June 15, 2002, Vol.2, No.12.
Two new articles every two weeks.
Bible Question? E-mail
us.
THIS ISSUE: "Faith
and Works (part 2)" (see below)
and "Faith and Works (part
1)"
Faith and Works
(part 2) - James 2
by Keith Sharp
Click here for
part 1 of this article (on Romans 4).
The greatest leader of the Protestant Reformation, Martin
Luther, so strongly believed we are saved by faith alone that,
where the apostle states in Roman 5:1 that we are "justified
by faith," Luther rendered it in his German version, "justified
by faith alone." He was perplexed by the book of James.
It certainly has the credentials to be included in the New Testament
canon. But Luther could not reconcile James 2:14-26 with his
belief in salvation by faith alone. He once called James a "right
strawy epistle" and asserted it had "no gospel character
in it." He even asserted, "I will not have it in my
Bible in the number of the proper chief books." When one's
doctrine leads him to deny a book of the Bible its proper place
as inspired and authoritative, he needs to reexamine his doctrine.
What does James teach about faith and works?
The Passage Examined
 James
poses a question: "What does it profit, my brethren, if
someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith
save him?" (James 2:14) Thus, the inquiry of the passage
is, Will faith apart from works save? The inspired writer answers
his own query in verses fifteen through twenty-six.
James first demonstrates by three arguments that faith alone
is a dead faith (verses 14-20). Just as it does no good to wish
a needy person well unless we do something to relieve his needs,
faith apart from works is dead (verses 15-17). If your neighbor
came to your door in the freezing cold of winter, wearing tattered,
thin clothing and looking gaunt from hunger, and asked for help,
would you reply with a laugh, Friend, I can't help you, but I
hope you find some food and clothing? How much would that help?
That's how much good faith apart from works does in our salvation.
Then the inspired writer shows that, apart from works, one
can't even prove he has faith (verse 18). It's not faith or works,
it is faith and works. It is said a Scotsman once labeled the
oars of his rowboat "Faith" and "Works."
When a neighbor asked him why, he pushed his boat into the water.
He only pulled on the oar named "Faith" and just went
in a circle. Then he just pulled on "Works" and went
in an opposite circle. But when he pulled on both "Faith"
and "Works," he went to his destination.
Even the demons believe, but they are nonethe-less condemned
(verse 19). Thus, faith without works is a dead faith (verse
20). Do you think a dead faith will save?
Then James demonstrates by two Old Testament examples that
we are justified by faith that works (verses 21-25). First he
appeals to the example of Abraham (verses 21-24). Abraham was
a Hebrew, godly, a man, a child of God, and the friend of God.
He was justified by faith (verse 23; quoting Genesis 15:6), but
his faith had to be perfected by works of obedience to God (verse
22), the greatest being his offering of his beloved son of promise,
Isaac, upon an altar as a sacrifice in obedience to the command
of God (verse 21; cf. Genesis 22:1-18). He thus was the friend
of God (verse 23; cf. 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; John 15:14).
What does the example of Abraham demonstrate? "You see
then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only"
(verse 24). This is the only time the Bible even mentions the
doctrine of salvation by faith alone, and the inspired writer
James emphatically declares it to be a lie.
Then James refers to the salvation of Rahab the harlot (verse
25; cf. Joshua 2:1-22; 6:22-25). In contrast with Abraham, Rahab
was a Gentile, immoral, a woman, an alien, and belonged to God's
enemies. How was she saved? She heard about the Lord and the
terms of salvation (Joshua 2:10,12-20), she believed (Joshua
2:11,21; Hebrews 11:31), and she obeyed (Joshua 2:1-8,21; James
2:25). Thus, when Jericho perished, Rahab was saved (Joshua 6).
What does James conclude about faith and works in our salvation?
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without
works is dead also" (verse 26). James does not deny salvation
by faith, but he emphatically denies salvation by faith only
(verses 14,17,20,22,24,26).
Objections Answered
Protestants raise various objections to this simple analysis
of James' teaching. Sometimes they contend that Paul taught justification
by faith without works for the alien sinner, whereas James refers
to the justification of Christians. To begin with, this does
not help, for the same ones who teach the alien is saved by faith
alone contend that the Christian cannot be lost. They deny anyone,
saint or sinner, must obey Christ. Furthermore, both Paul and
James quote the same passage to prove their point - Genesis 15:6
(Romans 4:3; James 2:23). And in the application that each makes,
Abraham had already been an obedient believer for many years.
Abram was saved by faith no later than his age seventy-five (Genesis
11:31 - 12:4; Hebrews 11:8), and that saving faith was obedient
faith. He had worshiped the Lord for years (Genesis 12:7; 13:3-4),
and Melchizedek blessed him as "Abram of God Most High"
(Genesis 14:18-20). Thus, long before the events of Genesis fifteen,
Abram was a saved, obedient, faithful worshiper of the Lord.
Also, Rahab was certainly an alien when she was justified by
obedient faith (James 2:25). The simple fact is that both the
alien and the child of God must be justified by faith that works
(Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:20).
Some argue that James speaks of justification before men,
not God. But the subject of James 2:14-26 is salvation - Will
faith without works save? (James 2:14) Who saw Abraham offer
Isaac? (James 2:21; Genesis 22:3,5,12) When Abraham offered Isaac,
he proved his faith to God (Genesis 22:11-12).
Others contend that Paul writes of true faith, whereas James
speaks of alleged but false faith. Paul teaches that we must
be saved by working faith (Galatians 5:6). James shows what makes
alleged faith saving faith, and that is works of obedience (James
2:14,17,20,22,24,26).
Still others assert that demons just believe in God, not in
Christ (James 2:19). The demons believe in one God (Ibid) and
in Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 5:7). They confessed their faith
in Christ (Mark 5:7), worshiped Him (Mark 5:6), submitted to
Him (Mark 5:12-13), and they fear the judgment (James 2:19).
Nevertheless, they are lost (Matthew 8:29). And James plainly
teaches that they prove faith without works is dead (James 2:19-20).
Summary
The kind of works Paul teaches will not save are works that
demand sinless obedience, works whereby one would earn righteousness,
the works of the law of Moses (Galatians 5:1-4). The works James
teaches do justify are works of the obedience of faith, works
whereby we meet the conditions of divine grace, works of obedience
to the gospel (cf. Luke 17:10). Faith alone does not profit (James
2:14), will not save (James 2:14), is dead (James 2:17,20,26),
cannot be shown (James 2:18), is possessed by demons (James 2:19),
is incomplete (James 2:22), and will not justify (James 2:24).
The only kind of faith that will save is a working faith.
The alien sinner must work to be saved (Matthew 7:21), and
so must the child of God (Philippians 2:12). The alien must believe
in Jesus (John 6:28-29), repent of his sins (Acts 3:19), confess
his faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized for the
remission of sins (Acts 2:38). The child of God must "observe
all things" Christ commands (Matthew 28:19-20). When he
fails to do so he must repent, confess his sin, and pray for
forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).
The doctrine of salvation by faith alone may be "very
full of comfort," but it is also very full of damnation.
"You see then that a man is justified by works, and
not by faith only" (James 2:24).
Click here for
part 1 of this article (on Romans 4).
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