James 2:14-26

Intro

In his discussion of favoritism James argued for genuineness and warned of superficial self-deception. The larger issue is the whole matter of faith in God. James wrote this section in order to challenge his readers to examine the vitality of their faith in God. Were they really putting their faith into practice and applying their beliefs to their behavior? Their preferential treatment of some people raised this question in James’ mind.

English Standard Version (James 2:14)

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

what use is it: The noun to ophelos means “advantage/benefit/use.” Not surprisingly, James’ question is a common one for moralists, who are above all concerned with behavior that shapes character, rather than simple profession of ideals

The Arminian interpretation of this verse (view one above) is as follows: If a person claims to be a Christian, but gives no evidence of true faith by the way he lives, he may never have been saved, or he may no longer be saved. One Reformed view (view two above) is that if a person claims to be a Christian, but gives no evidence of true faith by the way he lives, he was never saved. The third interpretation (view three above) is that if a person claims to be a Christian, but gives no evidence of true faith by the way he lives, there are two possibilities: He may not be saved, or he may be saved but he is not living by faith, not practicing his faith.

says he has faith but does not have deeds: The logic of the argument suggests that this “saying” is actually a claim to possess faith.

This statement seems to contradict Paul’s affirmation that works are not a condition for salvation (e.g., Eph. 2:8–9; Rom. 11:6; et al.). However Paul and James were talking about different aspects of salvation. This is clear from James’ earlier assertion that his Christian readers (1:18) would be able to save their “souls” (better “lives”) if they obeyed God’s Word (1:21).

“As someone has said, ‘Paul and James do not stand face to face, fighting against each other, but they stand back to back, fighting opposite foes.’“

Jesus also gave similar warnings: that if His disciples did not continue to follow Him they could lose their “souls” (i.e., lives; cf. Matt. 16:24–26; Mark 3:4; 8:34–37; Luke 9:23–25).

“We are not saved by deeds; we are saved for deeds; these are the twin truths of the Christian life. And Paul’s whole emphasis is on the first truth, and James’s whole emphasis is on the second truth.”

English Standard Version (James 2:15–16)

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

Like he did before (vv. 2–4), James provided a concrete situation in order to illustrate his point (vv. 15–16).

All of the people in the illustration seem to be genuine Christians, in view of the terms James used to describe them (cf. “brothers and sisters” in 1:2; 2:1, 14; 3:1).

A benediction cannot save a starving man from death. Only bread can do that.

 The circumstances of the needy are not in doubt. They are dramatic and immediate. Nothing could express vulnerability more than nakedness. It is associated with poverty (Rev 3:17) and shame (Gen 3:10; Ezek 16:7; Rev 3:18). The naked are, therefore, those most obviously in need of assistance

go in peace: The greeting “peace” (eirēnē) or “go in peace” (poreuou en eirēnę̄) is a staple of the biblical tradition

be warmed and filled: The exhortations correspond to the conditions of nakedness and hunger, revealing that the speaker knows the needs but refuses to meet them. The point, once more, is the emptiness of such speech when unaccompanied by effective action

English Standard Version (James 2:17)

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James was not saying that a person who responds to another Christian’s need, as in verses 15–16, shows that he has failed to exercise saving faith and is devoid of eternal life. He was saying that faith, if works (i.e., obedience to the Word of God) do not accompany it, is dead (i.e., inactive).

“We can make statements in all sincerity of mind and emotion: ‘I feel sorry for the poor; I don’t condone racism.’ But James will say, ‘What good is that if you aren’t doing something to help the poor or to heal the distrust and injustice between races?’ Some Christians attempt a stance of personal belief without personal action, saying, for example, ‘I personally disagree with abortion, but I won’t try to change others’ minds.’ James persists in asking us: What are you doing to protect the victims—both the victimized baby and the victimized mother?”

“Dead” does not mean non-existent but inactive, no longer vital, dormant, useless (cf. v. 14). This is a very important point.

First, acts of mercy are not means to salvation. We are not saved by what we do. James is not teaching that we are saved by our actions.

English Standard Version (James 2:18)

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

The NIV, by its use of quotation marks, has the objector saying only the first part of this verse, “You have faith; I have deeds,” and James responding in the last part of the verse. The NASB has the objector saying the whole verse. Which is correct? There were no punctuation marks in the Greek text, so we have to determine this issue on the basis of what makes the most sense. The objector seems to be making a point by way of argument rather than making a simple statement. This fact seems clear from the context, in which James responds with a rebuttal (vv. 19–23). Consequently I prefer the NASB punctuation of this verse.

The objector claims that good works are the necessary sign of saving faith. He says in effect: You cannot prove that you have faith unless you have works, but because I have works you can see that I have faith.

the necessary evidence that a person has been saved (justified, declared righteous by God) is his good works (progressive sanctification). If he is not doing good works, he is therefore unsaved. Good works always give evidence of saving faith, they say.

But if this view is true, why did Jesus teach His disciples that some who are in Him bear no fruit (John 15:2, 6)?

 Jesus taught that some branches that are connected to the vine do not bear fruit (Matt. 13:22; Mark 4:7; Luke 8:14; John 15:2, 6). Nevertheless they still share in the life of the vine. It seems clear that every true believer experiences a radical transformation in his life when he trusts Jesus Christ as his Savior (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6:13; Eph. 5:8; Col. 1:13; et al.). But the Scriptures do not say that every true believer’s lifestyle will inevitably experience external transformation. The outward manifestation of the new life within depends on the believer’s response to God’s will.

Carnal Christians (1 Cor. 3:1–4) are those who choose to indulge the flesh rather than submitting to the Holy Spirit’s control. Fruit is the outward evidence of inner life. Just as some fruit trees bear little or no fruit, it is possible for some genuine Christians to bear little or no external evidence of their eternal life. The Holy Spirit produces inner transformation in every believer. Normally He will produce outer transformation as well, unless the believer quenches and grieves Him while He seeks to manifest the life of Christ through him to others.

English Standard Version (James 2:19)

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

They understand and believe what their behavior will bring upon them, but rather than turning from their evil ways, they only shudder as they anticipate their inevitable judgment.

Just like the demons, Christians can persist in rebelling against God’s will, even though they know that they will stand before the judgment seat of Christ one day

His point seems to be that correct behavior does not always result from correct belief 

18” between heaven and hell

English Standard Version (James 2:20)

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

James thought his objector’s argument was foolish. He still asserted that without good works a person’s faith in God is useless—not non-existent, but useless

A Christian who has stopped living by faith, day by day, is similar to a person who has a non-functioning organ in his body. Just as the organ is dead, so the faith of such a Christian is dead—useless. Furthermore, his dead faith will contribute to his physical death, like a dead organ will shorten physical life.

English Standard Version (James 2:21)

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

The solution to the problem lies in the meaning of the word justified. This word always means to declare someone righteous in the sight of the law, not to make someone righteous in his or her conduct

Works do not always evidence faith (v. 19), but sometimes they do.

“Surely it is clear that he [i.e., James] himself is speaking of the declaration, not the imputation, of righteousness.” 

“The justification of which Paul speaks is different from that spoken of by James; the one speaks of our persons being justified before God, the other speaks of our faith being justified before men …”

English Standard Version (James 2:22)

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;

Abraham’s faith was perfected by his works in the sense that his works made his faith stronger

Growth toward maturity comes as we persevere in the will of God when we encounter trials. When God spared Isaac’s life, Abraham’s faith became much stronger than it had been. A careful reading of the Abraham narrative in Genesis reveals that patriarch’s growth in faith.

English Standard Version (James 2:23)

and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

Genesis 15:6 was fulfilled when Abraham offered Isaac in the sense that Abraham’s faith became abundantly clear on that occasion. What God had previously said about Abraham became obviously and outwardly true when the patriarch trusted and obeyed God when he was tested

Genesis 15:6 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

James seems to have included the fact that God called Abraham His friend for the following reason: He wanted to show that continued obedient faith, not just initial saving faith, is what makes a person God’s intimate friend

English Standard Version (James 2:24)

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

The use of the plural you in this verse, in the Greek text, shows that James had completed his response to the objector. He was now addressing his readers directly again

Works do declare us righteous (Gr. present passive indicative of dikaioo) in the sense that our works testify to onlookers that we have exercised saving faith. They are the external fruit that bears witness to the eternal life within.

Matthew 7:16–20

16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.  

If you look at a tree with apples hanging from its limbs, you know it’s an apple tree. What is on the outside is evidence of what is on the inside. That’s what James is saying. Fruit in our lives is evidence of faith in our hearts. And if there is no fruit, there is no faith. It’s that simple. You will know faith by its fruit.

English Standard Version (James 2:25)

And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

James could have ended his argument with the revered patriarch Abraham, but he chose to add the illustration of Rahab, the redeemed prostitute.

Apparently Rahab trusted in God before the spies ever arrived at her door (cf. Josh. 2:9–13). Rather than being originally part of the Israelite nation, she was a proselyte to Judaism. Thus, with these two examples, James showed the necessity of works for believers, regardless of one’s background and origins. Abraham and Rahab were poles apart:

“The contrast is neat: Abraham, a major Bible figure; Rahab, a minor participant. Abraham the father of the faithful; Rahab a foreigner. Abraham the respected; Rahab the disreputable. Abraham a man; Rahab a woman. As so often, the contrast is intended to alert us to the fact that a fully comprehensive statement is being made—as it were, covering the situation all the way from Abraham to Rahab and back again. The primary works of faith, then, are the works of Abraham and Rahab and they apply to all without exception. What was the work of Abraham? He held nothing back from God. God said, ‘I want your son’ and Abraham ‘rose early in the morning’ (Gn. 22:3) in prompt obedience. What was the work of Rahab? She reached out and took into her own care those who were needy and helpless, regardless of the cost to herself.”

English Standard Version (James 2:26)

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Faith without works is as dead as a body without a human spirit. It is of no practical value. This is James’ final illustration and affirmation on the subject. Our faith becomes only dead orthodoxy when we stop obeying God. Vital (living) faith then becomes dead (useless) faith. Both a dead body and dead faith were alive at one time.

The key to understanding this passage is a correct understanding of what dead faith is. James used the word dead (vv. 17, 26) as a synonym for useless (vv. 14, 16, 20). He was not saying the person with dead faith has no faith, that he is unsaved. He meant that the person with dead faith has saving faith but he is not living by faith now. His faith has no vital effect on the way he presently lives. He is not trusting and obeying God day by day.

Connect the Testaments: A 365-Day Devotional with Bible Reading Plan July 6

Real faith doesn’t sit still, but it doesn’t move on its own, either. We need to pray for God’s Spirit to ignite this desire in us, prompting us to act with love and obedience.

Morning and Evening July 11 AM

May your character not be a writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the rock!

Morning and Evening July 11 AM

It is of no use to hope that we shall be well rooted if no rough winds pass over us.

Those old gnarlings on the root of the oak tree, and those strange twistings of the branches, all tell of the many storms that have swept over it, and they are also indicators of the depth into which the roots have forced their way.

Faith must grow

The first time they crossed water, the Lord split the Red Sea for them, the second, he required them to step into the water first.

Joshua 3:14-15

14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.

Matt 7:16–20

16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.  

Romans 10:17

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.