Faith In Order example essay topic

Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light. -Helen Keller Although faith is required perhaps it is not all that is required in order to be saved. Within the bible there is a conflict between the doctrines of two apostles. First the apostle Paul who believed that faith alone could save a person.

Next the apostle James who believed that not only faith was required, but that actions were needed as well. When the two doctrines are compared they both contain a key similar beliefs, but a minor skirmish causes all the difference. Even though both Paul and James taught based on the same teachings controversy arises when the exact method of being saved conflicts. Their doctrines conflict when they talk of the exact way to be saved. In a letter to the people of Ephesus Paul tells them that they can be saved only through faith alone. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2: 8-9).

James on the other hand when talking to a group of people tells them how faith alone is not enough. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not faith alone (James 2: 24). In today's society the most widely accepted from of Christianity is Pauline Christianity. Those who follow Pauline Christianity believe that all it takes is faith that Jesus Christ was the Messiah who died on the cross for the sins of the people. And yet Paul never directly himself met with Jesus.

James on the other hand a direct disciple of Jesus for many years has a conflicting view with that of Paul's. James believed that not only is faith required but that good works must be done as well. All around the world there are millions of Christian believers, and yet few people comply with James' view on how to be saved. Perhaps Paul's misinterpreted view has been the one to spread throughout the world.

Paul was firm in his belief that faith and faith alone could save a person and allow them eternal life. Paul was a hellenized Jew who had a sudden revelation on the road to Damascus. He once persecuted Christians, but after the event converted immediately and began to spread the word. At first he preached to his fellow Jews but found little luck as he was rejected by most.

After constant rejection Paul got tired and decided to go preach to the Gentiles who accepted his teaching much more easily. Paul's teachings were much more accepted by the Gentiles after he loosened up on the requirements required to be a believer. He told them that not all 613 rules of the Mitzvot had to be followed or that the men had to be circumcised. According to Paul all you needed was faith and baptism and this attracted many more people to his version of Christianity than to those of the other apostles. Teaching the Gentiles about Jesus being the Messiah caused Paul problems with the disciples. One of them being James.

James was a disciple of Jesus who believed that salvation came from not faith alone, but good works as well. James learned from Jesus directly and would come to have a different viewpoint of being saved as compared to Paul. After having learned from Jesus for several years James came to realize that having faith was not enough. He understood that if having faith was enough people would then have faith, but continue to live their lives the manner that they did before. Then nothing would change in the way that people lived and a believer would not be much different from a non-believer.

James came to think that a believer must be different and he thought that this difference was possible through good works. When the two verses from the bible are compared there are several comparisons that can be made. Both verses are similar in that they both agree that faith is required in order to be saved, and to attain eternal life. But on the other hand Paul bluntly states that only faith is needed and that no amount of good works will help you, whereas James says that good works must be done along with having faith in order to receive eternal life.

Strangely if both men are basing their statements on the teaching of one man Jesus why is it that they disagree on how to be saved. Shouldn't Jesus have taught the one proper way in order to gain the favor of God. Or could it possibly be that the wording is ambiguous? For example the word "grace" is ambiguous because it can mean a short prayer when giving thanks to God or the state of being sanctified by the favor of God. Both apostles have strong arguments in their favor. Paul was the apostle who would spread the word much more efficiently than the other apostles.

Although Paul had good morals and teachings James was a direct disciple of Jesus who was there to learn what Jesus had to teach. James knew that to be a Christian was to be different from the common people, and he knew that if faith was all that it took people would believe Jesus to be the Messiah but still lead their lives in their everyday fashion. Thus the people would continue to live their sinful lives while claiming to be Christian. Rather than allow people to go about their business without changing James believed that a Christians actions had to be pleasing in the eyes of God and decided that if one was to be a Christian, and claim themselves to be believers that their actions must follow suit. In the end I believe that there ultimately is no controversy. It is not that good works are required, and those who believe that only faith is needed are correct.

Faith is the key element needed in order to attain eternal life. Yet when faith is attained a person is "born again" and their lifestyle should drastically change. Once someone has faith their good works show that they have been "born again" leading them in living a proper life and keeping them on the right track. Therefore there is no contradiction ultimately, in the two interpretations. In this case there ultimately being no controversy the church remains unscathed. In today's society Christianity is one of the largest religions in the world, and the entire religion is based on the belief that only faith is required in order to be saved.

If this could in some way be disproved the entire religion could be torn apart. Christianity has time and time again adapted to the needs of the people in order to survive and through adaptation it has yet again survived another trial.