Many teach that works have a hand in procuring salvation. This is not true — Christ alone procures salvation. However, there is a sense in which works do "justify."

The word JUSTIFY means to "declare to be righteous." In other words, on the basis of some evidence, a person is pronounced to be righteous. That which justifies does not necessarily procure righteousness or make one righteous.  

For instance, we read in the Word of "justifying God" [Luke 7:29]. This was simply man's "Amen" to the fact of God's righteousness; but what men did, did not make God righteous, for He was ALREADY righteous.

(1) Sinners are justified JUDICIALLY, or before law, on the grounds of work of Christ in their stead. We are pronounced righteous (Justified) because of the law-satisfying, fulfilling work of Christ put to our account. Christ's work makes us legally righteous — hence, we are declared to be righteous. Christ's work is the procurative cause, therefore, of justification [see Romans 3:24 and 4:25].

(2) We are justified EXPERIMENTALLY through faith. In our personal experience, in the "court of conscience," we are pronounced righteous when we believe in Christ. This is the "peace" we have within. Faith itself does not make one righteous — Christ's work does that — but faith "justifies" (pronounces righteous) in the conscience where we have had a burden of guilt [see Romans 5:1, 3:28, and 10:4].

(3) We are justified DECLARATIVELY by the works which result from faith in Christ. This is the justification James speaks of in his epistle (chapter 2). Works, no more than faith, make one righteous, but they do declare or reveal that one IS righteous. "He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous" [1 John 3:7]. One's righteous deeds do not make him righteous but he performs deeds of righteousness because, as a believer in Christ, he is righteous on the grounds of Christ's righteousness imputed to him.

James calls for mere professors to "show" their faith without works. By this he means for men to "justify," or declare, or reveal their faith without any loving obedience to the Christ they profess to trust. "Give evidence of faith," he demands, "without work." Can a man do this? Of course not. And so James is proving that the professor who has no works does not possess true faith in Christ; he has a "DEAD" faith.

Works will justify or declare the truth as to one's profession of faith. "You see then how that by works a man is justified [pronounced righteous], and not by faith only" [James 2:24]. Faith will justify in one's conscience, for the person who trusts the death of Christ for salvation has that peace, that assurance. But "faith only" will not justify, or declare one to be righteous, before the eyes of others. This is the place of works in justification. Abraham believed God many years before the offering up of Isaac, and he was justified by faith (Romans 4). Both God and Abraham knew that Abraham was righteous, but it was manifested some years later when he offered up Isaac [James 2:21]; this is justification by works. His faith & righteousness were made known. James says he will show his faith by works. This means he will declare or manifest his faith in Christ by loving obedience to Christ. His works are not the grounds, or procuring cause, of salvation, however, for the only basis for salvation is the work of Christ.

If one says he has faith, yet has no evidence of it in good works, we may rightly question his profession. If one has faith in Christ, he will reveal this in obedience. "If a man love me, he will keep my words" [John 14:23].

Here is a related article — WHY WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS?

Author: Bob L. Ross

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