Sola Fide?

Intro: James vs. Paul?

“St. James’ epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to the others, for it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it.” -Martin Luther

Martin Luther hated James because he thought it contradicted Paul

Paul does seem to contradict James at face value.

So what is Paul getting at? Inclusion of Gentiles by faith, not by circumcision/legal observance. Gentiles as Gentiles, not Jews.

Does James deny this? No!

Question of what is meant by “faith.”

Even Paul notes in Gal 5:6

The New Revised Standard Version The Nature of Christian Freedom

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

1 Cor 13:2

The New Revised Standard Version The Gift of Love

2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

2 Cor 9.8

The New Revised Standard Version The Collection for Christians at Jerusalem

And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

And James and Paul both are consistent with Jesus on this point (Matt 7:15-20):

The New Revised Standard Version A Tree and Its Fruit

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad 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 know them by their fruits.

So James and Paul do not contradict. Rather, James clarifies what is meant by “faith”.

James, in essence, seems to correct a gross misunderstanding of Paul. One that our friend Martin Luther seems to have shared!

Can Faith Save? (v. 2:14-17)

To demonstrate this, Jas asks straightforward question: Can faith save you?

The question points toward eschaton/final judgement

Jas gives earthly example. If faith apart from works cannot save someone in this life, how will it save them before God?

More to the point, faith apart from works does not produce the kind of fruits God expects of us. This is obviously not the kind of world God intends.

Prove it (v. 2:18-19)

But some may push back and argue that faith and works may be separated.

Person may have been confused, as if faith and works were “spiritual gifts”. Some have faith, others have works

Jas puts this to rest. “Show me your faith then.” Prove it!

Even demons have just faith, yet they fear God’s judgement. So, obviously, mere belief about God is not nearly enough to save.

Orthodoxy is not unimportant, but it cannot ever be separated from Orthopraxy.

Faith perfected (v. 2:20-24)

Consider Abraham, for example

Abraham’s faith moved him to act

Hebrews, Abraham confident God could raise the dead

This moved him to action

Faith is ἐτελειώθη by works, i.e., “perfected”, brought to its intended end

The meaning: faith is for something. Faith is supposed to move us toward action

Orthodoxy and orthopraxy

Dead by Faith (v. 2:25-26)

Consider Rahab

Had she not acted, she would have died with the rest in Jericho

Likewise, if we do not act on our faith, we will die in this earthly city

Faith that does not lead to works is like a body that has no spirit. It is lifeless.

The Second Half of the Gospel

This is, in short, the second half of the gospel. The half Martin Luther seems unaware of.

What is the purpose of faith? Salvation, to be justified with God.

But what do we mean by justification? By Salvation?

Not just a ticket to heaven or mere forgiveness.

Justification is to be reconciled to God. To come back into relationship with God through Christ.

Salvation is not just the final judgement, but a present reality also. It is, ultimately, not salvation from hell, but to be saved from our corrupt nature inherited by Adam.

It is by faith in Jesus Christ that we are reconciled to God, and by our faith that we are saved.

Yet works carry our faith to its end.