During much of my ministry, I have pondered the relationship of two aspects of Christian life, faith and works, trying to understand how they interact with each other. I have come to the conclusion that they are interdependent.

To put it another way, let us postulate that while we are not saved by our works, we will be lost without them. Or as a current televangelist recently said, making a reference to salvation, which is given through faith: “If God doesn’t give it, we don’t get it.”

Natural existence is based on certain basic principles, be they physical or spiritual. One of those fundamental laws is that for every action, there is a corresponding reaction. For example, should you bounce a ball onto a hard surface, the ball will bounce right back to you. We see the same principle in play with gravity by the pull of the moon and reaction of the tide.

Very early in the history of humankind, the Lord placed faith and works in their necessary relationship:

Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering (Genesis 4:2-5, NKJV).

At first glance, this story may not seem fair, because Cain brought what was at his disposal, as did Abel. But notice carefully that “Abel also brought…”

According to Hebrews 11:4, God testified of Abel’s gifts (plural) that He witnessed. Abel not only brought a sheep from his flock, but he also found a way to bring “an offering of the fruit of the ground” as well.

Cain was unwilling to strictly follow the plan of obedience…and procure a lamb and offer it with the fruit of the ground…He was not particular to bring even the best of the fruit (SG, III, 48).

Cain proposed to justify himself by his own works, to earn salvation by his own merits. Abel’s offering was a demonstration of Faith (SDA BC I, 239).

Thus, we can see the relationship between faith and works, cause and effect, action and reaction.

The sacrifice of Christ’s shed blood on Calvary is the cause of our salvation; a fact that become ours by faith (John 3:15). Whatever “good works” performed after the fact are the natural result—the effect or reaction to what He has already done for us. We cannot improve on our salvation by our actions, for “he that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

When we possess the faith, the natural effect or reaction will be His good works wrought out in our daily life. “By works was faith made perfect” (James 2:22, see also James 2:17-26).