THE PARADOX OF FAITH AND WORKS
Bible text: James 2:14-26 INTRODUCTION A paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement that is still true. There are several of such in Christian theology. The argument over faith and works is much like the chicken and the egg paradox. Of course, we know that for there to be an egg, there must be a mother hen. Yet, a hen cannot exist without hatching from an egg. Just as this question was a great challenge and debate for ancient Greek philosophers, so, it is with the argument of faith versus works for many believers. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO A BELIEVER, FAITH or WORKS? THE BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF FAITH AND WORKS What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]” “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for has happened and an assurance about what ...