James 2:14-26 The Objector

Swift to hear involves more than a passive faith.

1. Proclaiming Faith, Producing Nothing

James 2:14–17 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

What of the word “profit” - some benefit derived from work - wages. (rewards)

How about “ can faith save?” - The question in not addressing eternal salvation. James just finished calling them brethren (saved born again brothers). He is saying here “in the Christian life” you are saved or delivered from from troubles by faith obedience. Faith doesn’t feed people giving food does. Context begs the question saved from what? The answer here is trials.

Do you have dead faith? - The word dead has many connotations. The words faith, saved, and dead are not to be always translated within a soteriological framework. Meaning comes from context. Here the context is a faith that is empty, ineffectual or unproductive. In my daily life is my faith is as barren as Sara’s womb (Ro 4:19) or do I have a living faith. God wants our faith to be active and producing life.

2. The Objector

James 2:18–19 “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”

The objector is a rhetorical devise in literature to bring in an opposing opinion that a reader might be thinking. The objector delivers a comment which allows James to correct it with a response.

The objector’s comment is that some would think there is a connection between faith and works. He doesn’t think there is a connection. He argues there is no connection by asking a subjective question like, “which comes first, faith or works”?

He goes on to illustrate his position by saying, “you have faith in one God and it causes a man to “do well”. The demons also believe in one God and it doesn’t produce good works, but fear”. Their faith never moves them to “do well”.

It’s like someone saying, “don’t challenge my faith by looking for fruit”. People rest on salvation faith for eternal life and rule out the need faith obedience for the Christian life. That’s what is being argued here.

3. Answer to the Objector

James 2:20 “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

James answers the objector by calling out his foolishness. Those who claim faith is sufficient to deal with trials and live the christian life are incorrect. The context again does not touch the area of salvation to eternal life, but is dealing with obedience and saving man from the consequence of sin.

This fictitious objector is lacking knowledge, and James asks if he wants to know? This could be directed at anyone. Do you want to know or are you proud and foolish?

And again James states that faith without works is dead. Is this in opposition to Paul’s theology?

Paul is pretty clear in Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” But he goes on in verse :10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” And there is the balance and the context. Saved by grace through faith alone, but created in Christ to perform good works after salvation.

4. Proven Faith in Practice

James 2:21–25 “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?”

James introduces a new concept here “justified by works”. He illustrates this with two characters from the Old Testament, Abraham and Rahab.

To be justified for the christian is a judicial and theological term meaning to be declared righteous. This happens at the moment of salvation and as we will see throughout the christian life.

Abraham was called out of Ur in Genesis 12 to travel to the promised land. He was saved at least by Gen 15:6 when it says, “he believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness”. This was hundreds of years before the Law was even given and many years before Issac. The “work” described here of Issac being offered was not until Genesis 22 again describing a context of salvation before and separate from the work of faith obedience.

Rahab was also an example of this. In Joshua 2 Rahab believed and then exercised faith in the action of hiding the spies. In her actions she is an example of Gentile faith and as seen in Mt 1:5-6 in the line of David and latter Jesus, our Lord.

5. Faith Breathes Life

James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Don’t hold your breath may be a familiar way of saying something is not going to happen, but here James seems to be saying, “Don’t forget to breath”. Breathing is what keeps the body alive. If i work hard I breath hard. If I go to sleep, I may slow down but I keep breathing.

Works is the breath that keeps our faith alive. A church without a vision for the lost, without a missions, without purpose, without ministry is or will soon be dead. A person without the same burden is or will soon be a corpse of a believer.

Vitality in faith obedience is the medicine to a healthy church and healthy christians.

Pr 29:18 KJV Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (naked, uncovered see Ex 32:25)