When discussing faith and works, Jehovah’s Witnesses will insist on looking at James 2. They will cite you verses that seem to flatly contradict Paul.

Here are some examples. (pp. 97-100)

• Paul (Romans 3:28): “For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
• James (James 2:24): “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

• Paul (Romans 4:2-5): “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as’ Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.”
• James (James 2:20-23): “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.”

After they have cited you their proof texts from James, say something like this: “That’s confusing, isn’t it? At first blush, those verses seem to be saying the exact opposite. What do you think? Do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Paul and James contradict each other? Does Jehovah’s Word contradict itself?” They will have to say no.

Again, putting the onus on them to be the teachers, add, “Then help me out here. How do you reconcile them?”

They may well say that faith without works is dead and that faith means nothing until we exercise it by doing good works. In response, reply something like this, “Back in Genesis 15, God declared Abraham righteous by faith before he had done any works. So was he righteous or unrighteous all those 25-plus years between Genesis 15 and Genesis 22, when he offered Isaac on the altar?”

If they ask what you are driving at, you can answer, “I think Paul would agree with James that genuine, saving faith produces good works, but he would insist that good works have no role in saving us. Rather, they are the product of an inner transformation which comes about solely by grace through faith. Good works are the products of salvation, not the prerequisites to salvation. When Paul says in Ephesians 2:10 that Christians are God’s workmanship, I think he’s saying that without that inner transformation done by God, all our works are worthless in God’s sight because we’re trusting in ourselves rather than in Christ. Righteous Christian works are produced by God working in us and through us and not by our own efforts to make ourselves worthy.” (pp. 97-100)

Matthew 10:22

Witnesses deny that we can know we are saved, because Matthew 10:22 says, “He who endures to the end will be saved.”

If they cite you this verse, ask, “Isn’t the context of that verse surviving the great tribulation rather than about how we become righteous before God? Paul didn’t mention endurance at all. Neither did James.”

Philippians 2:12-13

Witnesses often quote Philippians 2:12: “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…” In response you can say, “That was written by Paul. Are you saying that Paul is contradicting what he wrote in Romans and telling us that we do have to work for our salvation after all?” You can point out the context. The next verse shows that he isn’t talking about trembling because we might not be saved. The cause of Christians’ fear and trembling is awe over the fact that “God is at work in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

It’s a continuation of what he said in Philippians 1:3: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Conclusion

As you conclude this approach, make clear that the relationship between faith and works is not a matter of mere semantics. People who rely on faith plus works for their salvation are not relying on Christ. They are really relying on themselves, and that produces condemnation, not salvation. It is only when we humble ourselves, give up on ourselves, and trust in Christ’s sacrifice alone that God saves us.

A good diagnostic question to the Witnesses is this: “If Jehovah were to speak to you tonight and give you an opportunity to make a case to him as to why you are worthy of everlasting life, what would you tell him?”

Study Questions

1. In Romans 4:2-5, Paul says, “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as’ Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness…” James 2:20-21 says: “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar.”

Do Paul and James contradict each other here? Can these statements be reconciled? How? (pp. 97-99)

2. Romans 3:28 says that “a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law,” but James 2:24 says, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (p. 98)

Do Paul and James contradict each other here? Can these statements be reconciled? How?

3. James 2:26 tells us that “faith without works is dead.”

Does this contradict what Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10? Can those statements be reconciled? How? (pp. 97-100)

4. Does Matthew 10:22: “He who endures to the end will be saved…” mean that our salvation depends on our works and we can’t know in this life where we stand? If not, what does it mean? (p. 100)

5. Does “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) mean that we have to prove worthy of salvation by works in order to be saved and be motivated by the fear that we might not be good enough? If not, what does it mean? (pp. 100-101)

6. What question could you ask Witnesses to show on what they are relying for their salvation? (pp. 101-102) (Review: Why shouldn’t you ask them about going to heaven?)