James 2:14-26 - Faith That Works
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
The verses we are going to hit today are among some of the most debated Scripture in the Bible.
It was so difficult for Martin Luther to reconcile this section of James with Paul’s letters that he fought to make it a secondary epistle! He called it a ‘gospel of straw’ because it lacked the centrality of salvation by grace alone that Paul’s letters clearly articulated. Although he never formally moved that the book of James be removed from the canon, he openly considered the idea that he didn’t think it necessarily belonged. Talk about driving you to madness!
Yet, here we come to a section of Scripture that teaches us about the importance of works.
Unlike Luther, we should actually be thankful for our verses for today.
James helps us not overcorrect when it comes to salvation by grace through faith. Though that is completely and undeniably true - we know that those who are truly saved by grace through faith do works through the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through them.
Without understanding the importance of observing works in the life of a believer, we can fall into ‘easy believism’ - a false version of Christianity that only requires us to give a head nod to God, and then we are promised eternal security.
The Bible teaches nothing of the sort. True believers are men and women of action. They exude fruit in their lives - fruits of the Spirit as Galatians 5:22-23 teaches us.
With that understood, let’s go ahead and read our Scripture for today…
Read Full Scripture:
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
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?
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
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.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
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.
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
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?
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Prayer
Today we are going to see four truths regarding a faith that works. The first is…
I. A Faith That Works Must Be in Existence (14-17)
I. A Faith That Works Must Be in Existence (14-17)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
James gives us two difficult questions as he starts this new section out. He has just taught on the peril of partiality, and now he moves on to the need for works to confirm that one is saved.
Can a faith without works save a person?
Maybe better stated - does it even exist?
Can someone have faith and not have works that accompany that faith?
James is going to give us an emphatic NO throughout this discussion!
The true heart behind the answer of James to the questions at hand is understood by the overarching question - what is the definition of faith?
We are told in verse 14 that the man says he has faith. We are not told that he has true faith. So what kind of faith does this man really have? Is his faith a truly authentic faith?
Biblical faith is a saving faith. True faith is described in Ephesians 2:8-9 as a gift of God not of works. Yet in Ephesians 2:10 we come to the following statement:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Paul, right after saying that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works, goes on in verse 10 to tell us that we were created in Christ Jesus for good works. Yet we also have to notice here that God prepared these works beforehand, meaning He went on before us to prepare these good works for us to walk in them.
In other words we are not saved by our works, but we are saved unto good works.
Though Paul was quick to speak of salvation by grace through faith and not by works, we also see Paul clearly teach of good deeds in Titus 2:14, Titus 3:8, Titus 3:14, 1 Timothy 6:18.
James is now going to move forward and give us an example of how we can test the existence of a true saving faith. In other words, how we can examine ourselves to make sure our faith is in existence.
Listen to his example moving forward…
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?
James now mentions poor believers who are struggling. They need food and clothing and one man tells them to go in peace and be warmed and filled. Yet, this man who offered a prayer of blessing neglected to put any action behind his prayer.
James asked the rhetorical question - What good is that?
There are many difficult needs within the lives of those within the church and outside of the church. And we cannot meet all of those needs. However, there are many times where we can meet those needs but refuse to do so - out of laziness, selfishness, greed, or other reasons.
What is your response to the needs of others?
Are you ready and willing to fill the gap when someone needs something, or are you more focused on your own life and what you have going on?
Do you experience conviction whenever a need comes your way or is your first response to harden your heart toward others?
These are great preliminary questions to ask yourself whether you have the existence of a saving faith within you.
James looks us square in the eyes and challenges us to step up. Listen to what he says to us in verse 17…
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Those who lack works to back up their supposed faith don’t truly have a saving faith. He calls their faith dead.
That is because a true saving faith is a faith that works.
A faith that merely consists of words without works is no faith at all.
We have a saying just like this commonly said today.
How many times do we hear people say, "Don't just talk the talk but walk the walk"? James is giving us that exact charge here.
He is telling us that a true saving faith doesn't just give lip service to God. A true saving faith is a faith of action.
We must always remember that faith is more than just a profession. A true saving faith means that one has faith in his possession.
An English preacher happened across a friend whose horse had been accidentally killed. The crowd around him expressed sympathy and spoke empty words. However, the preacher stepped forward and said, "I am sorry, 5 pounds. How much are you sorry?" Then he passed a hat around.
True faith is a faith of action.
Theologian Kurt Richardson stated:
“A word of blessing without an act of blessing is like the promise of salvation without the saving act of God in Christ.”
Kurt Richardson
We must exercise a faith that works.
Friends, be sure that your faith is real. Be sure that your faith is in existence. Be sure that you have truly repented of your sins and placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, who bore our sins at Calvary 2,000 years ago. He was crucified, died, was buried, and rose the third day. Be sure that you have repented of your sins and placed your faith and trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Jesus promises everlasting life to those who are born again (John 3). You can be given a faith that saves, a faith that works.
Friends, a faith that works is a faith that is in existence, And a faith that is in existence must have evidence, which brings us to our second point…
Scripture References: Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:8, Titus 3:14, John 3
II. A Faith That Works Must Have Evidence (18-20)
II. A Faith That Works Must Have Evidence (18-20)
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. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
James then gives a hypothetical criticism of what he had just charged. I love the way James repeatedly asks rhetorical questions throughout this letter. It really helps to answer the questions that he knows that his readers are already asking.
His overarching question is:
Can’t someone have faith alone and someone else have works alone? Do you really have to have both?
And again, his rhetorical question is meant to have a resounding NO as an answer. There cannot be any disconnect between faith and works. They are to be intricately connected.
Moving forward to verse 19, he now gives an incredible example! Those who have a supposed faith - those who state they believe in God - believe in Jesus - well guess what - even the demons believe and shudder!
The Greek word for shudder is phrissō (pronounced like free-so) and it means to tremble with great fear.
They know that hell awaits them. And as you can see with the following interactions with Jesus we will discuss in a moment, they understand that their torment is coming, but they ask that it would not be before the appointed time.
James challenges the person who has bought into 'easy believism’ to compare himself to the demons.
We must remember that belief is necessary for salvation but belief alone is not sufficient unto salvation. The demons believe and tremble or shudder. True saving faith does not only believe but is accompanied with repentance and faith.
Interestingly, the demons believe even more strongly than the false convert! They know Christ exists! They know He is Lord. Listen to the testimony of demons…
And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.”
The demons have called Jesus the Son of God, the Holy One of God, and the Son of the Most High God. (Luke 4:34, Mark 3:11, Mark 5:7, Matthew 8:29)
We could write a book on all of these passages and call it the Gospel according to Satan and his demons!
They know who Christ is.
But there is one big problem with Satan and his demons. They don’t submit to His Lordship. They are rebels.
The same is true for the person who refuses to submit his life to Christ. Believing the right things isn’t enough. It is just the start. One must repent - or turn from his sins - and place his faith and trust in Jesus Christ to be saved. Christ requires that one deny himself and take up his cross and follow (Matthew 16:24).
We need to understand that mere intellectual assent is not true salvation.
One can know many truths about the Bible. One can know theology inside and out.
In fact we see in Matthew 4 and Luke 4, during the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, that Satan quoted the Old Testament at least three times. Satan has intellectual assent but is not saved.
Church…
One can have a mind full of truths but still be living a lie.
I want each of you to take a moment to examine your life and your heart.
Is there evidence for the existence of your faith? Is your faith accompanied by works? Is your faith accompanied by the fruit of the Spirit as we read in Galatians 5:22-23?
Because as we see in verse 20, faith without works is a faith that doesn't work.
A dead faith may be a faith that affects the mind. A dead faith may be a faith that affects the emotion, as we saw with the demons who shuddered. However, a true faith is a faith that affects the whole of a person. It affects his will and desire. It affects his heart. A true saving faith is a faith that changes one from the inside out. A true saving faith is found in a man or woman who has been born again and is a new creation.
James has challenged us to have a faith that is existent and a faith that is evident, but now he is going to give us a couple of examples of faith in action.
As we move forward to our next two points, we are going to see a couple of Old Testament saints. We will see that this man and woman were filled with faith and that faith within them led to action. Which brings us to our third point…
Scripture References: Testimony of Demons (Luke 4:41, Luke 4:34, Mark 1:24, Mark 3:11, Mark 5:7, Matthew 8:29); Matthew 4, Luke 4, Galatians 5:22-23
III. A Faith That Works Must Be Exercised (21-24)
III. A Faith That Works Must Be Exercised (21-24)
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 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. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Time would fail us to go through the entire account of Abraham. I would suggest you go back to Genesis 12-25 and read about the wonderful life of Abraham.
In order to understand what James is saying here, we need to understand the book of Genesis. James actually quotes Genesis 15:6 here, which states:
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Here in Genesis 15:6, we are told that Abraham is saved by faith. He believes the Lord and this is counted to him as righteousness. He is even called a friend of God.
Yet, fast forward to Genesis 22 and we are told that Abraham was justified by his works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar. If you aren't familiar with this account, I would suggest that you read Genesis 22. It is a beautiful foreshadowing of God the Father offering Jesus Christ on the cross. Abraham was asked by God to take his son, his only son, up on a mountain in the land of Moriah and to sacrifice him. Just before sacrificing his son, the Lord told him to stop and provided a ram in the thicket.
So we see that Abraham was justified by grace through faith in Genesis 15 as quoted in James 2:23, and now we are told that he was justified by works in James 2:21 as he refers to Genesis 22. What exactly is the discrepancy that we are seeing here?
This difficult passage has been misunderstood and misinterpreted by many to teach that we are saved by works and not by faith alone.
Interestingly, verse 22 actually gives us the answer. We see that faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by his works. This word completed means that it was made evident.
You see there are two ways that the word justification is used in the Scriptures.
The first way justification is used is as a declaration of righteousness before God. (Forensic Justification)
This is the most common way that Paul uses the word. It means that God is declaring a sinner righteous on the basis of faith rather than on the basis of works of the law. This is clearly taught in Romans 3:28, Romans 5:1, Galatians 2:16, among others. It is often times called forensic justification and is a legal or declarative act. It is an act that is solely based on the finished work of Christ on the cross. This type of justification is by grace through faith and not by works.
The second way that justification is used is as a demonstration that one is righteous before man. (Demonstrative/Vindicatory Justification)
Interestingly Paul actually uses demonstrative justification in Romans 3:4 and again in 1 Timothy 3:16 as well. In 1 Timothy 3:16 the ESV actually uses the word "vindicated" instead of "justified" which makes complete sense as it is talking about Jesus Christ. Jesus needed no declarative justification as He was already perfect. Instead, He was vindicated by the Holy Spirit - namely demonstrated to be God made flesh. Though Paul predominantly used declarative justification, he did use demonstrative justification as well. James, on the other hand, was highlighting demonstrative justification in this section.
So in summary, we need to understand that justification can be a declaration, which is forensic justification, or it can be a demonstration, which is the kind of justification that James uses here in chapter two.
We are declared righteous by grace through faith and not by works. We are declared righteous completely and solely based on the finished work of Christ on the cross. After we are declared righteous, we are demonstrated righteous by the works that Christ does in and through us.
As a pastor, I cannot see your forensic justification if you are saved. This is a declaration of God and is between you and Him. However, if you have been declared righteous, it will be demonstrated to others that you are truly justified.
And that is the heart of what James is trying to say here. Those who are truly saved will be demonstrated to have been declared righteous by Jesus Christ.
The old theologian John Calvin once said, "Faith alone justifies; but the faith that justifies is never alone."
Friends, is your justification easily demonstrated before those around you?
This isn’t a charge to do empty works that are an attempt to earn salvation. But when others see you, do they see Christ in you? Do you truly exude the fruits of the Spirit?
Those who are truly justified will exercise their faith. Their faith will be evident to all, and it will be nearly impossible for anyone to question the existence of their faith.
And finally, we come to our last point…
Scripture References: Genesis 12-25, Romans 3:28, Romans 5:1, Galatians 2:16, Romans 3:, 1 Timothy 3:16
IV. A Faith That Works Must Be Exemplified (25-26)
IV. A Faith That Works Must Be Exemplified (25-26)
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?
The second example James mentions is Rahab. Her amazing courage and faith can be found in Joshua 2. She hid the spies that Joshua had sent and protected them from the leaders of Jericho who came trying to find them.
Rahab could not be any more different than Abraham. Abraham was a wealthy man with much power. Rahab was a harlot who likely was impoverished. Abraham was given a promise that an entire nation would come from him. Rahab was a part of the city that was doomed to destruction. Yet, we see Rahab exemplified in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11:31. And even more impressively, we see her exemplified in the lineage of the Messiah as seen in Matthew 1:5.
Like Abraham, we are told that Rahab was justified by her works. This again means that her faith was shown to be complete because of her works.
This speaks of her demonstrative justification.
And finally, we come to verse 26…
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
In summary:
James reminds us that if our body doesn’t have the spirit - it is dead. In the same way - faith without works is dead.
So what exactly is James saying with this statement?
We know that a human body is dead if there is no spirit within it. It doesn't move, it doesn't think, it doesn't act. When the soul of a person departs the body after death, we know that the body is dead.
In the same way if someone says they have faith but there is no action behind their faith - Their faith doesn't cause them to move. Their faith doesn't cause them to act. Then we know that their faith is actually dead. It is a faith that has never truly been present to begin with.
Scripture References: Joshua 2, Hebrews 11:31, Matthew 1:5.
Conclusion:
So what has James actually said so far? He's reminded us that faith is more than just words. He's reminded us that it requires action.
Friends, I want you to take a moment to ask yourself: Is my faith easily demonstrated to others? Do my friends and colleagues and family know without a shadow of a doubt that I am a believer? I have heard many people in the past ask the following question: If there was an investigation into your life, would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a follower of Jesus Christ?
In other words is there enough demonstrated faith and action in your life to show others that you are a follower of Jesus?
I pray that the answer to this question is an easy yes. I pray others see your love for others. They see the peace that is within your heart. They see your love for Jesus and His Word.
James wants his readers, and frankly that would include us even today, to take a moment to be sure that we are truly in Christ.
We need to make sure that we are truly born again. Those who have been declared justified should be easily demonstrated as such as well.
As we prepare to have a time of reflection for the final song, I want you to examine your heart in light of the following questions. Be honest with yourself and with the Lord.
1 - Was there a time where I truly and humbly repented of my sins and trusted in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior?
2 - Do I regularly and sincerely repent of my sins? Am I humble before God and others and understand that I fall far short of the glory of God?
3 - Do I enjoy fellowshipping with the people of God? Do I love worshiping the Lord? Do I look forward to coming to church on Sunday?
4 - Does my life look more like Christ over time? Am I becoming more like Jesus or more like the world?
5 - Am I looking forward to the return of Christ? Am I looking forward to heaven?
6 - Do I understand that my money and possessions are not my own? Do I seek to exalt the Lord with my talents, treasures, and time? Is my heart for the Lord or is it for the things of this world?
Prayer.
After our final song give this charge:
Benediction:
I want to end with this charge to all of you here. Be sure that you are truly in the faith. If you are not, talk with me or Pastor Adam, and we would be happy to tell you what it means to follow Jesus Christ. If you need to follow Jesus obediently through believer’s baptism, which is the first act of obedience that demonstrates the justification that you've been given through Christ, let us know. We would love to do that as well.
Finally if you're not a member of CrossPointe, we would love to have you join as a member. One of the ways that you can show the working of your faith is by serving in your local church. We require membership to do any leadership positions at CrossPointe. If you are interested in talking about membership, please let me or Pastor Adam know, and we could give you more information about what it means to join CrossPointe as a member. We maintain membership in order to make sure that we are all on the same page theologically and accountability-wise.
So in summary I have given three action moves for each of you to consider.
First, be sure that you have been declared righteous. Be sure that you are truly in faith. If you have not placed your faith in Christ alone, may today be that day.
Second, If you have been declared righteous, demonstrate that righteousness to others through believer’s baptism if you have not done so.
And third, continue to demonstrate that righteousness through joining CrossPointe as a member and serving the local church and, more importantly, your Savior.
God bless and have a wonderful week.
