Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. . . . For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. It is essential to have faith in Jesus, and to believe you are saved through him; but there is danger in taking the position that many do take in saying, I am saved. Many have said: You must do good works, and you will live; but apart from Christ no one can do good works. Many at the present day say, Believe, only believe, and live. Faith and works go together, believing and doing are blended. The Lord requires no less of the soul now, than he required of Adam in paradise before he fell,--perfect obedience, unblemished righteousness. The requirement of God under the covenant of grace is just as broad as the requirement he made in paradise,--harmony with his law, which is holy, and just, and good. The gospel does not weaken the claims of the law; it exalts the law and makes it honorable. Under the New Testament, no less is required than was required under the Old Testament. Let no one take up with the delusion so pleasant to the natural heart, that God will accept of sincerity, no matter what may be the faith, no matter how imperfect may be the life. God requires of his child perfect obedience.

I ser altså, at mennesket bliver gjort retfærdigt af gerninger og ikke af tro alene. ..... For en tro uden gerninger lige så død som et legeme uden åndedræt" (Jak 2,24-26). At tro på Jesus er absolut nødvendigt, for ved tro på ham bliver du frelst. Men det er farligt at have den indstilling mange har når de siger at de er frelst. Mange har sagt: "Du må gøre gode gerninger, så vil du leve." Mange i vor tid siger: "Tro, bare tro og lev." Tro og gerninger hører sammen. At tro og at handle går over i hverandre. Herren kræver ikke mindre i dag end han gjorde af Adam i Paradiset før faldet: fuldkommen lydighed og lydefri retfærdighed. Guds krav er lige store under nådens pagt som de krav han kom med i Paradiset: harmoni med Guds lov som er hellig, retfærdig og god. Evangeliet svækker ikke lovens krav, men gør loven stor og herlig. Kravene er ikke mindre under den nye pagt end under den gamle. Ingen må slå sig til ro med det bedrag som er så tiltalende for det naturlige hjerte, at Gud vil godtage den som er oprigtig, uden at spørge efter tro og uden hensyn til hvor ufuldkomment livet er. Gud kræver fuldkommen lydighed af sine børn.