Faith and Deeds

What the Bible Says…

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised his from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9).
… a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ… for if righteousness could be gained through the law, christ died for nothing! ( Galatians 2:16-21). 

Contradicting Verses from the Bible…

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deed? Can such faith save him? (James 2:14). 

Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17).

… a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. (James 2:24). 



What the Qur'an Says.. 

It will be in accordance with your desires (Muslims), nor the desires of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), whosoever does wrong, will have the recompense thereof, and will not find against Allah any protecting friend to helper. And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a believer, such will enter Paradise and not the least injustice will be done to them (Qur'an, 4:123,124). 

As for those who disbelieved, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert . The thirsty one thinks it to be water, until he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing; but he finds Allah with him, Who will pay him his due (Hell). And Allah is Swift in taking account. (Qur'an, 24:39). 



Commentary… 

Paul says "if you confess with your mouth," Jesus is Lord, "and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." He also says that man is justified by faith.
On the contrary, James says, "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead"  and "a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone".

The best comment on this contradiction is what Allah says in the Qur'an: 

Do they not consider the Qur'an with care? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradiction. (Qur'an, 4:82). 

When Prophet Jesus (pbuh) was asked about the way to have eternal life, he did not say anything about belief in crucifixion or resurrection . He said, "Obey the Commandments" (Matthew 19:17). He urged on his disciples the importance of deeds, "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20). Therefore, Faith if it is not accompanied by good deeds, is dead. 

Both Muslims and true Christians, who followed in the footsteps of Prophet Jesus (pbuh), believe that a person is justified by faith and deeds.