Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Grace in Focus Articles
→
How Can Faith Not Produce Good Works?

How Can Faith Not Produce Good Works?

September 1, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Grace in Focus Articles

I was recently asked, “I am a little confused as to the relationship between faith and works in the Free Grace understanding. My own understanding is that faith naturally has a corresponding action. It’s not that the action proves or adds anything to salvation, but that grace-born trust in Jesus could not fail to be accompanied by some corresponding activity emerging from the trusting heart. Doesn’t faith necessarily produce good works? And if not, why not?”

The answer is fairly simple: in between faith and good works there is a little thing called the will.

The Connection

Just because you believe something is true, doesn’t mean you will necessarily choose to act on that truth. In that case, your failure to act is not a failure of faith, but of the will.

For example, take James 2. Imagine being faced with a brother or sister in Christ who is hungry, needs a job, or needs a place to stay. You believe a number of things about his or her situation—e.g., that God has commanded you to love your neighbors, that your neighbors need help, and that it would be good to help them. You may even believe that God will reward you for helping.

And yet, despite these beliefs, you choose to ignore the needy brother and spend your money eating out at a restaurant.

Why did your faith not produce good works? It was not a failure of faith, but of choosing. You didn’t do, because you chose not to act on those beliefs.

Faith and works are connected. But they are connected by the will.

Of course, you should choose to act on your faith and apply Bible doctrine to your life. You should choose to live consistently with your beliefs. You should do things like love your neighbor. But that is a moral imperative, not a causal necessity. In other words, it is a choice you must make. As Joshua challenged the Israelites, “choose for yourselves today whom you will serve” (Josh 24:15).

____________________

Shawn Lazar lives in Denton, TX, with his wife Abby and their three children.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Shawn_L

by Shawn Lazar

Shawn Lazar (BTh, McGill; MA, VU Amsterdam) was the Editor of Grace in Focus magazine and Director of Publications for Grace Evangelical Society from May 2012 through June 2022. He and his wife Abby have three children. He has written several books including: Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation and Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life.

Cart

Recently Added

June 8, 2023

Must Assurance of Salvation Be Based on Jesus’ Promise? 

M. H. asks a great question: I recently viewed a couple of your blogs where you talked about how someone only needs to believe in...
June 7, 2023

If Someone Uses the Term “Implicit Faith,” What Are They Talking About?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin and Steve Elkins are answering a question about implicit faith. They will explain what this is...
June 7, 2023

Will Few or Many Be Saved? 

In Luke 13:23, the Lord is asked if few will be saved. In that context, the Lord is talking about salvation as it pertains to...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • The Gospel Under Siege: Faith and Works in Tension $16.00 $10.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance $15.00 $10.00
  • Romans: Deliverance from Wrath $24.99 $15.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube