was even born (Genesis 15:6) based on his faith in Yahweh. Offering Isaac was the fruit of that faith.
Example #3 - Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (James 2:25)
The following are the words of Rahab to the spies.
Those are the words of a woman who had faith in Yahweh. She heard about Yahweh’s great deliverance of and care for Israel and believed that Yahweh not only existed, but was the true Elohim in heaven as opposed to all the false Elohim she was surrounded by. Her hiding the spies was a fruit of that faith.
The Problem
The verses that lead to the erroneous conclusion above and which appear to contradict and lack harmony are as follows;
James 2:24 - You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
As opposed to:
Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Galatians 2:16 - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Yeshua Messiah, even we have believed in Yeshua Messiah, that we might be justified by the faith of Messiah, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal 2:21 - I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 2:16 - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Yeshua Messiah, even we have believed in Yeshua Messiah, that we might be justified by the faith of Messiah, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal 2:21 - I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 3:11 - But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of Elohim, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
In the last four verses above, Paul seems to be saying that righteousness/justification can come by no other means than by faith. Therefore, the first question we need to answer is, “Is the Apostle Paul teaching that justification or righteousness can only come through faith?” I believe the answer is, “No!” Looking at the whole of his teaching we find this:
Romans 2:13 - For not the hearers of the law are just before Elohim, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Romans 6:16 Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:16 Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
These two verses seem to teach that there is a righteousness that comes through works, that is, works of obedience to the law. Indeed, that is what the next two verses teach.
Romans 10:5 - For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them.
Philippians 3:9 - And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Messiah, the righteousness which is of Elohim by faith:
Philippians 3:9 - And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Messiah, the righteousness which is of Elohim by faith:
The Solution
Philippians 3:9 above gives the essence of Paul’s teaching on this subject. The righteousness that comes through obedience to the law is NOT the same righteousness that is imputed to believers through the faith of Messiah. The former righteousness comes from the work of man and the latter righteousness comes from Yahweh.
How, then, can we explain Paul’s meaning in Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16, 21; and 3:11?” The righteousness Paul addresses in these verses is a righteousness that can only come from Yahweh. It is Messiah Yeshua’s imputed righteousness through his faith and the believer’s faith in him. Of course, having faith in Yeshua comes through having faith in Yahweh. This kind of imputed righteousness by faith ALWAYS precedes the righteousness that comes through works whether they be works of obedience to the law or works such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or hiding spies as Rahab did.
In the examples the Apostle James used to show justification/righteousness by works, all the works mentioned were the fruit of people that had faith.
Example #1 - What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit? (James 2:14-16)
James is addressing believers who have already received Yeshua and his imputed righteousness. They already have a living faith. If, however, they did not have a living faith, they would not provide the necessary food or clothing. Doing such good works as feeding the hungry and clothing the naked are the fruit of having a living faith.
Example #2 - Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Do you see how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (James 2:21-22)
Abraham was already declared righteous before Isaac was even born (Genesis 15:6) based on his faith in Yahweh. Offering Isaac was the fruit of that faith.
Example #3 - Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (James 2:25)
The following are the words of Rahab to the spies.
And she said unto the men, I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for Yahweh your Elohim, he is Elohim in heaven above, and in earth beneath. (Joshua 2:9-11)
Those are the words of a woman who had faith in Yahweh. She heard about Yahweh’s great deliverance of and care for Israel and believed that Yahweh not only existed, but was the true Elohim in heaven as opposed to all the false Elohim she was surrounded by. Her hiding the spies was a fruit of that faith.
