Faith and works – Bill James

Part of our ‘truths in tension?’ 2025 Colin Hart lecture series.
We considered pairs of Christian truths that are often perceived to be held in tension, as if to assert one is to sacrifice the other. But if we are to ‘correctly handle the word of truth’ we cannot engage in any ‘trade-offs’. Rather we do as the Bible does and proclaim both joyfully, fearlessly and without compromise.

We should be as wary of denigrating good works for fear of undermining sola fide as we should have preaching a gospel of salvation by works. The biblical position is often summed up by Calvin’s declaration that it is “faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone”. Good works are the fruit of genuine salvation.

Bill James was a pastor for 26 years, and has been Principal of London Seminary since 2018.