a few clarifications

justification by faith (alone)

in one sense, justification is by faith alone. in another sense, justification is not by faith alone.

justification is by faith alone in the sense that the only way to appropriate Christ's righteousness, the only way 'the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus' (Ephesians 3:6, NIV) is by the instrument of faith.

justification is not by faith alone in the sense that there are three kinds of justification which are inextricably linked. we have been justified on the basis of Christ's work on the cross in the past, we are justified by the instrument of faith in the present and we will be justified in accordance with works in the future. as Calvin puts it, 'we are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone'.

justification by works

in one sense, God judges us on what we do with what we have. in another sense, God does not judge us on what we do with what we have.

God judges us on what we do with what we have in the sense that God judges us on the evidence of what we do with what we have.

God does not judge us on what we do with what we have in the sense that God does not judge us on the basis of what we do with what we have (God judges us on the basis of Christ's work on the cross).

1. when we do good works, it is because God has prepared in advance for us to do them.

"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?" - Romans 9:22-24 (NIV)

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

2. when we do good works, it is because God gives us the grace to do them.

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." - 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)

"To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." - Colossians 1:29 (NIV)

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)

3. when we do good works, it is because God works in us to do them.

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." - Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." - Philippians 3:12 (NIV)

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

4. above all, it is itself by grace that God rewards us on [the evidence of] what we do with what we have.

"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" - Luke 17:7-10 (NIV)

therefore, our good works do not diminish, but declare the glory of God in Christ's work on the cross.