Faith and Works during the Law Program

We know as fact, and because of detailed evidence in Paul's writings, that the grace gospel has no works connected to salvation because Jesus has done the 'works' part on our behalf and all that is required of us to be saved is to believe the completed work of Christ. However, under the Law program, there was no such definitive salvation statements and the pattern during the period of law was that one would believe in the Redeemer/Messiah to come, but until then there were also works of obedience. God still required men to do His commands even though they believed in a coming Redeemer/Messiah.

Rom.2:12 For as many as have sinned without law [Gentiles] shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law [Jews] shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. ...

Gentiles were never given the law and will never be judged by the law. Only Israel received the law. Notice which Jews will be justified by the law, only the doers. It was necessary for Jews to do the law in order to validate their faith in the Messiah. Only a faith confession would not fulfil the condition!

During the Law period, people had to believe in a coming Redeemer/Messiah, but they also needed to do what God instructed them, whether it was to build an ark (for example with Noah), sacrifice an animal, get circumcised, get baptized in water, and so forth. Compared to Paul's straightforward statements about salvation, salvation in the Old Testament is murky. What is revealed in the Old Testament is that salvation involved faith and works. The letter to the Hebrews emphasizes this faith of Old Testament saints (Hebrews 11). Thus, Old Testament believers were saved by faith. But works were also involved in salvation. Salvation by faith alone was unknown to the Jews.

Let's briefly look into examples of works that accompanied faith during the Law dispensation

Levitical Sacrifices

Hebrews reveals that the Old Testament Levitical sacrifices were typical and temporary. Animal sacrifices provided a temporary propitiation (satisfaction) of sin and were pictures or shadows, as it were, of the future, effective sacrifice for sin by the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:4). For Israel, animal sacrifices "covered up" sins. The Jews of the Old Testament had no idea the animal sacrifices they offered pointed to the greater reality of the death of the Messiah who would solve the problem of sin and death. For them, the animal sacrifices were the reality. What they knew was God had commanded them to perform them and that the sacrifices involved the shedding of blood to deal with sin. (Leviticus 1:1-3)

The Mosaic Law required animal sacrifices for sin. Bringing an animal to a priest was a work. But effective covering of sin for the sinner required faith. From the divine perspective, the sacrifice was effective for it fulfilled the Law, and therefore, God's justice. But for the individual, it was effective only if he believed it. So, forgiveness required a work (bringing an animal sacrifice) and faith (believing the sacrifice covered the sin).

Circumcision

In mid-Acts, members of the Jerusalem assembly were going to Paul's Gentile converts and teaching them that what Paul taught was insufficient for salvation. They told Paul's converts they were not saved. They taught that to be saved one not only had to believe, but be circumcised, and keep the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:1, 5). They taught salvation required faith and works. This message was totally different from what Paul had taught them. As a result, it created great confusion and consternation (Acts 15:2) and led to the council meeting in order to resolve the matter.

Righteousness in the Law

In Romans 10, Paul writes about two types of righteousness. He describes how Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them", comparing righteousness which has its origin in the law with a righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. (See the scriptures running from verse 5 to 13 and contrast the two kinds of righteousness). This shows clear evidence that works are as important to accompany faith in a Redeemer/Messiah for salvation.

Also consider the occasion where Jesus, speaking to the rich young ruler, mentioned that to have eternal life, he was to obey the law. (See Matthew 19:16-26; Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18-30)

Baptism

John the Baptist came as the herald of the King and proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 3:1-2). Jesus continued John's joyous announcement (Matthew 4:17, 9:35) of the kingdom of God. Water baptism was intrinsic to that salvation message. Water baptism is a work. During Jesus' earthly ministry and in the preaching of the Twelve water baptism was required for salvation. How do we know this? We know it because that is what the text states. Consider the following verses:

Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

John 3:4-5 Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he? 5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God .

Acts 2:36-38 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified." 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Peter said to them, Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:12-16 A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing near said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight! And at that very time I looked up at him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. 15 For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.

These passages should convince even the most obstinate that under the gospel of the kingdom water baptism was required for salvation. Here again, the Scriptures teach works were required for salvation.

Forgive thy Brother

Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Forgiveness, just like sacrifices, baptism, circumcision and obeying the law, is a work. It is an instruction from God that had be acted upon (or worked out) to qualify one's faith confession during this law period. The above scripture is quite clear that if one did not do this 'work', which would qualify one's faith confession in Christ, one would invalidate one's faith. (James 2:14,17) 

The Thief on the Cross

One last word regarding the thief on the cross. Since he came to a confession of faith that Jesus was the Messiah at the end of his life and due to his current circumstance of being nailed to a cross, he could not go and perform these works, and therefore we can conclude that God reserves the right to make exceptions. Obviously, the thief was dying. He could not be baptized, offer a sacrifice, or do any other works, but he recognized Jesus was the Messiah and was saved. From this we can deduce that works was definitely required to confirm one's faith during the period of law faith, but if  ('if' ---notice the conditional requirement, typical of the Old Testament pattern of law) one was not in the position to accomplish these confirming works by obedience, faith was enough to save, as we see in this example. Faith is the trump card, but works had to follow if it were possible so that it would prove (or verify) the faith (according to James 2). Having said this, we must understand that God is sovereign. He is omniscient. He knows men's hearts and desires ALL to be saved. He can made exceptions (as with the believing thief) because He is God. He makes the rules which conform to His justice.

In Conclusion

Jesus Himself notes that we ought not discount anyone from salvation or presume salvation,

Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

In addition, Scripture teaches that we are judged according to the knowledge that we are given, God doesn't punish you for what you cannot be held responsible,

Luke 12:47-48 47 And that servant who knew his master's will and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

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Special thanks to Don Samdahl for his personal input in helping me formulate this post. In addition to his email input, I have also quoted portions from his article called: Faith vs. Works in James: Resolving the Problem. Please read through his article for more details regarding this topic.