8.58 The difference between “works of faith” vs. “works of the law”

James 2:17 says that faith without works is dead. Some Christians misunderstand this verse and says that they are still under the works of the law. It is important to understand that the passage was talking about “WORKS OF FAITH” rather than “WORKS OF THE LAW”.

(James 2:18)
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James said that this is the kind of works that demonstrate your faith. It is works of faith. The law is not of faith (Gal 3:12). So works of the law demonstrates the absence of faith. Works of the law refers to keeping the law in trying to attain to righteousness. The person does so because he does not believe that Christ has made him righteous.

However, James was referring to actions of faith that arise out of having faith in God. For example, you do not keep the Ten Commandments to be righteous. You are righteous in Christ. So you walk in your new identity in Christ – in the fruit of the Spirit. When you walk by faith in love, the law is automatically fulfilled. We are no longer TRYING, we are BEING.

Sometimes you can’t tell the difference from an action. A person can do good deeds because he is trying to earn his righteousness, or he may believe that it attracts God’s blessings. That becomes works of the law. But a person who walks by faith believing that Jesus has blessed him – will find Christ working through him to be a blessing to others. That is works of faith. Let me share 3 key differences.

1) Cause and effect relationship
Under law, you do something good TO attain to righteousness or blessings. Under faith, you do it BECAUSE you know that Christ has made you righteous and blessed you on the cross.

2) The motive
Under law, you do it because you HAVE TO. It is an external demand placed upon you, resulting in blessings for keeping it. You do it not because you truly want to do it. Under faith, you do it because you WANT TO from the inside. Jesus has blessed you so much that you want to share His UNCONDITIONAL grace with others. There is no motive. You give unconditionally because you have received unconditionally.

3) The source of supply.
Under law, you walk in SELF-EFFORT to perform. There is often striving and you experience fatigue. The law is a demand on what self can offer. Under faith, we believe in JESUS, the source who works in us to perform. We rest in His supply to perform by His miraculous power.