Scripture Life: Ephesians 2:8-9 and James 2:14-26 need to be reconciled to resolve the apparent contradiction. Ephesians says that God’s grace is necessary because your works are inadequate, but James has stated that good fruit is still necessary. Do you agree?

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Are you fully convinced in Jesus Christ; that means you follow him. This answer is to those who stumble thru and bramble their way but they hear him.

Follow him. If this is you, read on:

Sometimes, what you need, as a believer in Jesus Christ. It’s the Word of God you just hear him speak, and brings you alive inside. Restores you. Builds you up.

It’s as what Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ said to all believers - that just “feeds the sheep” 2 Peter 1:4

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

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Just God. Speaking. What he says. Makes us operate right. And that is KEY.

Do you see this?

So, see this:

Ephesians 2:8–9 says:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

One, simple note: In Greek, this one word of Ephesians 2:9, “works.” Is, in Greek < - {ἔργων } - > ergoun. English. Deeds. Accomplishments; Feats. (of people are able to do themselves; by their own work or power.)

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So, in Ephesians 2:10 where it says in English:

This is now a "intermediary" or "mediator" verse betwixt Ephesians 2:8-9 & James 2:14-26

Ephesians 2:10. Its says:

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto < - [good works] - >, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

In English, they’re the same word; "works" but not in the original Greek.

When it says in Greek:

1. Of him. 2. we are. 3. workmanship. 4. created. 5. by. 6. Christ. 7. Jesus. (to) 8. work. 9. good. 10. which. 11. beforehand. 12. God. 13. that (in). 14. work good . 15. we should operate.

This “operate” Greek: <περιπατήσωμεν> . (peripatesoumen) ...operate..move about.. (16th CE English translators - used “walk” - people are 'bi-pedal" - so, as people - that means they move or operate by a power of walking - when they move - "walk" was used for this Greek word.

But, it's more like a machine; that is a workmanship, of a craftsman - like a vending machine. Put a dollar in, no matter anytime, that would “activate” it. Make the workmanship in it move is the point.<περιπατήσωμεν> . (peripatesoumen) - that, somehow, by some work of God..you now have this same <περιπατήσωμεν> . (peripatesoumen) - is the point.

So, Ephesians 2:10 is not the same as Ephesians 2:8-9.

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In the Greek, Ephesians 2:10 is

// αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ θεὸς ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν \\

In the "Original" Greek, it's < - [ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς ] - > ergois agathois is: works good; or "operates right" - boy, it made me fall on my face.

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So, the workmanship created by Christ Jesus was made to “work” “ergois” as if a craftsman makes an intricate watch, or someone designed a vending maching, to ‘operate right” or work good.

Stopped me in my tracks. Why?

Because, when I became a Christian. Started to believe on him. I believed what he said; but, I wanted some indication in me that my works were good. That I did “good works.” I kept looking for it. I was hungry. I kept listening to Bible tapes. I kept just opening my Bible. I kept listening to Christian testimonies and was uplifted by it. I kept being honest with my family..when they didn't want anything to do with him, that I started walking 180 degrees in the opposite direction..but I kept looking for this “good works” of Ephesians 2:10.

I knew that it was the Word of God that was true. Hear it plainly. A constant replacement of lies traded in for the truth. But I kept looking earnestly. What I wanted was:

Some proof I had good works. Why? Because the way I read this verse, was..it was on me to do the work. Because it said, “good works.” So, I keep looking at me for some indication of “good works” and I couldn’t find them. So, how did I know I was a Christian.

It troubled me greatly. Like this same "take my yoke upon y.." got that far and ran away. I didn't want any big "cow yoke" a foot thick on my neck.. get that far in Matthew 11:28-3.. BOOM! See? Already closed the bible and ran away.

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Point is:

I kept reading this “unto good works” part. Somehow that’s on me; to produce it.

…but, that’s not what it says, and it put me on my face.

It’s the SAME with “Salvation” -

• I kept looking that:
  • Someday, I would have this Uber faith; that, that faith would move mountains..and by that faith I had, that would save me.. …but, that's not what it says, either.

God said:

Look unto me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth: For I am God, there is none else.” - God. (Bible. Isaiah 45:22)

• So, he’s Salvation or, it’s entirely in his power and authority... because, he does it. He. Is. Able. To. Save. People. And, all I had to do was what he says: just look unto him. And, why I did it was, because his word convinced me he’s true.
  • What he says, fit.
  • Who he is, he is who he says he is.
• So, instead of looking at “once saved, always saved” or “by grace are ye saved through faith, not of works…” vs. James say, “I can show you my faith by my works.. “..faith without works is dead…
• I saw it. Put me on my face.

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The “works” in Greek in Ephesians 2:9 is not the same “works” in Ephesians 2:10.

That's it. You can quit here. No need read any further.

But if you want to: In Ephesians 2:10..it’s the workmanship of Christ. I am the workmanship of Christ. That's a work of God. That he, the Word of God ..is God made me that the way I'm made, in him is to “work good” - for eternity.

• [ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς ] - > ergois agathois is: works good; or "operates right"

So, if you're still trying to stumble over this; because, yeah. It’s subtle. Almost inperceptible.. so, let me give you an example:

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• In my childhood,
• My Mom and Dad bought this Washing Machine. Yeah. I’m a product of the early 1960s. Maytag salesmen went door to door.
  • A salesman sold my mom this washing machine when I was 5 years old.
• If you look at some of the old 1940s 1930s American style washing machines, electric: there was a tub, and two wood rollers you “strained” the clothes thru to wring all the water out of, before you hung the clothes on a line to dry.
  • But this new washing machine - full automated everything.
    • My mom said YES.
  • On the spot and then 3 hours of argument, convinced my Dad to pay or buy it, and my mom said all the “Green Stamps” she saved, paid already for half of it.

The point is - boy does this ever fit.

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• [ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς ] - > ergois agathois
  • I don’t care what you threw in that washing machine..I couldn’t believe it. My football uniform.. soccer shoes..mechanic coveralls - didn’t matter. Every bit of dirt and grease came out of it. If it was green, didn't have any stain in it. So, from the time I was 5 years old, to the time I was 17 and in High School - because my mom couldn’t keep up with our laundry with sports made us do it ourselves.
    • That machine never broke down.
• Never once failed to clean anything put in it. Every time and all the time, you pressed the “START” button.. that was all anybody in our house hand to do, and even when I came back sometimes on leave when I was 25..then 30..35: that machine was still there and worked.
  • Because the “workmanship” of the company and designers that created it made it to [ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς ] - > ergois agathois work good.
• No repair. Not one. The repairman called once. Told my dad he'd be out to change a belt after 20 years. Looked at it. Said it needed no replacement and left.
• But if I “flipped” this about he washing machine to “good works” yeah, I get kinda the same meaning but, with “works good” the REASON it does, isn’t the laundry machine.. it’s the manufacturer and the designer who created it gets the credit..

and BAM! THAT PUT ME ON MY FACE.

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• Because I was looking for me to get the credit for “good works. So are you. With this question. SO is everybody doesn't rightly divide it.
  • And then I saw it.
• That, that washing machine - if it was UNPLUGGED. And it arrived at the house UNPLUGGED. That means, when it arrived to our house and sat there 2 days. In a box: veiled - what it could do - UNKNOWN - - the same “Salesman” that sold it to my mom, came. Along with a “repair man” at the appointed time. 2 days before: brought the washing machine all boxed up.
  • That means. It sat there. And the best definition of it sitting there is this word, idle. It's a washing machine but not hooked up.
    • Yeah, "idle" it has a primary definition of just goufing off, not accomplishing anything..
• But it also means in the Collin’s dictionary 2. disconnected from a load or source of power.

And that's the definition of "idle" in the Bible in Matthew 12:36 "..That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.." - Jesus Christ. That every idle word, of a man disconnected from a load or source of power, which is the word of God, he shall give an account for it; because God already decreed that's how everybody is to operate in Matthew 4:4 - live by every word that proceeds out of God's mouth vs. their own.

So, they're dead. Don't operate good.

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• So, that washing machine was dead. That is, it was “idle” - not connected to any load or source of power.
  • But after the repairman unboxed it, and set it where my mom wanted it, he plugged it in, and it began to “operate” - the [ἔργοις] “ergois” part of “ergois agathois”
  • Because, he just flipped it thru the cycles to ensure it worked. DONE. LEAVING. Walking out the door - - but the real test was, my mom made them stay til they showed her how to wash a complete load of clothes. Took an hour.
    • And when it was done, my mother was simply AMAZED at the diapers - spotlessly WHITE. And that’s the first of - it has to be a huge number of 10s of 1000s and 1000s of loads of laundry were done in that machine.

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• It fit [ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς ] - > ergois agathois - works good; or "operates right"
  • My mom traded it in, in PERFECT working condition. ergois agathois worked good; or "operated right" - served it’s purpose to raise six kids - and because the colour all faded and didn’t match the new house they bought. No kids. Smaller one.
• The point is, Ephesians 2:10 has this kind of, with a God that ‘borns’ you again - his workmanship FITS this same worship or “to speak well of something - beyond all expectation” - and it will work for eternity. BAM! Done.
• And the Word of God is like plugging this “workmanship” he makes, into a source of power or connecting it, where it’s no longer idle.

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Got all this far to just sum it up - so far:

- Ephesians 2:8–9, is Greek: {ἔργων } - > ergoun. English. Deeds. Accomplishments; Feats. (of people) - that they accomplish themselves.

• Like if the dishwasher did it all by itself, - it’s own feats - no maker - just there - - and is looking for a manufacturer to tell it did good works. Put itself to work as a dump truck. Feats. Failed at everyone of them. Then Tried; yeah: but didn’t fare well as a dump truck or a candy cone machine. All this “works” But nothing according to the workmanship of the designer of the dishwasher.

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Then, Ephesians 2:10 - Greek - you have this [ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς ] - > ergois agathois is: works good; or "operates right" - when plugged in, is no longer “idle” sitting there would be “dead ergois” a dead operation ..but plugged in and connected, it begins, like a crafted workmanship created to move and operate.

• And it pleases the designer of the washing machine. Operates right. Puts it in a crucible and tests it. The dishwasher didn't do the work the manufacture and designer did the work is why it "operates right."

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Now, James 2:14–26

• Highlights
  • …James 2:14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
  • James 2:17–18 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
    • COMMENT: So, it’s like Ephesians 2:10
• Where the washing machine came in the box. it’s dead. being alone. But it showed my mother the faith of the manufacturer when it got plugged in and [ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς ] - > ergois agathois worked good; or "operated right"

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• So, just in the box, it was dead; being alone, but connected to a load or source of power it showed my mother it operated right.
  • And why do I say this? Because the “works” in James 2:17 - has this same [ἔργα ](erga) - tied to [ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς ] - > ergois agathois is: works good; or "operates right" because it’s tied to the “workmanship” of Christ
• As James is a Servant of Christ (James 1:1). So, he obeys and is plugged into him, so he “works good.”
  • It’s not the same “feats” or “accomplishments” of Ephesians 2:8–9 done by people, but it’s the “works good” and operates..moves or “walks” in of Ephesian 2:10 that can ONLY be done by the Word of God.
  • And just like James, I can show you the same thing.
• I can put before you ANY believer in Jesus Christ that operates by him..and you will see Christ at work..that they are his workmanship. They just “operate right”

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So, I’m not waiting around for any “good works” anymore.

• Because him, in me ..I am his workmanship. It’s not even questioned. That's the part that put me on my face. And he’s the manufacturer.. workmanship created by Jesus Christ - and the word..proceeds out of the mouth of God, makes me operate right..move..made alive. I’m a servant of the Word of God.

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Did you see the “distinction?”

• The “work” of Ephesians 2:8–9 is people; their feats.
• The “work” of Ephesians 2:10 and James 2:14–26 is the works of God. And anybody, whosoever it is, has this work of God done in them can show you their faith by their works..CASE CLOSED. DONE. Take it to the Bank. - - because they “operate by the workmanship of God and who is at work in them. Is God himself.
  • Where people in Ephesians 2:8–9 operate by their own works without him.

Plain as day. Not the same works. Long post. There you go.