Faith and Works: Resting in the Balance God Designed
There is a weird tension in Christianity between faith and works. The bible is abundantly clear that we are saved by faith
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
At the same time, there is clearly a tie between grace and works.
What use is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 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? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself. James 2:14-16
We find ourselves dithering like an anxious border collie with no sheep to guard. We settle into grace for a moment, but never quite relax. We fall into works mode for a time in the vain hope that it will please God more somehow, if we earn our salvation. We know something should be happening; we were designed to work, but we’re not sure how.
We go back and forth, seldom settling into a healthy balance.
Our works are done out of faith, not to give us faith. Our self-motivated works are bound to fail and are, in fact, sin. This text from Paul to the church in Rome is in the context of eating certain foods, but it illustrates a principle.
The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed is he who does not judge himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:22-23
The first step is to prioritize our relationship with Jesus. We seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
We remember to rest and make time for the Sabbath. (Exodus 20:8-10).
Consider that all we do is working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24).
Our good works flow out of our relationship with the Lord; they don’t cause it. He saved us without works on our part, and He holds us in relationship.
Prioritize that relationship, let the rest flow naturally. Sometimes we need to reset, but that always comes by time with Him.
Rest comfortably in the Lord, my dear friends.
Praise His name.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
SUMMARY
The tension between faith and works often leaves Christians oscillating between striving and resting, never fully settling in either. The key is to prioritize our relationship with Jesus — good works flow naturally out of that relationship, not the other way around.
TAKEAWAYS
We are saved by grace through faith alone, yet genuine faith produces good works
Self-motivated works done apart from faith are sin; works must flow from our walk with Christ
The solution is to seek first His kingdom, rest in Him, and let the works follow naturally
All contents, “Gleanings From the Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2026 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, “Gleanings From the Word.” All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the Legacy Standard Bible® (LSB®), Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc.
From Gleanings From The Word (Kevin Corbin, 2001– ), a Scripture-based devotional work.