Works of Faith

The relationship between works and faith isn’t a new argument in the Church. We all know that being a Christian requires some sort of effort in life. I have never met a Christian who believes we merely ‘sit back and believe’ without some required impact on our daily lives.

Brethren, to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due. And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. So also David pronounces a blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin.” Is this blessing pronounced only upon the circumcised, or also upon the uncircumcised? We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, and likewise the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but also follow the example of the faith which our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Romans 4.4-12

Saint Paul teaches us that faith and works are not antagonistic elements of the Church. It is clear from today’s reading that our salvation is a free gift from God, but not independent from the works of faith that we accomplish as Christians. Faith comes first, but not without works.

The Lord said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 7.15-21

Works are the fruit of our faith rather than the cause of our salvation. Today’s Gospel compliments Saint Paul by reminding us that we all bear fruit from our works. Some fruit is good while some is evil. “He who does the will” of God is saved. ‘Works’ are what we do.

What are the works of Christians? Love is both the cause and the fruit of our faith. We have faith because we love God. Because we love God, we work His will in our live. Our work produces the fruit of faith, which is love. So, if you want to bear good fruit, love as God loves.

There are many things we do as Orthodox Christians that others interpret as ‘works’ in the sense of today’s reading from Saint Paul. Long church services and taking care of the poor are among them, but the greatest misinterpreted ‘work’ is fasting.

Fasting is not a ‘work’ in the same sense as today’s reading. Fasting is a tool through which we learn how to love as God loves. If anything, fasting leads to works rather than being a ‘work’ unto itself. The wages of fasting is love, not salvation.

Since we began the Fast of the Holy Apostles yesterday, I felt it important to remind us that fasting is a tool, not a work. Fasting cannot earn our salvation anymore than feeding the poor can earn our salvation. Like feeding the poor, fasting is an expression of love for God.

It is impossible to say fasting can’t ‘get us to heaven’ but then think feeding the poor can. Pagans can feed the poor. Muslims and Jews fast. These are expressions of our faith in Christ. It is our faith in Christ that saves us, but only if it is genuine.

It is impossible for a Christian to walk by someone who is hungry and feel disdain or hatred. We simply cannot say we have faith and remain unmoved by the suffering in the world. We cannot say we have faith and remain closed in our beautiful churches without inviting others inside.

Having faith in Christ means we love as He loves. He fasted as an offering, so we fast as an offering. He worshiped, so we worship. He helps those who were suffering, so we help those who are suffering.

The next time you are helping someone, ask yourself if you are helping to ‘earn God’s favor’ or because you love that person. If the reason for your help is anything but love, then it is empty work. Fasting, feeding the poor, even long prayers are useless without love.

We are saved by our works of faith, not works without faith. We are saved by faith that produces works, not faith without works. There is a difference. The difference means our salvation.