Both/And - Faith and Good Works

It is one of the perpetual discussions in the Christian world, how do faith and works go together?  On the one hand we can read that "we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." (Romans 3:28)  We are saved by God's grace alone through faith, and not by anything that we do.  On the other hand we can read in James that "faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead." (James 2:17).  It is here that Ephesians may provide a helpful way forward. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 reads like this:

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift-not from works, so that no one can boast.  For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

(Ephesians 2:8-9 HCSB)

This passage helps us to see that faith and good works, although distinct, do in fact, go together.   We are saved by grace through faith, and the passage makes very clear that it is not because of anything that we do,  it is God's doing.  But in the very next verse, so as not to miss the point, good works are brought into the picture.  Although not saved by good works, we are saved for good works.  Although faith and works are two distinct things, they do go together.  

Below is a link to a very helpful discussion of this theme by Timothy Keller.  It is a short video in which he discusses Justification and Sanctification.  He makes the argument that they are two distinct ideas, but two that cannot be separated.  As you will see, it speaks quite directly to our discussion today and brings some very valuable insight.

Tim Keller on Justification and Sanctification

Hopefully you find it as helpful and interesting as I did.

Although I would like to be able to recommend the book that he mentions in the clip, I have yet to read it.  I was generously given a copy by a colleague but my wife took it and began to read it before I could.  I can say, however, that she turns to me every night to tell me how great a book it is and tries to read to me from it.