THE FAITH EQUATION
by Richard Burkard
It was a song I'd sung at the Feast of Tabernacles in the Netherlands, to appreciative applause. It was a song which became a personal theme for my last Pastor in the Worldwide Church of God, as he was fired in 2000. But when a member asked me to sing it in the United Church of God, there was a problem - and calls for a change.
"The Anchor Holds" was made famous by contemporary Christian singer Ray Boltz. It's about someone staying grounded in Jesus Christ while facing life's tribulations. As is the custom in UCG (but not really in WCG anymore), I submitted the song to my congregation's Elders to sing as Special Music to reinforce a man's sermonette. But one week before singing day, the Pastor raised an objection to the opening verse:
I have journeyed, through the long, dark night
Out on the open sea.
By faith alone, sight unknown,
But still His eyes were watching me.
"Faith without works is dead," the Pastor told me, quoting from James 2:26. He said church members who heard the "faith alone" line might become confused -- so to sing with the sermonette one week later, I'd have to adjust the words.
What would you have said to this Pastor? I sought some guidance on Internet message boards, and found a wide range of opinions. A few people suggested I drop the song completely in protest. Others said the Pastor had a point. And several took on the overriding issue - whether Christians need faith in Jesus Christ alone, or a combination of faith and works.
Perhaps what makes this debate so intense in some Christian circles is that the author of Hebrews seems to argue for both sides, within the same chapter. "By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.... By faith Enoch was taken from this life.... For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God." (Heb. 11:4-5) All we're really told about Enoch's life is that he "walked with God" (Gen. 5:24) - a phrase which has been interpreted in a wide variety of ways, by many a minister.
The Faith Chapter
Let's start by examining the people mentioned in Hebrews 11, this "faith chapter" of the New Testament, to see what sort of faith they displayed. We could line up faithful people on both sides of the argument:
FAITH ALONE: Abraham and Sarah became parents well past their prime "because he considered him [God] faithful who had made the promise." (11:11) Isaac and Jacob blessed their sons by faith, concerning their future. (11:20-21) Joseph gave a farewell prophecy by faith, about Israel's future in Egypt. (11:22) And in faith, Moses "refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter." (11:24)
FAITH WITH WORKS: Abel offered God "a better sacrifice" by faith. (11:4) Noah built an ark by faith, and "by his faith he condemned the world...." (11:7) The mom and dad of Moses acted by fath, by hiding their baby for three months. (11:23) Then Moses eventually displayed faith on his own, by keeping the Passover in Egypt and leading Israel out of it. (11:27-30) Also, Abraham moved to an unknown land by faith (11:8-9) - thus setting an example for all males of traveling without a map. (Giggle.) Then by faith, he offered son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. (11:17)
Does James matter?
We mentioned Abraham last on purpose - because he's the first real-life example James cites in his writing on faith. "Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." (Jms. 2:21-22) James goes on in verse 24 to declare someone is justified by what he does, not by faith alone -- answering a question of verse 14: "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?"
The book of James backs up my Pastor's position - yet we must admit more than a few people in the Christian world dismiss the book of James. Martin Luther called it "a right strawy Epistle...." which one dictionary defines as, "having little or no value or substance; unimportant." (American Heritage Dictionary) This argument seems outlandish, in light of Paul's words: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God...." (II Tim. 3:16, KJV) Truly Paul was writing about the Old Testament here, but why not apply the principle to the New as well?
Spinning Ephesians
The old Worldwide Church of God, and especially the late evangelist Gerald Waterhouse, used to poke fun at how other denominations applied Ephesians 2:8-9. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast...."
"Why do they leave out verse 10?" was one common complaint. That verse says: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
In recent years, I've heard Church of God spinoff groups spin this passage in a different way. Now they emphasize the words "through faith" in verse 8, and because "faith without works is dead," they say those being saved have to keep Sabbaths, Holy Days, meat rules, etc. But perhaps all of this misses the point of the passage - salvation.
"By grace you have been saved...." Some COG preachers would have an issue right there. The New International Version puts salvation in the past tense and finished, while the King James indicates it's present and possibly ongoing: "By grace are ye saved...." The KJV is the only major translation, however, that puts the phrase this way. NASB, CEV, Moffatt and RSV all take the NIV's side.(1) (For more translational disputes, check other articles on this web site.)
Is salvation a one-time-only "faith experience" -- by confessing Jesus as Savior, being baptized, receiving the Holy Spirit, etc.? Or is it a lifelong process we work toward, culminating in ultimate salvation at Jesus Christ's return? Here again, you could stack Bible verses on both sides of the scales:
Stack 1: One-Time Only
"Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved," Jesus declared in Mark 16:16. He declared a sinful woman saved, after she poured perfume on the Lord's feet (Lk. 7:36-50). Jesus adds anyone approaching God through Him, "the gate.... shall be saved." (Jhn. 10:9)
On a Pentecost Sunday, Peter cited the book of Joel in declaring all who "calls on the name of the Lord" shall be saved. (Acts 2:21) Paul and Silas told a scared jailer, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - and you and your household." (Acts 16:31) Baptism for the family followed a short time later (v. 33-34) - and apparently without a lengthy series of counseling sessions. Paul later suggested it was as easy as confessing Jesus as Lord with your mouth, and believing in His resurrection in your heart (Rom. 10:9-13). Peter later wrote of "baptism that now saves you also.... It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ...." (I Pet. 3:22)
In I Corinthians, Paul added a condition - "By this gospel you are saved [present], IF you hold firmly to the word I preached to you." (I Cor. 15:2) But he also wrote the Ephesians, "It is by grace you have been [KJV "are"] saved.... through faith...." (Eph. 2:5, 8) Paul later suggested loving the truth (presumably Jesus) can save you. (II Thes. 2:10) And he wrote both Timothy and himself have been saved by God's power (II Tim. 1:8-9).
Are works involved in salvation? Paul seems to put it clearly in Titus: "He [God] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit...." (Tit. 3:5)
Further, Paul seemed to take the salvation process personally, writing at one point, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." (I Cor. 9:22) He never even said Jesus or God do the saving! He added in a later letter his personal distress and/or comfort was for the church's salvation. (II Cor. 1:6/II Tim. 2:10) James added to this: "He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul [Gk. psuche, implying a spirit] from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (Jms. 5:20, KJV; see also Jude 23)
Stack 2: Lifelong and Future
"He that endureth to the end shall be saved," Jesus said (Mt. 10:22/24:13, KJV). Paul adds in Romans 5: "....how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him [Jesus].... having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" (5:9-10) He uses process-style language in a letter to a different congregation: "For the message of the cross.... to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (I Cor. 1:18).(2)
Paul goes on to describe a final "Day" when people's works are tested in fire - yet those with scorched works still "will be saved." (I Cor. 3:14-15) At that "day of the Lord," people's spirit will be saved even though their sinful nature is destroyed (5:5). Paul later tells Timothy if he perseveres in a holy life and doctrine, "you will save both yourself and your hearers." (I Tim. 4:16) He looks forward to that time in Romans: "....Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." (Rom. 13:11) How could it be nearer, this side would argue, if we have it already?
Paul writes to the Philippians that opponents of their congregation "will be [future] destroyed, but that you will be saved - and that by God." (Phil. 1:28) He further describes salvation as something to be "worked out" (2:12)
Peter adds to this position, by putting a new twist on an Old Testament proverb: "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (I Pet. 4:18) Other translations say the process is "difficult" (NASB), they're "scarcely saved" (KJV/Moffatt) and they "barely escape." (CEV) Beyond that, Peter says salvation "is ready to be revealed in the last time...." and it's a "coming" thing. (1:5)(3) That's why "our Lord's patience means salvation...." (3:15)
The author of Hebrews hints at a process-driven salvation by writing Jesus "....is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Heb. 7:25) The implication of this verse is that intercession is continual, to move people toward a more complete salvation. For instance, angels "serve those who will inherit salvation...." (Heb. 1:14) When? "Christ.... will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." (9:28)
John doesn't write about salvation much in his epistles, but in a vision in Revelation he hears: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ...." (Rev. 12:10) When does this happen? After "the accuser of our brethren.... has been hurled down." This refers to the devil, after a great "war in heaven" - and after a woman who has a "man child" (KJV) is taken to a prepared place for 1,260 days. (12:5-7) Some would argue this prophetic sketch points to the second coming of Jesus, since people have to overcome Satan. (12:11)
Sorting it all out
So which stack do you trust more, and build your beliefs around? This is obviously the sort of difference which divides denominations - and each side would argue the other's stack should be examined through their context and understanding. Yet when we stand back and examine both piles, the explanation of the WCG in the early 1990s becomes plausible and wise. Salvation is both a present and future occurrence.
Those who follow the directions of Stack 1 are presently in a "salvation state," through the faith they express. But it appears God doesn't want believers to stop there. The works that follow help us to grow in salvation - a phrase that admittedly isn't in the Bible, but could be compared to growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (II Pet. 3:18). So what's the payoff for the works we perform? Jesus implies in the "parable of the talents" that growth is rewarded with added responsibilities when His Kingdom comes in its fullness. (Mt. 25:14-23/Lk. 19:12-19)
Consider the first Bible story I remember from church school in my youth. Jesus heard the promise of Zacchaeus to give of his belongings and provide restitution -- then said in response: "Today salvation has come to this house...." (Lk. 19:8-9) The Lord declared salvation in the present, even though the works of Zacchaeus apparently had not yet been completed. (We never see Zacchaeus in the Bible again after this passage, to learn whether he was a man of his word.)
To use a quite crude, secular analogy, it's all a bit like the TV game show The Price is Right. Anyone who's "nearest to the actual retail price without going over" is a winner, and steps up to the stage. But from there, you can go on to bigger and better things - while still keeping the prize which put you on stage in the first place.
Conclusion
All sides in the faith and salvation debate should agree on one thing - the truth of Acts 4:12: "....There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must saved," than the name of Jesus Christ. Then there's Romans 1:16, which says the gospel is "the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...."
If you have faith in Jesus, as expressed in word and physical baptism, you've made a great start - and the Bible declares you saved, for making that start. But don't stop there! To borrow again from that game show, head down "The Golden Road" performing good works for God - so that "your faith is growing more and more...." (II Thes. 1:3), and so the faith of all believers "grows into a holy temple in the Lord...." (Eph. 2:21, NKJV)
Oh yes, before I forget: I did sing that special music selection after all - and with apologies to Ray Boltz, I changed the third line to:
In faith I groaned, sight unknown.
This made peace with the Pastor. But come to think of it, the journey on the sea was a work - not as glorious perhaps as that Golden Road, but still leading to a glorious result.
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"The Anchor Holds" by Lawrence Chewning/Ray Boltz, © 1994 Word Music
© 2003 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.
1. A similar problem develops with Acts 15:11. "We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they," says the KJV. But in NIV: "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved...." - CEV, Moffatt, NASB and RSV all agreeing with the present tense.
Other verses with similar division are II Cor. 2:15 and Heb. 10:39 (especially CEV "Until we are saved").
2. The KJV simply has here, "unto us which are saved" - but the old WCG was quick to point to the RSV "being saved" and declare it more accurate. CEV and NASB agree with NIV and RSV.
3. I Peter 1:9 is especially tricky, based on which translation you read. KJV says: "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" - which some COG ministers have interpreted as meaning salvation comes at the end of the age. Moffatt and NASB agree, yet NIV says: "....You are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls" - which combined with verse 8 makes it a present-day occurrence. CEV takes this side of the argument.