All Christians are in complete agreement in confessing that a person is justified by faith. Why then are Catholics and Protestants in such stark disagreement about confessing whether or not a person is justified by works, at least by faith and works?
Perhaps we are asking the wrong question, or, perhaps the question needs to be clarified. Instead of asking whether one is justified by works, we need to ask if a person is justified by any kind of works and in what order or context certain kinds of works play in the role of justification. Below are two categories or kinds of works – works done in God (through faith), and works done outside of God (apart from faith) through our own efforts:
Works done in God:
“But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” – John 3:21
“O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.” – Isaiah 26:12
“[F]or it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:13
Works done outside of God, by your own power/doing:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” Ephesians 2:8-9
“Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?” – Acts 3:12
“[N]ot having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” Philippians 3:9
Take note of the clear difference between works done in God: “God who works in you”; “his works have been carried out in God”; “you have indeed done for us all our works”, versus the works done by your own doing: “though by our own power”; “a righteousness of my own”; “And this is not your own doing”.
When asked if one can be justified by works before God, it must be clarified as to what kind of works and in what context! We need to ask what is the basis of the works being performed. If we base our works on faith, i.e. God performing works through us in faith, then it is God who renders our works good, increasing our justification in His sight. If we base our works on ourselves, through our own doing, without faith and apart from grace, then they are based on the law and they do not justify us. This is why Saint Paul exclaims:
“[F]or if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” – Galatians 2:21
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight.” – Romans 3:20
Meaning, that if we were capable of being justified by our own merits, obeying the entire law without the need of faith and grace, then Christ would have no need to die. Saint Paul is not pitting faith against the law, rather he is pointing out the difference in how one properly uses the law in accordance with faith and how one uses the law apart from faith! If we use the law to establish the notion that one can be justified solely by obeying it without the need for faith, hence “through the law”, then we are arrogantly undermining our absolute need for divine assistance that comes through faith purchased for us by the merits of Jesus Christ.
Now that we have contrasted between good works done in faith, and works of our own doing apart from faith, then we can understand what Saint Paul means regarding being justified by faith apart from “works of the law”:
“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” – Romans 3:28
“[Y]et we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” – Galatians 2:16
If you read the entire epistles of Romans and Galatians you cannot ignore the context of Saint Paul alluding to works of the Mosaic Law, hence the phrase, “works of the law”. A specific “work of the law” that he repeatedly uses as an illustration is that of circumcision. However, “works of the law” can refer more broadly to any work based on the law as opposed to being based on faith. In other words, works of the law are those works done of our own doing, mere external acts, whether it be circumcision or almsgiving for instance, without the required inner disposition of faith. So, for example, if an atheist was to donate clothes and food to a homeless person, this would be a type of “work of the law” Saint Paul is condemning regarding justification, because the mere external almsgiving of a person without faith (atheist) cannot be pleasing to God and would not justify. And, if a first-century Jew were to become circumcised, that mere external act apart from real Christian faith, i.e. a “work of the law”, could also not justify.
The only works that can and do increase a person’s justification (after Holy Baptism) are those based on faith, through faith, and with faith:
“You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works” – James 2:22
You see that faith, and works done through that faith are the good works done in God that do justify us! Hence, in the very next two verses:
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” – James 2:24
Remember, a person is justified only by works based on faith and in faith, and not through any works based solely on the law. Good works done in faith are not “works of the law” based upon our own efforts, rather they are works that God’s justifying act within us renders them good and meritorious.
So, when you are considering whether or not works have anything to do with our justification before God, it must be understood and clarified as to what kind of works and in what order. Only the good works done after Baptism and in Christ through faith will justify; the works based on the law apart from faith, i.e. “works of the law”, do not and will not justify.
That is why Saint Paul can very conscientiously say:
“For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.” – Romans 2:13
And, Saint Paul can also state the following:
“For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.” 1 Corinthians 7:19-20
How are Christians to be “doers of the law” and to “keep the commandments of God”? Not by any merits of our own. Not by a righteousness of our own. No, only by God working through us, performing good works based upon faith working through love!
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” – Galatians 5:6
Good works do not produce justification! Faith does not produce justification! God alone produces justification in us by raising us from a state of spiritual death to one of supernatural life in Holy Baptism! However, it is God’s justification in us that renders the gifts of our faith and our works good and meritorious for eternal life!