Type of Doctrine: Primary
"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."
-James 2:26 ESV
Why does it matter?
Does God have expectations for how you live after becoming a Christian? Does he want you to obey his moral laws? Some say no. They argue that God gives grace and doesn't expect Christians to obey his moral laws. The term for this is "antinomianism," and it is considered false teaching.
While there are secondary issues related to this subject (for example various views on the role of the law in the life of believers), antinomianism is a primary issue. The clarity of Scripture shows antinomianism to be a false teaching. However, even if many consider antinomianism heresy, not everyone agrees that it is a primary issue (see this article for more information on that if interested).
What is it?
The word comes from two Greek terms which mean "against" and "law." Put simply, "antinomianism is the belief that there are no moral laws God expects Christians to obey" (GotQuestions, "What is antinomianism?"). In other words, antinomianism means that it doesn't matter how Christians live.
Antinomianism means that it doesn't matter how Christians live.
This is the extreme opposite of legalism. Where legalism earns salvation by works, antinomianism says no works are needed at all. The biblical position is that believers are justified by faith alone, and good works arise out of a heart that has been truly transformed by grace. In other words, both faith and works will be present in Christians.
In James 2:14, James asks: "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?" Excellent question. He goes on to give a practical example of this very thing happening. In his example, someone who claims to have faith refuses to help a person in need of food and clothing (vv. 15-16). And he remarks, "[W]hat good is that?" Then, he answers his question: "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (v. 17). While we learn from Paul that we're justified (i.e., declared righteous) by faith alone (Rom. 3:28; Gal. 2:16), we learn from James that true faith is never alone--that is, it has works with it. And, as James says, if faith is alone then it is dead faith (James 2:17).
James continues by showing that even the demons have that kind of belief in God (James 2:18-19). He calls faith that doesn't have works with it useless (v. 20). Moreover, he points out that Abraham had works with his faith (vv. 21-23). Likewise, Rahab had works with her faith (v. 25). True saving faith has works with it.
James concludes this section with an illustration. He says, "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead" (v. 26). Imagine a dead body in a casket. It's dead; it's lifeless. And James says faith without works is like that body in the casket--dead.
Similiarly, Paul claims that a persistent, unrepentant sinful lifestyle won't lead to the kingdom of God. The Corinthians were trying to get money from each other through lawsuits (i.e., one church member suing another). In that context he says, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-10).
Furthermore, a verse in Hebrews shows that holiness is required to see the Lord. The author of Hebrews writes, "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears" (Hebrews 12:14-17). Holiness is important. This, to summarize the teaching of Scripture, works will be present along with faith.
How, then, are we to understand what the Bible teaches about justification? We are declared righteous by faith alone (i.e., justified), but the process of actually becoming righteous includes good works (i.e., sanctification). This can be hard to wrap your mind around. That is why Martin Luther said, "We are justified by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone."
Many point to Paul as one who clearly articulated justification by faith alone, and rightly so. But Paul would not have been a fan of antinomianism. He still considers works important. Notice how Paul emphasizes that we are saved by faith alone, but he also points out that the Lord has planned good works for us to do. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).
A modern movement that sounds eerily close to antinomianism is often referred to as the "hyper-grace" movement. Some "hyper grace" teachers seem to preach grace with wrong applications. Since you've been forgiven, they claim, you don't need to confess your sin or live differently (see this article for more info on hyper-grace). Anyone who claims that believers must live differently and points to the many imperatives (i.e., commands) in the New Testament, may be called "Pharisees" by hyper-grace adherents. This is tragic. James explicitly says to confess our sins: "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another" (James 5:16). Also, as pointed out earlier, many verses in Scripture tell us we need to live differently. Therefore, the hyper-grace message falls short and seems to be a form of antinomianism.
In summary, antinomianism is the view that God has given believers grace, but he doesn't expect Christians to obey. I can't think of a better way to end than by quoting the apostle Paul: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Rom. 6:1-2).
Application
Like the threat of legalism (see this article for more information), this threat to the gospel is hard to combat because it's found in the church. But we're not hopeless. We can let the Bible shape our minds, hearts, and lives.
Don't believe the false teaching of antinomianism which claims that God doesn't care about how you live. Instead, center your life on Jesus and his gospel which will lead you into a life filled with the fruit of the Spirit.
Diagnosis:
Does the message communicate grace in a way where it doesn't matter how you live?
Is sin being excused?
Is confession of sin not necessary anymore?
Is God's moral law seen as unimportant?
Is faith the only application?
Where can I learn more?
Bibliography
-See this article from Ligonier
-See this article from GotQuestions
-See this article from The Gospel Coalition