Joseph Prince: Shepherd or Wolf?
Volume 6: Works Not Just Faith Is Integral To Salvation
Volume 6
Works Not Just Faith Is Integral To Salvation
Volume Summary
Works can never be separated from faith.
Don’t ever believe the teaching of Joseph Prince that belief or faith is what matters, and behaviour or works can never affect one’s salvation.
The indispensability of works to faith is proven in the parable of the sheep and the goats when the single criteria of judgement that Jesus used are works because works are the concrete indicator of true faith (Matt 25:31-46).
The sheep and the goats’ episode has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that works are so integral to faith that faith without works cannot save (Matt 25:31-46, Jas 2:14-26).
It is impossible to be saved by works, but it is also impossible to be saved without the evidence of works (Jas 2:14,17,20,26).
“Neither a ‘Faith alone’ nor a ‘Works alone’ doctrine will ever save but what will save is a faith that is evidenced by works.” (George Ong)
Copyright © February 2020 by George Ong
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Contents
Chapter 1: *Faith & Works Are Necessary To Salvation (Jas 2:14-26)
Chapter 2: *Crucial Importance Of Works To Salvation
Chapter 3: *Are You A Sheep Or A Goat Is Life’s Most Crucial Question?
Chapter 4: *Rich Young Ruler – A Wholistic Understanding Of Salvation
Chapter 5: Obedience Is Essential To Saving Faith
Chapter 6: God’s Sovereignty Does Not Minimise Or Denigrate Human Responsibility (Part 1)
Chapter 7: God’s Sovereignty Does Not Minimise Or Denigrate Human Responsibility (Part 2)
Chapter 8: *Effortless Or Effortful Christianity?
* Denotes Priority Reading
Chapter 1
*Faith & Works Are Necessary To Salvation (Jas 2:14-26)
Preface
A Free Trip Deal To Anywhere in the World! See below.
“The Great Commission isn’t a cheap but a costly gospel simply because costly discipleship and Christ’s Lordship expressed by our total obedience to His commandments are both contained in it.” (Matt 28:18-20) (George Ong)
“How can Joseph Prince claim to be a Christ-centred preacher when the most important heartbeat of Christ for the Church in the Great Commission is not even given a single mention in his teachings?” (Matt 28:18-20) (George Ong)
“If Joseph Prince dares to replace the Great Commission gospel with his Super-grace gospel, how can any pastor or believer who truly shares the heart of Christ for the world stomach it?” (Matt 28:18-20) (George Ong)
“The Church has swung from one extreme of a Works-Based Faith in Roman Catholicism to the other extreme of a No-Works Faith in Antinomianism.” (George Ong)
“Faith that has no works is as useless as perfume that has lost its fragrance.” (Jas 2:20) (George Ong)
“Though we are saved by grace, we will be judged by works.” (George Ong)
“Though we are justified by faith, we will be judged by works.” (George Ong)
“No longer should the church regard works as the poorer cousin to grace and faith in the theology of salvation as not only are we justified by works, but we will be judged by them.” (George Ong)
“Demons are more ‘pious’ than believers of today as they believe and tremble, while believers believe and don’t even tremble.” (Jas 2:19) (George Ong)
A. James 2:14-26.
1. On Faith & Works.
Imagine one fine Sunday, an invited speaker mounts the pulpit to the applause of the congregation.
After the usual pleasantries, he starts to make the statement:
“A man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
What do you think would be the reaction of the church?
Many would be shocked!
They would start to wonder if their pastor had made a mistake of inviting the wrong preacher to grace the pulpit.
The spiritual leaders of the church may have seriously considered escorting this preacher down from the pulpit to stop him from preaching.
To many in the congregation, this preacher seems to be preaching legalism and works-religion.
He seems to be preaching against the key Reformation doctrine of ‘justification by faith’.
(Note: what I have painted is only an imaginary scenario but could well have happened in real life.)
What many aren’t even aware of is that the preacher is merely quoting from the scripture in James 2:24 (NASB), “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
This is what has happened to the modern church – biblical ignorance on a massive scale.
Because of ignorance, they have unfairly and wrongly judged the preacher.
Many thought that the invited speaker was preaching against Biblical doctrine when he wasn’t.
They thought faith and works are opposed to one another, but they do not know faith and works are inseparably joined together.
“Faith and works are so conjoined to each other that they cannot be separated – if one is removed, the other ceased to exist.” (George Ong)
“It is impossible to separate works from faith as it is to separate heat from fire or coldness from ice.” (George Ong)
“One cannot remove works from faith any more than he can remove fragrance from perfume.” (George Ong)
“You cannot remove works from faith any more than you can remove coldness from the fridge.” (George Ong)
“One cannot be saved by faith without works in the same way as a man cannot breathe without air.” (George Ong)
“Just as husband and wife are one, so is faith and works, and each cannot be divorced from the other.” (George Ong)
“Removing works from faith is like removing muscles from the body – the result is a useless body that cannot function.” (George Ong)
“The separation of works from faith in the ‘justification by faith alone’ teaching of Joseph Prince is the crux of the false doctrine that is prevalent in the church today.” (George Ong)
Biblical ignorance is one key reason why Joseph Prince has deceived so many people.
Many ignorant people think Joseph Prince is preaching what Martin Luther teaches, when the truth is, he is preaching against Martin Luther.
Joseph Prince is preaching Antinomianism, a false doctrine that the Reformation Fathers fought against.
(More details about Antinomianism would be covered in Volume 6, Chapter 2: ‘Crucial Importance Of Works To Salvation.’)
Let’s take a look at three Bible verses:
Tit 3:7 NIV
7 “so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Rom 3:28 NIV
28 “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
Jas 2:24 NASB
24 “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
Each of these verses is incomplete to form a definitive doctrinal conclusion.
We must bring all three verses together to form the right doctrinal conclusion.
Yes, we are justified by grace, but not by grace alone.
Yes, we are justified by faith, but not by faith alone.
Yes, we are justified by works, but not by works alone.
We are justified by Grace, Faith and Works.
Jas 2:24 NASB
24 “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
There is no way of getting around this verse in James 2:24.
All 40 translations I have checked say the same thing.
Three of the more down-to-earth translations are as follows:
Jas 2:24 TLB
24 “So you see, a man is saved by what he does, as well as by what he believes.”
Jas 2:24 NCV
24 “So you see that people are made right with God by what they do, not by faith only.”
Jas 2:24 NLV
24 “A man becomes right with God by what he does and not by faith only.”
Free Trip Reward:
I am committed to giving a free trip to anyone
(especially to Joseph Prince and his supporters)
to anywhere in the world who could find these four words consecutively placed one after another:
“justified by faith alone,” in the Bible.
(Note: The final verdict must be based on the Greek text as there could be Bible translations that may be ‘very liberal’ and ‘too loose’ in the way they translate the Greek text.)
I am not joking.
I am utterly serious!
I repeat if anyone could find these four words
“justified by faith alone,”
consecutively placed one after another in the Bible,
I promise to give him/her a free trip reward to anywhere in the world.
There is no limit as to how many can qualify.
If there are 1,000 of you who could find these four words “justified by faith alone,” in the Bible,
all 1,000 will get the same free trip reward.
Just imagine – if just 100 qualify and all 100 pick Antarctica as the place to visit, the next day this headline will appear in the Straits Times:
“An utterly foolish preacher, George Ong, went bankrupt all because of a foolish deal!”
No, I’m utterly and absolutely convinced this won’t happen.
Do you honestly think I’m that foolish to offer a deal that will make myself bankrupt?
Why am I doing this? – So that you won’t ever forget what you are about to learn.
The Bible teaches that we are “justified by faith”, but nowhere can you find in the Bible that teaches that we are “justified by faith alone.”
In fact, James 2:24 teaches the complete reverse, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
This is the only passage that mentions ‘faith alone’ or ‘faith only’, and it says we are not justified by it.
People say justification by ‘faith alone’ or by ‘faith only’ is a wholesome and comforting doctrine, but the Bible flatly says we are not justified by ‘faith alone’ or by ‘faith only’!
Yet, theologians, Bible teachers and pastors are teaching that we are justified or saved by faith alone; something which is diametrically opposed to what the Bible has plainly and clearly revealed in James 2:24 – that a man is justified not by faith alone.
Today, many Christians are believing and holding on to this false teaching of Joseph Prince that we are justified or saved by faith alone.
Can you imagine after 2,000 years of Church history, much of the Christian Church can still have distorted teachings and even false doctrines regarding the core tenets of the Christian Faith (Salvation, Grace, Faith, Works) that plainly contradict scriptures without even knowing it.
It is puzzling that the constant doctrinal refrain of many churches is, “We are justified by faith alone,” when the only place in the entire Bible where the words faith and alone are found in the same verse is James 2:24 (NASB): “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
James teaches us that true faith is never alone.
There must be works that accompany it.
If there are no works to back up your faith, the faith that you claim to possess is false.
Jas 2:14-26 NASB
14 “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder (other translations: Tremble, Tremble with fear).
20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
23 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.
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
Abraham was justified by works (Jas 2:21).
What works?
Not the works of legalism (circumcision) that Joseph Prince has always been profusely trying to confuse you with.
But works of obedience when he obeyed God to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Jas 2:21).
One can also say it is the ‘works of fear’ (Gen 22:12) – the very thing that Joseph Prince teaches against – he teaches we are not to fear God.
Gen 22:12 NIV
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
Similarly, Rahab was justified by works (Jas 2:25).
What works?
Again, not the works of legalism (circumcision) that Joseph Prince will try to confuse you with.
But works of obedience when she obeyed God to receive the messengers (Jas 2:25).
Heb 11:31 NIV
31 “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.”
Heb 11:31 NCV
31 “It was by faith that Rahab, the prostitute, welcomed the spies and was not killed with those who refused to obey God.”
By implication – while the people disobeyed God; by faith, she obeyed God and welcomed the spies and was not killed.
Can we now see that obedience is such a crucial issue for salvation as James 2:24 says – we are not only justified by faith but also by works – referring to the works of obedience in the case of Abraham and Rahab (Jas 2:21,25)?
Imagine what would have happened to Rahab if she had possessed a faith that was void of works?
She would have perished with everyone else in Jericho.
Her works only prove that her faith was real.
Here, Joseph Prince will try to confuse you with Galatians 2:16.
Gal 2:16 NIV
16 “know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”
Galatians 2:16 says, “a person is not justified by the works of the law.”
What works is Paul talking about?
Paul is referring to the works of legalism (circumcision) that the Jewish legalists were trying to impose on Gentile believers.
These works are not the works of obedience that Abraham and Rahab were justified with in James 2:21,25.
Joseph Prince, the great deceiver, will confuse you that the works in Galatians 2:16 refer to all works – that besides circumcision, they also include the works of holiness and obedience.
If that were so, then James is telling a lie because he said it so simply and clearly that both Abraham and Rahab were justified by works – works of obedience when Abraham offered up Isaac on the altar and when Rahab received the messengers (Jas 2:21,25).
Jas 2:21,25 NIV
21 “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?”
25 “In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?”
Can James the scripture writer be telling a lie?
Absolutely not!
I’d tell you who is telling a lie – Joseph Prince!
Lest one goes to the other extreme and propounds the heretical view that Abraham was justified by works of the Mosaic Law (circumcision), let’s look at Romans 4:9-11.
Rom 4:9-11 NIV
9 “Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.
10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!
11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.”
Romans 4:9-11 teaches that Abraham was justified by faith before he was even circumcised.
This is to counter the circumcision party who insists that one needs to be justified by the works of the law, such as circumcision – which is pure heresy.
The point that Paul was making was that Abraham was already justified by faith before he was circumcised and hence circumcision has no bearing at all on his salvation.
Next, there are four key points that James made about faith and works that are so clear and simple that there is no way that one can get around them:
First, Faith Without Works Cannot Save (Jas 2:14).
A No-Works Faith Cannot Save.
Jas 2:14 NASB
14 “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?”
The answer to James’ rhetorical question is No.
Faith without works cannot save.
“A Faith that doesn’t lead to works is a faith that doesn’t save.” (Jas 2:14) (George Ong)
“Faith without works is like a lifeguard who gets so drunk that he cannot save.” (Jas 2:14) (George Ong)
“Though we are initially saved by faith and not works, we cannot be finally saved by a faith that has no works.” (George Ong)
“It is impossible to be saved by works but it is also impossible to be saved without the evidence of works.” (Eph 2:8-10, Jas 2:14,17,20,26) (George Ong)
Second, Faith Without Works Is Dead (Jas 2:17,26).
A Dead Faith Cannot Save.
Jas 2:17,26 NASB
17 “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”
26 “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
“Faith without works is as dead as a dead man lying in a coffin.” (Jas 2:17,26) (George Ong)
“Faith is alive with works but faith is dead without works.” (Jas 2:17,26) (George Ong)
Third, Faith Without Works Is Useless (Jas 2:20).
A Useless Faith Cannot Save.
Jas 2:20 NASB
20 “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?”
“Faith that has no works is as useless as perfume that has lost its fragrance.” (Jas 2:20) (George Ong)
“Faith without works is like a Statue Christian that looks immovably impressive but practically useless.” (Jas 2:20)(George Ong)
Fourth, Faith Without Works Is Imperfect (Jas 2:22).
An Imperfect Faith Cannot Save.
Jas 2:22 NASB
22 “You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected.”
Even in the light of such obvious truths, it is unimaginable that modern Antinomians like Joseph Prince could still deceive people to believe that faith without works (or justification without sanctification) can save a person.
From James 2:14-26, Galatians 2:16 and Romans 4:9-11, we can reach the following conclusions:
Paul says Abraham was justified by Faith, not Works – Works of Circumcision (Gal 2:16, Rom 4:9-11).
James says Abraham was justified by Works – Works of Obedience, and not by Faith Alone.
Paul did say we are justified by Faith.
But Paul never says that we are Justified by Faith Alone.
Theologians have added the word ‘alone’ into the word of God – By Faith Alone.
Paul says Abraham was not justified by Works – Works of the Mosaic law (Gal 2:16 and Rom 4:9-11).
James says Abraham was justified by Works – Works of Obedience by offering his son Isaac on the altar.
These two works that are mentioned by Paul and James are not the same.
The problem is that misguided theologians and Joseph Prince has persuaded us that there’s an irreconcilable conflict between Salvation that is based on Grace and Salvation that is conditioned on Works of Obedience.
They tell us that there are only two possibilities regarding salvation.
It’s either:
1. A gift from God or
2. It’s something we earn by our works.
They have created a ‘false dilemma’ with their erroneous form of argumentation.
The gift of salvation is no less by grace simply because it’s conditioned on works.
Grace and works are not mutually exclusive.
We are saved by grace through faith, not by works.
But salvation conditioned on works is not the same as salvation by works.
The gift of salvation is no less a gift of grace simply because it’s conditioned on works.
If we have true saving faith, then we will have good works as evidence of that faith.
Any other kind of faith that is without works is a dead faith and is not saving faith.
Paul says, “…a man is justified by faith…” (Rom 3:28 NASB).
James says, “…a man is justified by works…” (Jas 2:24 NASB).
Unfortunately, most Christians’ doctrine of salvation accepts Paul’s statement that “a man is justified by faith” but essentially nullifies James’ statement that “a man is justified by works.”
We must give equal weight to both.
By examining the context of relevant passages and considering the totality of scripture, both are true, and both must be upheld.
Conventional (Wrong) Understanding:
Salvation is through Faith alone.
Salvation is guaranteed after the sinner’s prayer.
What about works?
Works only comes after Salvation.
Definitely implying it is optional, meaning even if you don’t do works, you are still finally saved – False!
But that’s not what James is saying:
James did not say Works comes after Salvation.
James says you are justified by both Faith and Works.
Biblical Understanding:
We are saved by Grace through Faith.
Salvation cannot be earned by Works.
True Faith must be accompanied by Works.
Getting Saved does not require Works.
But Staying Saved requires both Continued Faith and Works of Obedience.
Does that mean I’m now earning my future salvation, if it is conditioned on works and if it is dependent on me in some way to keep it – which Joseph Prince will try to confuse you with?
The answer is not at all.
Let us consider this illustration and then the actual scriptures on this subject:
Let’s say Bill Gates grafts you into his will and says you will inherit his 10 million-dollar second home when he dies, as a free gift.
You could never afford this house, but he even lets you go ahead and move in, and all he asks in return as a condition is that you maintain it.
Not only could you not likely ever afford to live in that house, but you couldn’t even afford to maintain it.
He is not even asking you to lift a finger at maintaining the house or spend any money from your pocket.
However, you have no worries because he even gives you a cleaning, maintenance, and improvement budget to do so.
He then promises that no one from the outside will ever be able to take the home from you or to sell it out from under you (Rom 8:38-39).
So you move in, and soon after, you start having friends over to see your new amazing free house from Bill Gates as none of them will believe until they see it.
During one visit, you take a break from your friends to sit down at your beautiful office kitchen to take care of a few maintenance projects you have going with the house.
One of your friends walks by and sees you and asks what you are doing.
You explain that you are writing out a few cheques for the various maintenance projects on the house.
Your friend, with a frowned look on his face, says, “Wait a second, you said this house was a free gift….This isn’t a free gift if you have to pay money to maintain it.”
You then explain, “Oh, it was part of the agreement, and actually Bill deposits money into my account each week so that I can maintain the house. My responsibility is to apply the payments simply. I don’t even have to spend a single cent.”
Could anyone now rightly say that if you agreed to these maintenance terms or conditions, you are now earning the free gift?
Not at all!
You are merely obeying the agreement of maintaining the gracious gift Bill Gates is giving you, and you can’t even take credit for that, because he gives you the money to maintain it.
Now, suppose you start taking the gift for granted, and you start leaving the doors unlocked when you leave, having questionable individuals over, or spending the maintenance money and your time on other things, at the neglect of caring for the house.
When Bill comes to make his final settlement with you and transfer the deed over to you, would he have the right to take back your inheritance since you lost respect for it, and you didn’t fulfil his condition and do his will in the agreement?
Yes, he would.
So now we must ask the same question of Jesus.
Would Jesus Christ be out of line or unjust if he decides to take back our reserved inheritance, or blot our name out of the book of life (Rev 3:5), if we lost respect for his death on the cross, turned back in our faith (Heb 10:38-39), or trampled his grace (Heb 10:29)?
No, he would not, my friend!
The truth is that while we did nothing to earn the gift of salvation, we do still have an obligation to maintain the gift (with works of obedience and by holding on our faith) with the grace He has given us.
We need to get over this erroneous idea that we have nothing to do and that if we dare do anything, we are “earning” our salvation.
On the contrary, the scripture says works of obedience are needed to qualify for final and eternal salvation.
Heb 5:9 NIV
9 “and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
Jn 8:51 NIV
51 “Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
Jn 5:29 NIV
29 “And come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.”
Rom 2:7-8 NIV
7 “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”
The Bible also says that only those who do God’s will in obedience to Him will make it to heaven (1 Jn 2:17, Matt 7:21).
1 Jn 2:17 NIV
17 “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
Matt 7:21 NIV
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Notice that the message of Jesus is the same as the message of James – Obedience to God is the mark of true saving faith.
Scripture is clear that if you take that “do” or obedience out, you do not make it to heaven (Matt 7:21-27).
Remember what terrible thing happened to the servant who buried his Master’s money (talent) in Matthew 25:24-27 because he didn’t do what Christ wanted him to.
Coming back to the illustration…
Let’s say someone were to tell Bill Gates,
“Hey Bill, when you give someone a free house, aiyah, make sure you really give him free lah.
Please don’t insert conditions like he has to maintain the house.
Since it is free, let him do what he likes to with the house.
If he wants to burn the house down, let him do it, as after all, you have given him a free house, and it belongs to him.”
Sounds logical!
But, not biblical!
Tell me when Jesus gave us the free gift of salvation, did He say:
“Hey, my salvation is free, totally free with no strings attached.
After you say the sinner’s prayer and receive my free gift of salvation, you can do whatever you like because it’s free.
You can sleep with 100 women in bed; I don’t quite care because it is free.
You can gamble away millions of dollars; I don’t care, because it is free.”
Was that what Jesus said to us, and would He say that to us?
Of course not.
Jesus gave us the free gift of salvation, but it comes with conditions.
Conditions like obedience, holiness, don’t get into unrepentant sins, don’t turn away from your faith, don’t get into false teachings, you must endure to the end, etc.
And if we dare to breach these conditions, our eternal inheritance even though it’s free, would be revoked.
2. Demon’s Faith Is No Different From The Faith Of Many ‘Believers’.
Jas 2:19 NASB
19 “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”
Jas 2:19 NLT
19 “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”
Jas 2:19 NCV
19 “You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe that, too, and they tremble with fear.”
James states that even demons believe there is one God, but their belief does not result in submission to God/Christ and leading to salvation (Jas 2:19).
Surprisingly, some of the most accurate doctrinal testimonies in scripture about Christ come from demon spirits, but no one would suggest they were saved (Matt 8:29, Lk 4:40-41, Mk 1:24, 5:7, Lk 4:34, 8:28).
Matt 8:29 NIV
29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Lk 4:40-41 NIV
40 “At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.
41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.”
Mk 1:24 NIV
24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Mk 5:7 NIV
7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!”
Demons believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah (Matt 8:29, Lk 4:40-41), confess He is the Holy One of God (Mk 1:24) and acknowledge He has the authority and power to torture (Matt 8:29, Mk 5:7) and destroy them (Mk 1:24).
James teaches that even demons believe and acknowledge crucial doctrinal truths about Christ.
They are completely orthodox in their theology.
But believing in orthodox doctrine by itself is no proof of saving faith.
To James, mere belief without works of obedience doesn’t constitute true faith.
This is why James responds to such a position, saying, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (Jas 2:19 NASB).
If someone insists on this kind of faith,
“I believe Jesus is the Son of God,
I believe Christ has the power to save me,”
but never lives in obedience to Christ,
James is bound to retort,
“You’re no different than the devil and his demons.
Even the devil and his demons know and believe doctrinal truths, but they don’t obey them.”
James’ point is that men can hold such demon belief – a belief that is theologically correct but does not bring about their obedience to Jesus as Lord.
James makes a distinction between a saving faith in Jesus, which has obedience to God with it, and a faith in God that does not have obedience with it.
To James, a faith that is not accompanied by works (works of obedience) is dead, and it will not save any person from hell (Jas 2:14-17).
A mere confession of faith in Jesus as Lord without a serious commitment to obey Him is useless.
A faith that has no obedience is equated to the faith of demons, who believe God exists but are not obeying Him (Jas 2:19).
Multitudes in our day, who profess to be Christians, only have the faith of demons (Jas 2:19).
They profess Jesus as the Son of God but live in disobedience.
They are not carnal Christians (as there is no such thing as a carnal Christian) like some think, but instead children of the devil!
Some were never saved, but many others were saved at one point but since have died spiritually (Lk 15:24,32, Rom 8:13, Jas 1:14-16, 5:19,20, etc).
They lost the salvation they previously had.
Multitudes are being deceived, thinking that they are on the road to heaven when they are actually on the road to hell because their faith is no better than that of demons.
James declares the demons believe in God and shudder or tremble in fear of Him.
In contrast, the faith of many people who profess salvation in modern times don’t even fear God – and Joseph Prince is even teaching against fearing God!
James implies that demonic faith is greater than the fraudulent faith of a false believer, for demonic faith produces fear whereas unsaved men have “no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom 3:18 NIV).
If the demons believe, tremble and are not saved, what does that say about those who profess to believe and do not even tremble (Isa 66:2,5)?
Isa 66:2,5 NIV
2 “…These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”
5 “Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word…”
In that way, they have a faith that is less than the faith of demons and will spend their eternity with the demons in the lake of fire, unless their faith is authenticated by works.
It is only a trusting, submitting and enduring faith in Jesus that will enable one to enter into God’s kingdom and save him from eternal destruction.
“If our faith is just about believing that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and nothing more, that kind of faith is nowhere beyond that of demons, as they believe in that too.” (Jas 2:19) (George Ong)
“In fact, that kind of faith is even lower than that of demons because demons have at least a shuddering fear of God, whereas many churchgoers don’t – and Joseph Prince even teaches against it.” (Jas 2:19) (George Ong)
“Demons are more ‘pious’ than believers of today as they believe and tremble, while believers believe and don’t even tremble.” (Jas 2:19) (George Ong)
B. Paul & James Are On The Same Page On Faith & Works.
Doesn’t James Contradict Paul?
But did not Paul write, “a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:28)?
Does this not contradict what James says about our being justified by works before God (Jas 2:24)?
Their apparent contradictory statements are not difficult to reconcile.
From one perspective, Paul is addressing the cause of salvation – Faith, while James is addressing the result – Works.
Thus, from both writers, we gain a comprehensive view of God’s work in salvation.
Paul is addressing the Jewish legalists who considers the Law to be the means of salvation.
Paul wants them to know that salvation can’t be earned by keeping the ceremonial Law.
Salvation is a free gift that has been provided by God’s grace and is received by faith.
James, however, is addressing those who had corrupted the truth of salvation by grace through faith, like what Joseph Prince is precisely doing today.
“Justification by faith alone,” is the motto of modern Antinomians such as Joseph Prince, who had redefined faith to be nothing more than a verbal profession, a faith that cannot tolerate any works, even though such works are the concomitant evidence of true faith.
James refuted Joseph Prince’s error: “You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone” (Jas 2:24).
The reason James could make such a bold statement in James 2:24 is that our works are evidence of our faith by which we are justified before God.
Scripture teaches that at the final judgement, the eternal destinies of individuals will be determined by their works (Matt 12:36-37; 25:31-46; Jn 5:28-29; Rev 20:12-13; etc).
This is because works are what validate faith.
So in that sense, as James states, people’s works justify them before God.
“Jesus will judge everyone by works as He considers works to be the undeniable and indispensable validation of our faith.” (George Ong)
“The indispensability of works to faith is proven in the parable of the sheep and the goats when the single criteria of judgement that Jesus used are works because works are the concrete indicator of true faith.” (Matt 25:31-46) (George Ong)
James concludes his teaching on the nature of saving faith by using one more biblical example of a person who was saved by a faith that worked:
“In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:25-26 NASB).
What would have happened to Rahab if she had possessed a faith that was void of works (if such a thing were possible)?
She would have perished with everyone else in Jericho.
But her living faith which is proven by her works stands today as an example for all who would be saved from the wrath of God.
Paul does not teach a different message about faith from what was taught by James.
Paul does not view saving faith, like Joseph Prince does, as a one-time event, and that salvation is permanently assured arising from the salvation decision.
Paul believes that faith without works is dead just as James taught in his epistle.
Paul tells the Galatians, “I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain” and “I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you” (Gal 4:11,20 KJV).
Paul is confronting them in such a way because they were not living according to the faith he had preached to them and taught them to live by.
In Galatians 5:7-9, Paul says to them,
7 “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?
8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”
Paul affirms that they had been running well in their faith, but had since been hindered by the yeast of those teaching that they should obey Jewish law.
The Galatians were having their faith undermined by the Judaizers, who were adding circumcision to the gospel.
Paul does not teach the Galatians to simply pray a prayer and ‘hey presto’, they are irrevocably saved.
Paul teaches the Galatians, “the just shall live by faith.” (Gal 3:11) and this is not a reference to a one-time believing experience like what Joseph Prince has falsely taught.
It is a reference to living your life by faith in Jesus Christ.
When James says faith without works is dead, he uses examples of showing love and kindness to those in need as the works he is referring to (Jas 2:15-16).
Paul says basically the same thing in Galatians when he says, “faith working through love” (Gal 5:6 NASB).
Gal 5:6 NASB
6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.”
The only kind of faith that Paul understands is that which produces the works of love or bears the fruit of love.
Paul also agrees with James’ statement – “faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:17,26 NASB) – when he says to Titus,
“They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work” (Tit 1:16 HCSB).
Also, in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, Paul speaks of “the work of faith.”
Reading Paul’s letters to the Galatians, the Thessalonians and Titus,
we can see that Paul did not think of faith as something that is merely a one-time gift bestowed, and from henceforth, permanent salvation is assured no matter how one lived
– just as Joseph Prince always falsely teaches that your standing (justification, believing) will never be affected by your state (sanctification, behaviour).
Works are important for Paul as it is for James.
Few teachers have ever stressed works – the ethical responsibilities of Christianity as Paul does.
Yes, though he can be pretty doctrinal in his letters (first half of his letters), he never fails to end with the importance of works or deeds that he insisted believers must live out their doctrines or faith (second half of his letters).
He teaches that God will render to every man according to his works (Rom 2:6).
He asserts that every one of us would have to give an account of how he has lived his life to God (Rom 14:12, 2 Cor 5:10).
He urges believers to put off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light (Rom 13:12), and that the Christian has to put off the old nature and all its unholy deeds (Col 3:5-9).
Col 3:5-9 NASB
5 “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices.”
In other words, Paul is saying that faith
without the evidence of the works of holiness (Col 3:5,8,9)
and the works of obedience (Col 3:6)
will bring about the wrath of God on them (Col 3:6).
The fact that Christianity must be ethically demonstrated in practical works or actions as Paul has taught in many of his letters as an essential part of the Christian Faith is proof that works are important to his theology.
It has often been imagined that Paul’s view of justification differed from James’,
because Paul wrote, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law” (Rom 3:28);
while James wrote, “You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone” (Jas 2:24).
But there is no contradiction.
Paul is saying that ceremonial works (circumcision) cannot earn their salvation with God, and James is saying that true faith must always result in good works.
Paul is speaking out against works as the means of saving faith, whereas James is teaching that without the fruit of works, there is no saving faith.
Paul isn’t teaching that works mustn’t follow faith, or else he wouldn’t have written Ephesians 2:10, but he is combatting legalism that insisted on ceremonial works to be justified (Rom 3:20).
James isn’t teaching salvation that can be purchased by works, but he is confronting the issue of false faith, which is devoid of works.
On faith and works, Paul and James are not fighting each other.
They are fighting on two different fronts, and they are each fighting each of the two common enemies.
Paul is fighting those who want to add works to the gospel and earn their salvation by their works.
James is fighting those who want a salvation that doesn’t place any demands on them and want a faith that doesn’t cost them anything – which is exactly the doctrine of Joseph Prince.
Paul is teaching salvation that is by grace through faith and cannot be earned by the works of the Mosaic Law.
James is teaching that salvation by grace through faith must produce works of obedience and holiness.
Paul is defending against a legalistic approach to salvation that sees salvation could be earned.
James is defending against a libertine approach to salvation that wants salvation with no obligations and one that doesn’t cost.
So, in a real sense, instead of disagreement or conflict between what Paul and James teach on faith and works, their teachings complement each other harmoniously.
C. Works Of The Mosaic Law Are Different From The Works Of Obedience.
Let’s start with Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
The thrust of Paul’s letter to the Galatians is that salvation is by faith and not by works of the Law (Gal 2:16).
The context is that Paul was addressing the false teaching that new converts could not be saved unless they were circumcised and kept the Law of Moses.
The proof of this is that Paul had to deal with the particular issue of circumcision repeatedly in his letter (Gal 2:3, 7-9, 12; 5:2-3, 6, 11; 6:12-13, 15).
But Paul never intended that the Galatians would conclude that holiness or obedience was not essential in entering God’s kingdom.
Joseph Prince deliberately misinterprets Galatians out of context and says that such works in Galatians 2:16 would also include obedience and holiness.
Joseph Prince teaches that the works that Paul was fighting against the legalists, besides the ceremonial Law, also include works of obedience and holiness.
Joseph Prince went a step further to accuse those who teach that obedience and holiness (sanctification) are necessary for salvation are teaching works-religion and legalism.
Therefore, obedience and holiness (sanctification) to Joseph Prince cannot be essential to saving faith.
However, the worry that the Galatians were becoming too holy and overly obedient was never the issue that Paul was contending.
Paul’s concern was that by trusting in the work of circumcision, they were no longer trusting in their faith in Christ for their salvation.
The other worry of Paul is this – that the Galatians may have thought that unholy living and disobedience do not matter in their eternal inheritance.
This is why Paul had to write Galatians 5:19-21.
Gal 5:19-21 NIV
19 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Paul’s message was that their unholy living could affect their salvation and disqualify them from entering God’s kingdom.
So, the issue of works that Paul is fighting against the Jewish legalists are not the works of obedience and holiness that teachers like Joseph Prince are harping on and deceiving the church with, but the works of the Mosaic Law – the main issue being circumcision.
1 Corinthians 7:19 says it all and provides the concrete proof.
1 Cor 7:19 NCV
19 “It is not important if a man is circumcised or not. The important thing is obeying God’s commands.”
1 Cor 7:19 ISV
19 “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God’s commandments is everything.”
This is the key verse that nails the true nature of Paul’s battle with both the legalists and the Antinomians, such as Joseph Prince.
Though circumcision or uncircumcision does not affect our salvation, there is one thing that does – obedience to God – because it is everything!
If what Joseph Prince has postured that works of legalism also include works of obedience, then why would Paul say, “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God’s commandments is everything” (1 Cor 7:19 ISV).
By Joseph Prince’s definition of legalism that also includes obedience to moral commandments, besides the ceremonial Law, he has made Paul into a legalist.
Paul, though he denigrates the ceremonial Law of circumcision, clearly upholds obedience to God’s commandments (1 Cor 7:19).
To reiterate, many commentators and Bible teachers such as Joseph Prince will tell you that the Book of Galatians is about “salvation by faith alone, apart from works.”
They ‘throw everything’ into the word ‘works’, including obedience, holiness, works of faith, etc.
But this is erroneous.
In the context of Galatians, ‘works’, meant the works of the Law of Moses, particularly circumcision.
They abuse the term, ‘salvation by faith alone apart from works’ to also mean that the works of obedience and holiness have nothing to do with salvation.
That all that is required for one to make it to heaven is just faith alone, without works – works of obedience and holiness.
But as James 2:24 has proven, that’s not what it is meant: “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (Jas 2:24 NASB).
And the works that James was referring to was the works of obedience of Abraham and Rahab in James 2:21,25.
But the works in Paul’s letter to the Galatians that was at issue was circumcision (not obedience or holiness) which was the main contention as Paul mentions it many times in Galatians.
Paul summarizes the point of his entire letter in Galatians 6:15: “For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”
What is important to Paul is not whether one is circumcised or uncircumcised but whether one is truly saved, not by just by a one-time event of saying the sinner’s prayer, but by the works of whether they are living like a new creation.
Let’s go on to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
One must note the context of Ephesians.
The common key problem facing Paul in the church of Ephesus is the same as the church of Galatia and the other churches that he preached in.
Jewish legalists were pushing their false doctrine that Gentile converts had to be circumcised and observe some ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic Law.
It was within the context of circumcision and ceremonial works that Paul had to contend with when he wrote that salvation is not of works in Ephesians 2:9.
Eph 2:8-9 NIV
8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
When Paul wrote (primarily to Gentile believers: Eph 2:11-3:6) Ephesians 2:8-9, was Paul worried that these Gentile believers were over-zealous in obeying God’s commandments?
No.
He wanted to alert them from being deceived by Jewish legalists who were teaching that circumcision was needed for saving faith (Eph 2:9,11).
When Paul mentioned that “not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:9 NIV), did he mean that it is not of the works of obedience or holiness?
This can never be, as Paul, in the same letter in Ephesians, wrote about the importance of the works of obedience and holiness in Ephesians 5:5-6:
Eph 5:5-6 NIV
5 “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”
Not only did Paul not put down the works of obedience and holiness, but he is also sending the message that those who are disobedient and unholy will not have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (Eph 5:5-6).
Therefore, when Paul wrote Ephesians 2:8-9 that salvation is a gift of grace not based on works, he is not referring to works of obedience and holiness but works of the Mosaic Law, such as circumcision.
Paul, in other letters in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21, also issued the same warning – that without the works of obedience and holiness, no one can enter God’s kingdom.
Joseph Prince’s doctrine that such works would also include works of obedience and holiness is discredited.
Paul believed that salvation is not the result of works, but works are the result of salvation.
That’s where Ephesians 2:10 comes in.
Eph 2:10 NIV
10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Another related issue is the false teaching by Joseph Prince that just because we preach obedience is required for saving faith, it is salvation by works, and it nullifies God’s grace.
Joseph Prince would always assert that grace is unconditional, or it is not grace, and if there are conditions attached to salvation, salvation is not of grace.
(Note: grace is not unconditional but conditional, and this is covered in Volume 7, Chapter 15: ‘Unconditional Grace Is An Unbiblical Doctrine’.)
This is not true.
Let’s take the example of a court case.
Imagine a boy is convicted of stealing.
And because of his young age, the judge out of his grace, allowed the boy to walk free, without jailing him.
But there is a condition placed on the grace of the judge.
The condition is that as long as the boy doesn’t steal another time, he would not be put in jail and continue to enjoy freedom.
Does that mean that the boy who was allowed to walk free was not due to the grace of the judge?
Will the boy say that by observing the condition of not stealing again, he has earned his freedom?
Just because there is a condition attached, does not mean the boy did not experience the grace of the judge who has allowed him to walk out free without being jailed.
If the rich ruler had obeyed the condition of Christ and sold everything as Jesus commanded, could he have said that he had purchased his salvation (Matt 19:16-30, Mk 10:17-31, Lk 18:18-30)?
No, he could only rightly say that he had spent his life as a sinful and selfish rich man, ignoring his ability to help his less fortunate brethren.
He would constantly thank Jesus for pointing out his sin of greed, which would disqualify him from salvation (1 Cor 6:9-10, Eph 5:5-6) that he has to repent of.
However, because God’s grace, he was given the opportunity to repent from his greed and receive eternal life, a gift that all the money in the world can never buy.
And he would never stop thanking God for His grace in saving him.
D. Is The Confession Of Faith That Simple In Romans 10:9?
Rom 10:9 MEV
9 “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Rom 10:9 NIV
9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Rom 10:9 NLT
9 “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Rom 10:9 has been used as a proof text by many, including Joseph Prince, to teach that salvation is just a simple matter of saying the sinner’s prayer – “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9 MEV).
This has been capitalised on by Joseph Prince to take this even further to push his ‘justification-only-without-sanctification’ salvation doctrine – that justification is all about confessing with one’s mouth that Jesus is Lord – and once that is done, one is forever saved.
But is the salvation that is promised in Romans 10:9 really that simple?
Is it all that’s required for salvation?
First, did Romans 10:9 say, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Saviour?”
No.
It says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord.”
If a man confesses and declares Jesus is Lord in the sinner’s prayer, it means he is giving Christ the supreme place in his life and pledging total obedience to Him as Master.
Can you see now that salvation is more than just, “Jesus would you come and save me from hell and my sins?”
Are your eyes now open to the Lordship of Christ as being of paramount importance to saving faith?
One can never accept Jesus as Saviour without accepting Him as Lord.
How does one accept Jesus as Lord?
How does one prove that Jesus is Lord in his life?
By merely saying?
No, but by obeying every command of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you are merely saying or confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord without obeying Him, He will say to you on judgement day, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say” (Lk 6:46)?
And if you don’t obey everything that comes from Christ as proof of His Lordship over your life, He will destroy you on the day of judgement (Acts 3:22-23).
Acts 3:22-23 NET
22 “Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet (Jesus) like me from among your brothers. You must obey him in everything he tells you.
23 Every person who does not obey that prophet (Jesus) will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.’”
Jesus demands a theology of lordship that involves obedience, not lip service, and doing, not just saying and hearing (Matt 7:21-27).
Verbal confession and allegiance alone will get no one to heaven: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matt 7:21 NASB).
Paul echoes what Jesus says: “for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified” (Rom 2:13 NASB).
Both Jesus and Paul agree with James:
Jas 1:22 NASB
22 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
Jas 2:17 NCV
17 “In the same way, faith by itself—that does nothing—is dead.”
Jas 2:24 NCV
24 “So you see that people are made right with God by what they do, not by faith only.”
So, the point I am making is that the confession of faith in Romans 10:9 contains the Lordship of Christ that believers must accept to have saving faith.
Also, Romans 10:9 must not be read in isolation, but it must also be understood in consonance with the other passages of scriptures that talk about salvation.
Second, knowing the background and the bigger context of this verse in Romans 10:9 is vitally helpful.
A few decades before Jesus was born, there was a Roman emperor called Julius Caesar.
And Julius Caesar was the first emperor to call himself divine – not just human but divine.
He was followed by Augustus, who was reigning when Jesus came on the scene.
Augustus went one step further, and he commanded worship.
And he got temples to be erected all over the empire so people could worship him as ‘God’.
One must note that when Paul was writing to the Romans and the other of his epistles, it was at a time when Christians were beginning to come under some form of persecution from the Roman government.
The Roman emperors were treated as gods.
The people, including believers, were expected to pledge their loyalty to the emperor by confessing ‘Caesar is Lord’.
This got even worse during the time when John was penning the book of Revelation.
If people resisted, they might be killed.
But could believers declare ‘Caesar is Lord?’
Absolutely not!
Because they knew that only Christ is Lord!
They knew that no man could be given this title except Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
But to confess that Jesus is Lord is a bold declaration that Caesar is not Lord.
It is to deny the Lordship of Caesar.
It is to reject the imperial cult of emperor worship.
Believers were pressured to declare and confess, ‘Caesar is Lord’ under the threat of persecution.
And they are well aware if they dishonour and disown the Lordship of Christ by declaring and confessing ‘Caesar is Lord’, Christ would disown them, and their eternal destiny would be doomed.
Many knew, regardless of the cost, they must declare and confess “…Jesus is Lord…” (Rom 10:9)
Are you starting to see now that in the context when Romans was written (and in many of the epistles too, and especially the book of Revelation),
confessing the Lordship of Christ with the mouth is not just an easy and simple matter,
but it is a confession which could be very costly
– it could even cost believers in Paul’s time their lives?
(Paul himself was martyred)
Romans 10:9 MEV
9 “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Confessing ‘Jesus as Lord’ during that time may mean they could lose their head.
But this is seldom emphasised by the modern-day gospel.
On the contrary, modern-day preachers make the confession in Romans 10:9 so simple and easy.
What is worse is that preachers, such as Joseph Prince, teaches that the mere confession of Romans 10:9, would earn a free ticket to heaven and assure one that his salvation is forever guaranteed.
The greatest tragedy of Joseph Prince in abusing Romans 10:9 is that he has taken a confession of faith that costs the lives of many believers, and turned it into a confession of faith that avoids any personal cost whatsoever.
Such easy Christianity and the broad-road gospel of Joseph Prince would draw more ‘converts’ (false ones) into the fold.
Can you fathom why the church is full of goats rather than sheep?
Can you see why his New Creation Church has become the biggest in Singapore?
It is no sin to be the biggest church in Singapore.
But it becomes a sin when Joseph Prince corrupts the costly gospel of Jesus’ into a cheap Super-grace gospel and a ‘no-need-to-do-anything-faith’, just to win more people over to his cause.
Do you now understand why Joseph Prince is not preaching the costly gospel of the Great Commission but his cheap Super-grace gospel that promises everything but expects nothing?
Why is the Great Commission a costly gospel?
“The Great Commission isn’t a cheap but a costly gospel simply because costly discipleship and Christ’s Lordship expressed by our total obedience to His commandments are both contained in it.” (Matt 28:18-20) (George Ong)
Matt 28:18-20 NIV
18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
“What is gravely disappointing is that the great majority of churches have reduced the Great Commission to an easy gospel of merely saying the sinner’s prayer, without declaring what discipleship and Christ’s Lordship mean for salvation.” (Matt 28:18-20) (George Ong)
“Anyone who believes Joseph Prince who rejects and even teaches against the Jesus’ gospel in the Great Commission to be a true prophet must be out of his mind.” (Matt 28:18-20) (George Ong)
“How can Joseph Prince claim to be a Christ-centred preacher when the most important heartbeat of Christ for the Church in the Great Commission is not even given a single mention in his teachings?” (Matt 28:18-20) (George Ong)
“If Joseph Prince dares to replace the Great Commission gospel with his Super-grace gospel, how can any pastor or believer who truly shares the heart of Christ for the world stomach it?” (Matt 28:18-20) (George Ong)
“By Joseph Prince’s total silence and contemptuous neglect of the Great Commission gospel and the passionate pursuit of his Super-grace gospel, he is sending a clear message to Jesus that his Super-grace gospel can do a much better job in reaching lost souls than the Great Commission gospel.” (Matt 28:18-20) (George Ong)
“By Joseph Prince’s audacity to treat the Great Commission, the heartbeat of the King of kings and the Lord of lords with contempt, no more convincing needs to be done on anyone that he is a false prophet.” (Matt 28:18-20) (George Ong)
E. We Are Saved By Faith Alone, But The Faith That Saves Is Never Alone.
The Reformation theology on faith and works is represented by two of the most prominent leaders: Martin Luther and John Calvin.
“We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” (Martin Luther)
“It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone.” (John Calvin)
I agree with this theology, except that to avoid confusion,
I would rather not word it like it is worded in the first phrase of the statement, “We are saved or justified by faith alone,” because the Bible clearly says in James 2:24, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
As I have said, James could make such a bold statement in James 2:24 that besides faith, we are also justified by works, because our works are the evidence of our faith by which we are justified before God.
Scripture teaches that at the final judgement, the eternal destinies of individuals will be determined by their works (Matt 12:36-37; 25:31-46; Jn 5:28-29; Rev 20:12-13, etc).
This is because works are the undeniable validation of true faith.
So in that sense, as James states, people’s works justify them before God.
But I also do understand why the Reformers have to phrase it this way, “We are saved or justified by faith alone,” given the tough battles that these Reformers have fought with the work-based faith of Roman Catholicism.
In Luther’s day, because of the influence of Roman Catholicism, salvation was perceived as something to be earned, and the church was besieged with legalism.
But being doctrinally sound,
The Reformers have wisely qualified the first phrase,
“We are saved or justified by faith alone,”
with the second phrase,
“but the faith that saves or justifies is never alone.”
So, I am in complete agreement with the theology of the Reformation Fathers on this issue – that we are saved by faith, but that doesn’t mean the faith that saves us is without works.
Let me share some of my original quotes on the issue of faith and works, and quotes from some men of God on the same issue:
“Neither a ‘Faith alone’ or a ‘Works alone’ doctrine will ever save but what will save is a faith that is evidenced by works.” (George Ong)
“Trusting in a faith that has no works is just as dangerous as trusting in our works apart from faith.” (George Ong)
“The certainty that heavy rain will drench the streets is the same certainty that faith will result in works.” (George Ong)
“Faith is that which moves the heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter 11 to action and obedience.” (George Ong)
“While no one can be saved by works, everyone can’t be saved without works.” (George Ong)
“Though works do not save anyone, none can be saved without it.” (George Ong)
“There can never be true faith without good works.” (George Ong)
“A faith that has no works can never be authentic.” (George Ong)
“Whether or not a person has true faith must ultimately be concretely demonstrated by his works.” (George Ong)
“A faith that is without works is just as false as a faith that can be bought by works.” (George Ong)
“Good works are as indispensable to true faith as breathing is to the living.” (George Ong)
“We say that justification is effective without works, not that faith is without works.” (Martin Luther)
“It is one thing that faith justifies without works; it is another thing that faith exists without works.” (Martin Luther)
“Faith is a living, restless thing. It cannot be inoperative. We are not saved by works; but if there be no works, there must be something amiss with faith.” (Martin Luther)
“Oh, it is a living, busy, active mighty thing, this faith; and so it is impossible for it not to do good works incessantly…He who does not these works is a faithless man…and thus it is impossible to separate works from faith, quite as impossible to separate heat and light (from) fires.” (Martin Luther)
This is the great summary of Lutheran doctrine that expressed a consensus among differing Lutheran groups.
“But after that man is justified by faith, then that true and living faith works by love, and good works always follow justifying faith, and are most certainly found together with it, provided only it be a true and living faith. For true faith is never alone, but hath always charity and hope in its train.”
“Although we are sure that men are not saved for the sake of their works, yet we are equally sure that no man will be saved without them.” (Charles Spurgeon)
“It is a faith which produces works which save us; the works do not save us, but a faith which does not produce works is a faith that will only deceive, and cannot lead us into heaven.” (Charles Spurgeon)
“Where no works exist, it must be supposed that no faith exists either.
So a man who claims to be a believer, yet has no works to demonstrate the reality of his faith, will find that such ‘faith’ does not justify him at all, for it is not real.
After all, it was Jesus who said, ‘You will know them by their fruits’ (Matthew 7:16 RSV), and James expounds this emphasis faithfully.” (Townsend)
“The truth is that, though we were justified by faith alone, the faith that justifies is never alone (it always produces fruit, ‘good works,’…a transformed life).” (J I Packer)
So, these men of God are all singing the same tune that the faith that justifies (saves) is not alone, in the sense that besides justification, there must be the presence of sanctification (works of obedience, holiness) as proof of one’s salvation.
All these men of God: Martin Luther, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, J I Packer and Townsend, clearly teach against the ‘justification-only’ or ‘we are justified or saved by faith alone’ salvation doctrine of Joseph Prince.
Joseph Prince’s ‘justification-only-without-sanctification’ salvation, which is a false gospel, is never held or taught by the Reformation Fathers, the Puritan Fathers and the evangelicals (though many current evangelicals have been corrupted by the justification-only doctrine without them even realising it).
The teaching of these church fathers is that both justification and sanctification (works of obedience, holiness) are essential for salvation.
They have repeatedly and unanimously insisted that ‘justification is by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone’ – that if good works are absent, the faith is inauthentic.
What is saddening is that many have been deceived into thinking that Joseph Prince is teaching the Martin Luther’s doctrine of justification by faith through his Super-grace gospel.
No, he isn’t!
Joseph Prince is teaching Antinomianism, a false gospel, which the Reformers fought against.
I believe the initial attractiveness of the Pseudo-grace gospel of Joseph Prince is that at first, it sounds to people like it is promoting a Reformation doctrine.
In reality, it is promoting a doctrine that the leaders of the Reformation had nothing to do with.
It is promoting a false view of the history of Protestantism.
Through Joseph Prince’s videos/audios, he would always try to craftily ‘cover himself’ by saying, “Hey, who says I’m against sanctification or holiness?”
Yet, the truth is he hardly preaches and emphasises on sanctification and our obedience to Christ in his teachings, and in fact, he preaches against them as legalism.
All he does is to keep pounding on the ‘justification-without-sanctification’ or ‘justification by faith alone’ salvation doctrine week in and week out.
He keeps saying that all you need to do is just emphasise and preach on justification, and the sanctification will naturally be the result.
But he will never say that both justification and sanctification are essential for salvation or that faith will require works as the evidence for true conversion.
“The Church has swung from one extreme of a Works-Based Faith in Roman Catholicism to the other extreme of a No-Works Faith in Antinomianism.” (George Ong)
F. Countering Joseph Prince’s Interpretation Of James 2:14-26.
In ‘Grace Revolution’, Pages 132-133, 136, Joseph Prince wrote,
“But Pastor Prince, what about the book of James, which says that one is justified by works and not just faith?
That’s an important question and I am going to answer it here for you.
It’s important that believers understand what James means, or they will fall back into trying to be justified by works and end up in self-condemnation when they fall short.
I believe you are referring to this Scripture from James: “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24).
Now, I believe that there is no contradiction between what James says and what the apostle Paul teaches.
What many people don’t realise is that what James is referring to here is justification before men.
Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16 emphasis mine).
Who sees your good works? Men.
James said, “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:15-17).
Notice how the good work of giving to the needy is done before men and to men?
You see, people can’t see with their physical eyes that you have been justified by faith.
They can’t see that God has made you righteous.
They condemn or justify you based on what you do.
You may tell your friends, “God has justified me and make me righteous through faith in Christ,” but they are not necessarily going to believe you or give weight to your words until they see your good works.”
“…Clearly James was not talking about our justification before God, or the basis of our receiving blessings from Him.”
In ‘Grace Revolution’, Page 134, Joseph Prince wrote,
“That’s why I preach grace so strongly.
Grace is the cause; good works are the effect.
Focus on the cause and effects will eventually come.
Pastors and leaders, I encourage you to establish your people in the grace of God.
Help them grow well in that grace and the good works will come.”
George’s comments:
James 2:24, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only,” directly threatens Joseph Prince’s doctrine that we are saved by faith only and not by works.
How does Joseph Prince attempt to wriggle out of the predicament which James has put him in?
He advanced the sloppy argument that James did not mean that we are justified before God by our works but before men.
Joseph Prince said,
“What many people don’t realise is that what James is referring to here is justification before men,” and “…James was not talking about our justification before God.”
And he alludes to Matthew 5:16 to prove his case.
Joseph Prince said, “Jesus said, ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’” (Matt 5:16).
As I have pointed out many times before, Joseph Prince has yet again interpreted another passage out of context.
Without sufficiently attempting to prove his case from the text in question, which is what he must first establish, he jumps straight into another text, Matthew 5:16, and try and use that to interpret James 2:14-26.
Any preacher will know that is impermissible in Bible exegesis.
To interpret a passage in its context, one has to exhaust the interpretation of the said text, before one can hop over to another text.
It is unacceptable for Joseph Prince, a so-called teacher of God’s word, to break this simple rule.
He is not giving James respect by allowing him to say what he means but has to seek the help of Matthew to explain what the text means for James.
What an insult to James!
Let me tell you the real truth – he won’t dare to interpret the text accurately.
If he were to interpret the said text in James 2:14-26 accurately, he would not be able to prove that James is referring to justification before men, but quite the reverse, James is undeniably referring to justification before God.
So, as usual, as he has done many times, Joseph Prince has to twist the text from its meaning of justification before God to justification before men.
But the truth is James never said a word about Abraham being justified before men.
Joseph Prince is infamous for inserting things or reading things into the word of God just to fit his doctrine.
When Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac on Mount Moriah (Gen 22:1-18, Jas 2:21), were there other people present to see his act of obedience except for the angel?
No human being, except Abraham and his son, were present.
If nobody was present, how could Joseph Prince say what Abraham did was to justify his act before men?
Unless Joseph Prince is saying that Abraham’s act was to justify before the angel who was the only being present.
Joseph Prince, tell me – were people milling around Abraham to witness his act of almost sacrificing Isaac?
If no one was around except for Abraham and Isaac, how can he supposedly do his act to justify himself before men?
Joseph Prince, the next time, please use your mind and come up with something that makes better sense.
There was no one except God who was watching, and He immediately said after Abraham’s obedient act:
Gen 22:12, 16-18 NIV
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,
18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
The whole incident was a test from God (Gen 22:1-2) to see what Abraham would do.
Even at the beginning of the incident, when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, it is about God and Abraham.
Gen 22:1-2 NIV
1 “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
Everything about the whole incident is about justification before God, and nothing is about justification before men.
Moreover, James said that when Abraham obeyed God, the scripture was fulfilled, which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Jas 2:23).
Before whom was Abraham credited righteous or justified, God or men?
Obviously, it was God.
This is not to say that Abraham wasn’t considered righteous by God years before he almost sacrificed Isaac.
The scripture tells us in Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3, both verses alluding to the same incident, that he was already justified as righteous before God.
Gen 15:6 NIV
6 “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
Rom 4:3 NIV
3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
In Genesis 15:1-11, when Abraham was first credited with righteousness or justified before God, there were only God and Abraham around, and no other human beings were present.
So Joseph Prince, tell me before whom was Abraham credited or counted righteous or justified?
God or men?
God, of course!
Abraham’s faith was already displayed well before he almost sacrifices Isaac.
But Abraham’s amazing act of obedience in almost sacrificing his son was indicative of the living faith he possessed from his first moment of faith.
Abraham’s act of obedience in almost sacrificing his son only proved that the faith he already possessed was genuine.
Now his faith was being made complete by his works.
The kind of faith that resulted in Abraham’s being declared righteous by God was a true faith, evidenced by his obedience.
What James was pointing out is that our works are that which validate faith.
This is why the eternal destinies of individuals will be judged and determined by their works even though we are saved by faith (Matt 12:36-37; 25:31-46; Jn 5:28-29; Rev 20:12-13; etc).
So, James is talking about justification before God and not justification before men.
James 2:24 destroys Joseph Prince’s false doctrine that we are justified by faith only and not by works.
Jas 2:24 NASB
24 “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
This is placing works and faith on the same plain.
Did the verse say justification by works is for men, and justification by faith is for God?
No.
The passage clearly shows that the works that were quoted of Abraham and Rahab that they were justified with were done for God, not for men (Jas 2:21,24,25).
In ‘Grace Revolution’ Page 134, Joseph Prince wrote,
“That’s why I preach grace so strongly.
Grace is the cause; good works are the effect.
Focus on the cause and effects will eventually come.
Pastors and leaders, I encourage you to establish your people in the grace of God.
Help them grow well in that grace and the good works will come.”
George’s comments:
Joseph Prince says,
“Grace is the cause; good works are the effect. Focus on the cause and effects will eventually come.”
Joseph Prince, could you please show me the chapter and verse of where in the scriptures you got the above teaching from?
If what you painted was so true, why this didn’t work for the Corinthians?
Were they not under grace?
Were they not raised under grace by Paul, the most excellent teacher of grace?
So if you claim that the Super-grace doctrine that you are preaching is what you have learned from Paul, please explain why your super-grace teaching that is taught through Paul didn’t work for the Corinthians?
As a matter of fact, Paul had to confront and correct them on some of the most heinous sins that even unbelievers would cringe, even though they were saved by grace.
And by the way, what you just painted about “grace is the cause the works is the effect” is nowhere to be found in James 2:14-26, the text in question.
Folks, you know what am I driving at?
Joseph Prince has again interpreted the text out of its context.
What he does is that he merely reads his pet Super-grace doctrine that he thinks can accomplish anything and everything into James 2:14-26.
It is not just James 2:14-26, but he reads his pet grace doctrine into almost every passage that he is interpreting.
It is like a pastor who is so fixated about the deliverance ministry that he sees a demon in every passage, every person and even in every chair and table.
Joseph Prince is no different from him.
Joseph Prince, can you tell me where did James mention anything about grace in the passage – James 2:14-26?
Where did James mention about grace being the cause and works as the effect?
He didn’t at all.
There wasn’t once when James used the word ‘grace’ in the passage.
James went straight to talk about faith and works.
Joseph Prince wrote,
“Pastors and leaders, I encourage you to establish your people in the grace of God.
Help them grow well in that grace and the good works will come.”
Did James say anything about what Joseph Prince said?
Absolutely not!
Instead of accurately exegeting James 2:14-26, which focusses on the importance of works besides faith, Joseph Prince reads his pet theology into this text and says, “Focus on grace then works will follow.”
James 2:14-26 talks nothing about grace but works and faith.
While it could be potentially true that a focus on grace may help us produce works (which is not what James 2:14-26 is focussing on anyway), it is not true that we should play down on works as Joseph Prince has always done, and in fact, he denigrates works as legalism.
It is certainly not wise at all that we should only give priority to teaching grace at the expense of teaching works, as he tries to imply.
James did the opposite of what Joseph Prince has advised, and he did the right thing by bringing the teaching of works into the fore, which the church has sorely neglected.
The teaching on works, not just grace, has to be done by the church for the following three reasons:
“Though we are saved by grace, we will be judged by works.” (George Ong)
“Though we are justified by faith, we will be judged by works.” (George Ong)
“No longer should the church regard works as the poorer cousin to grace and faith in the theology of salvation as not only are we justified by works, but we will be judged by them.” (George Ong)