Faith Works through Love
Scripture Reading: Luke 7:36-50
The relationship between faith and works has been written about and debated endlessly. The Reformation restored the primacy of justification by faith and the “five Solas:” Scripture alone, Faith alone, Grace alone, Christ alone, and God’s glory alone. So, those who hold to these biblical principles and know how easy it is for people to believe in salvation by works or at least some combination of salvation by work and faith, flinch a little when they hear the phrase “good works.”
This aversion can lead us to make a mistake in the opposite direction. We can dismiss and ignore what the Bible consistently teaches concerning the relationship between faith and works. This story in Luke helps us see how faith and works work together.
The sinful woman who entered Simon’s house and anointed Jesus' feet with ointment and washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair, did so out of an act of love. As Jesus said, “she loved much.” And Jesus doesn’t leave us in doubt as to why she loved Him the way she did. She loved him because he had forgiven her.
The woman was forgiven by grace which provoked a response of love that produced the fruit of good works. This is how it always works. Faith that saves and receives the forgiveness of sin produces love for Christ which expresses itself in good works.
