The question of faith and works is one that has been an issue right from the beginning. But those who understand the good news of Jesus Christ to whatever small degree, we can truly grasp it, know this distinction is false and a fools errand of conversation. It just completely misses the point. We could very simply expose this with a simple thought in these terms. Suppose someone asked you “What is the basis for marriage? Is it the ceremony alone or must I move in with this person and no longer live life as a single individual?” We would laugh at this idea and think they were possibly joking. We would question “if you don’t plan on doing life with that person, why are you even talking about marriage?”
We would ask this because we know that marriage is a relationship with another person. In fact, the whole point of the marriage isn’t to be married for the sake of marriage, but it is to be with that person, dedicated to them and them alone. So in this question, we have exposed our motive and let the cat out of the bag. We have no intention to have a relationship with God or in fact any concept of it. We simply have a religious view point and we see with this simple thought that we really don’t view life with Christ as a relationship, but rather as a transaction. Something like a cosmic vending machine that we put in just what is needed with the right combination to get what we desire out of it.
This view of faith and works as somehow separate or as a meritorious action of work completely misses the good news of Jesus Christ. It is the complete misunderstanding of the grace of God and our response to him. There is no action we can perform that would justify us to being offered this relationship with God, much less in it. There is nothing we have done to earn his invitation into relationship. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Yet here we are through the grace of God, with the offer to enter into this new life relationship. All we must do is believe the good news that through Jesus Christ we have been asked into this relationship. We have been asked for our hand in marriage to Christ. But here we must stop and ask ourselves that very same question from the beginning. If we have no intent or interest in life with him and him alone, why are we even talking about being saved in him.
If we then desire our life with Christ, we would simply accept this offer, move in with him, and begin to do life with him and his family. This will require us, not a requiring of earning but of a response, to assimilate into this new life and into this new home doing things the way that his household works. Not unlike in marriage when we must swear off all others and become devoted to one another, so it is with Christ. The word in scripture for this life in process is sanctification or the life of dedication set apart for Christ alone.
In many ways, that is what the institution of marriage itself was given to us for. An example of what it is like to live in and with Christ, to follow him and to accept his salvation. By participating in marriage, properly might I add, we are acting out on a small scale what God wants with us as humanity, thus uncovering to us the truth of the gospel and as a physical representation to others of what this life looks like. We are repeating and partaking in the good work of Jesus Christ and sanctifying the Earth through His Spirit.
“Justification is the means whereby we appropriate the saving act of God in the past and sanctification the promise of God‘s activity in the present, and the future justification secures entrance into fellowship with God and sanctification keeps the fellowship.“
- Bonhoeffer “ The Cost of Discipleship
Reference Scriptures
SALVATION
Romans 6:23
Philippians 2:12–13
John 14:6
Romans 1:16
John 1:12–13
Ephesians 1:13–14
John 3:3–6
John 3:16–18
Titus 2:11–14
1 Thessalonians 5:9–10
FAITH
Matthew 17:20
Romans 5:1–2
Romans 10:8–11
Mark 11:22–25
Romans 1:17
Romans 3:27–31
1 Peter 1:6–9
Hebrews 11:1–6
Romans 4:3–5
Ephesians 2:8–9
JUSTIFICATION
Galatians 2:16
Romans 5:1–2
2 Corinthians 5:21
Habakkuk 2:2–4
Galatians 3:11–14
Romans 5:8–10
James 2:23–26
Titus 3:5–7
Luke 7:48–50
Romans 3:21–28
SANCTIFICATION
John 17:17
Hebrews 10:14
1 Corinthians 6:11
Philippians 2:12–13
2 Corinthians 5:17
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Philippians 1:6
John 15:1–5
Eph 4:20–24
Romans 6:1–11