• James 2:20-26
    But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.'And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
     
  • Romans 3:20
    Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will 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 faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
     
  • Romans 2:13
    (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
     
  • Romans 3:28-31
    Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish 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.
     


Related Scriptures

  • Matthew 5:17-20
    "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
     
For more scripture references, please see Bible verses for Justification by Works


Resources

Who Claimed Works Justify?

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

Martin Luther, feeling 'God's' (the Catholic church's) standards were too hard to obey, found solace in Romans 1:17 and the idea of 'faith alone.'


Faith Without Works

'Ready Answer' by Staff

James' teaching that faith without works is dead does not contradict Paul's statement that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works. Paul's point in Ephesians 2:8-9 is that works do not earn or save; grace and faith do, and salvation is God's gift. Yet verse 10 shows that God creates His people in Christ Jesus for good …


Living by Faith: God's Grace (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Justification cannot be earned by works. The law was never given to save anyone but to show what sin is, so that every mouth is stopped and all the world is guilty before God. Since everyone has sinned, God owes every person nothing but death. A sinner is indebted to the law from the first sin, and no law-keeping afterward can …


Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Three)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Justification cannot be earned through human works of any kind. No man can make himself acceptable to God by changing his conduct through sacrifice and effort or by disciplining himself to obey every commandment. Painful sacrifices such as crawling on bloody hands and knees or spending adult lives in monasteries fail to remove …


On Works

Sermon by John O. Reid

The relationship between faith and works forms a central concern, addressed through a careful examination of James 2:14-26, which insists that faith without works is dead and that a person is justified by works, not by faith alone. Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac and Rahab's act of hiding the spies serve as proof texts that …


The Traditions of Men

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

Christ did not end the law, but fulfilled the law, providing a lasting pattern for His saints to follow. We have a responsibility to seek biblical proof.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Nine)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

A summary of the Covenants, Grace, and Law series, reiterating the differences in the Covenants and the respective places of grace and law in God's purpose.


Living By Faith and God's Grace (Part Two)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

'Grace' is a term that represents God's awesome generosity toward us, His continuously flowing blessings and saving acts. It goes beyond just forgiveness.



For more resources, please see the library topic for Justification by Works