Devotional Thoughts | James Pt. 6

As we continue to look at the letter James wrote to the Early Church, let me remind you of the contextual setting as is recorded in the Book of Acts. Following the birth of the church there was a period of explosive growth with thousands coming to faith. The followers of Christ were still living and worshipping in Jerusalem. James, the author of this letter was the leader of the Jerusalem church. Following the stoning of Stephan, one of the first deacons of the church, and the first martyr, there arose persecution of the church resulting in many believers fleeing Jerusalem to the surrounding regions and nations. As the pastor of the Jerusalem church, James had a burden for those who fled the persecution and wrote this letter of encouragement.

James 2:14-26 - 14 What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can [j]that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, [k]be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is [l]dead, being by itself.

18 But someone [m]may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that [n]God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and [o]as a result of the works, faith was [p]perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

This passage of Scripture has been the source of disagreement among theologians throughout the ages. The reason being that it seems to contradict the teachings of the Apostle Paul regarding faith. In Ephesians 2:8-9 the Apostle Paul wrote 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [a]this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Yet here in this passage James declares faith without works is dead.  Because of this seeming contradiction Martin Luther called the Epistle of James an Epistle of Straw.

However, there is no contradiction. James discusses two types of faith in this passage, a dead faith, and a saving faith.

Saving faith is much more than a profession or empty words, it is not just the acceptance of a creed. Saving faith produces a life of obedience.

Let’s look closer at this passage. James begins with a question in verse 14 What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can [j]that faith save him? Then in verses 15 – 17 he presents a scenario which answers the question.  15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, [k]be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is [l]dead, being by itself.

This echoes the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46 - 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not [i]take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

In other words, there needs to be agreement between what we profess and what we practice.

In verse 19 James shows the emptiness of simply declaring you believe in God. (Which in itself is a good thing, as it is the beginning of faith according to Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.) Even the demons believe there is one God and tremble. But faith without action is dead.

James gives us two examples from the Old Testament showing there is a synergy between faith and works.

First James points to Abraham who was declared righteous when He believed God regarding having an heir.  Genesis 15:4-6  4 Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come from your own [a]body shall be your heir.” 5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your [b]descendants be.” 6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He [c]credited it to him as righteousness.

However, he was justified by works when he offered Isaac on the altar. There is a beautiful harmony or synergy between vertical faith in God and horizontal works to a world in need.

Secondly, James uses Rahab the prostitute as an example of one whose faith was supported by her works. The Book of Joshua chapter 2 details her faith and works which resulted in the salvation of her household.

I close today by reminding the listeners of the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:16 16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.