Law + Works + Grace = ?

Paul Ellis

Jun 1

The stories we tell ourselves shape our lives.

For example, if you buy into a narrative that says, "The Bible is a book of rules we must obey," you will find laws to obey on every page.

If you believe, "The Bible teaches us to work for God's favor," you will find long lists of things to do.

But read the Bible with mindset of grace, and you will get a completely different picture. You will see what Christ has done your behalf, and how you can reign in life by receiving his abundant grace.

Law, works, or grace. Which narrative are you following?

This is an important question when reading a book like James, because James writes about law AND works AND grace. All three are in his letter.

If you did not know any better, you might think that James was saying you need law plus works plus grace. A little bit of each gives you a healthy balance.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mixing law, works, and grace is like mixing medicines. Or powerful chemicals. It's a bad idea. In the new covenant, we are under grace, not law (Rom. 6:14–15). The law is good, but it's no good for the believer (1 Tim. 1:9).

Yet virtually every book and sermon I have read or heard on James preaches mixture. "You need a little law + a little grace + a lot of works," and the result is confusion and dead works.

Let me give you some examples:

Most commentators say James wrote to Christians, yet in places James calls his readers sinners, adulterers, and friends of the world. He says things like, "you commit murder" (Jas. 4:2). Strong words. You are not an adulterous murderer, are you? Yes, James wrote for believers, but he also wrote for unbelievers. (He says so in chapter 1.) One letter, two messages, and if you don't know which is which you'll be confused.
James said no one can tame the tongue (Jas. 3:8). It's impossible. Yet many commentators say things like, "Watch your words and tame your tongue." They contradict James and promote dead works. We don't need to try harder, we need a new heart and a new tongue.
James wrote about a crown of life. Those who preach works dangle that crown like a carrot. "Endure trials and earn that crown." But James says the crown is given to those who love the Lord (Jas. 1:12). It's a gift, not a reward. Big difference.
The most famous scripture in James is "faith without works is dead" (Jas. 2:17). The works preachers love this verse, while faith preachers are left wringing their hands in confusion. "James is talking about works of service," they say. Or "this isn't a salvation issue." Yet the context is clearly salvation (Jas. 2:14), justification (Jas. 2:21, 24–25), and being made right with God (Jas 2:23). Either way, you better get busy for Jesus. Which means faith = works. Apparently.

See the problem? Read James with anything other than a grace lens and you'll come away condemned and confused. You will think we need a little law and a lot of works to supplement God's grace:

You will watch every word lest you complain and come under judgment (Jas. 5:9).
You will feel a need to work to prove that your faith is not useless (Jas. 2:20).
You will think that God's forgiveness is conditional and you need to confess your sins to get it (Jas. 5:15–16).

Or…

You could ditch those mixed-up messages and get yourself a grace-based commentary that reveals the "greater grace" of God that runs all through James' letter (Jas. 4:6).

Just saying.

My new book The Grace Bible: James has just been released. It is 100% grace based guaranteed.

The Grace Bible: James will help you find the gold that is in James' letter, and will protect you from toxic mixture. It is available now on Amazon and other good booksellers.