Christians often struggle to understand how to harmonize both the emphasis of Scripture that salvation is by grace alone with the obvious texts that speak about salvation not being granted to those who lack good works. For example, Jesus separates the sheep and goats by their works—whether they did for “the least of these” or not (Matt 25:31-46). James is clear that “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24). And elsewhere we read the very explicit words of St. John who writes: “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning” (1 John 3:6-8a). In each of these examples, there is a strong emphasis on the moral character of the Christian and his actions as being a determining factor of whether he is in Christ or not. One who practices sin is of the devil; one who fails to work is not justified; and the one who fails to care for the least of these will not receive the inheritance of eternal life. How does one square these teachings with the reality that St. Paul makes abundantly clear? “And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (Romans 4:5). Allow me to advance an analogy that I believe will be helpful in this discussion.
I want us to picture a small sailboat in the very center of the largest ocean, as far away from land as you can imagine. In every direction, there is only water. The sailors on this boat have an objective to reach the nearest land or they will die. In order to achieve this objective—to arrive at land—they put up the sails of their humble vessel, create a navigation plan, and point the boat in the direction of land. The only problem is that there is no wind at all.
In this scenario, I want us to ask an important question. Can the sailors, by their own efforts, save themselves? Can they achieve their objective by putting together a navigation plan, hoisting the sails, and pointing the boat in the direction they wish to go? The answer is a clear “no.” The reason that these works cannot save the sailors is precisely due to their salvation being dependent upon something extra nos: the wind. It would, therefore, be acceptable to say that they are saved by wind alone.
The point I am making at this juncture of the analogy is simple: apart from the transcendent power of wind, the sailors are completely helpless to save themselves. Now, in admitting this, am I also saying that their works are worthless in general? Absolutely not.
Continuing the analogy: imagine that the wind is blowing with enough force that it could propel the sailboat through the water to the nearest land, but that the sailors refuse to put up their sails, map a course, and face the boat in the right direction. In this case, salvation is truly possible, but the sailors have sabotaged their chance at life by their laziness and inability to work with the wind. In this scenario, they will never reach land either.
Finally—and this is the crux of the analogy—picture the wind blowing steadily and the sailors putting up the sails, mapping a course, and facing in the right direction. In this case, salvation is won. The sailors will reach land.
Now though analogies are not perfect, I hope that the point is clear: One could not make the case that the sailors were saved due to some kind of “works righteousness” soteriology, because—as we teased out in the analogy—even if they did everything right, it would still be utterly useless in bringing them to land apart from the wind. At the same time, however, we can’t also say that the sailors are unimportant to the objective because even if the wind is blowing steadily, without subsequent action that acknowledges and lives in the reality of the wind, the sailors ultimately end up sabotaging their salvation.
The only way salvation works in this analogy is by the wind blowing and the sailors working with the wind to achieve the final end of their salvation.
Again, in this analogy, it would be right to say that they are saved by wind alone, because, without it, they would be lost forever stuck at sea. No amount of effort could move the boat to land without wind. But it is also right to say that they would be lost apart from works of obedience. In fact, what were once worthless works, by the power of the wind become sanctified works of their salvation.
Thus, this analogy is meant to demonstrate that when Christians speak of works as necessary for salvation, it in no sense undermines grace. We are saved by grace alone, and that grace—because of its power—transforms our lowly works into true means of sanctification and salvation for us and for others. Therefore, may we never fear to spur one another to good works, for in doing so we elevate the power and potential of God’s grace in the lives of our brothers and sisters. Like the wind, God will move us unto salvation, but we also have a responsibility to respond in faith each day, allowing him to take our works from death to life.
Works Cited:
The Holy Bible. English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2016.