James 2:14-17

2:14-17

Read 2:14-26

In this last section of chapter 2 James says plainly what he has been hinting at and giving specific examples of so far, remaining steadfast through trials, quick to hear and slow to speak and anger, be doers of the word and not hearers only, and do not show partiality because of material and worldly things. Here James clearly says that faith without the fruits of salvation, the good works done for God’s glory, is a dead faith, or that faith is head knowledge and not a true and saving faith. Some say that James is teaching here a doctrine that goes against what Paul teaches, that salvation is a free gift from God and no human effort or works will or can bring about salvation. But James is not saying that works brings about salvation, James is confirming what Paul, and Jesus teaches. Paul may focus or speak more on regeneration and justification and James’ focus may be more on sanctification, they are not preaching and teaching two different gospels. They are preaching on the same gospel but with two separate points of focus. MacArthur says of Paul and James: “They are not standing face to face confronting each other, but are standing back to back fighting two common enemies. Paul opposes works-righteous legalism; James opposes easy-believism” Paul preaching against those who think that they can have salvation and enter heaven on their own works or so called good deeds and James against anyone who thinks that they can have a head knowledge of God and believe intellectually but not walk in righteousness and thus not showing any of the fruits of salvation. Paul himself said to the church at Ephesus that we who are in Christ Jesus will have good works, Ephesians 2:8–10 “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.” There are no works or deeds that man can do to earn or purchase his salvation, it is a free gift from God to those whom he has chosen before the foundations of the world. But that free gift of salvation will bring about and cause good works, done for the glory of God, to flow freely and willfully from those that God has given his mercy and grace upon. There is no contradiction, James is not saying that works save and Paul is not saying that there will be no works done.

14

Comment:

Here again we are reminded of who James is writing this letter to, his brethren, the Christian Jews that have been dispersed from Jerusalem due to oppression from the Romans and the Jews, but through the Holy Spirit he is also addressing the entire Church through all ages. He starts out with the phrase if someone says he has faith, the faith that James is referring to here is not someone with a true and repentant faith, but someone who may claim to have faith, who says that they believe in God but show no outer signs that their lives have been changed. Someone who may throw a Bible verse out of Facebook, probably completely out of context, but that same someone also boasts about how drunk they get or revel in all of the vile things that they do. Is there faith, or their claim of faith enough to save them?

Question:

Do we understand the difference in repentant faith and knowledge faith?

15

Comment:

The construction on the phrases poorly clothed and lacking in daily food means that this is not a temporary situation, poorly clothed is not naked or not the appropriate style of clothing. The poorly clothed that James is talking about is a long-standing or systemic lack of adequate clothes. No winter coat due to not being able to purchase one ect. Also the lacking in daily food would not be a temporary forgetting of ones lunch but unable to afford proper nutrition. Poorly clothed and lacking in daily food is describing one truly in need.

16

Comment:

If someone who claims to have saving faith and knows someone in this type of need, but only says to them be warmed and filled, but not helping them obtain the necessary food and clothing, where is the benefit in that. It would totally disregard the need and the welfare of those in need. Further the grammar structure of the Greek is in the middle/passive voice which would suggest that this person in effect is saying, warm and feed yourself, as if the person in need would not have already done so if they were able. There is a story of a European queen several centuries ago who left her coachman sitting outside in the winter while she attended a performance in an indoor theatre. During the performance the queen was moved by the play and even sobbed from the actors performances, but when she returned to her carriage after the performance she found that her coachman had frozen to death but did not shed a tear for him. She could be moved to tears for a make-believe performance but not when an actual human being had perished, one that she was directly involved with and even directly responsible for his death.

Question:

How many times have we seen superficial sympathy and a complete lack of compassion in today’s social media culture?

17

Comment:

In verse 17 James sums up and restates his point from verse 14. Saying you believe that there is a God, saying that You believe that Jesus was the messiah and the son of God without a changed heart and a changed life is not a saving faith. John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus through the parable of the good Samaritan made it clear that those who belong to him are obligated to help anyone in need Luke 10:27 “And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”” . So after telling the lawyer the parable of the good Samaritan Jesus said, Luke 10:36–37 “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”” The good Samaritan did not say to the man in need, “Get well soon, I pray that you get what you need” the good Samaritan provided what the man needed.

Question: