Faith and Works – James 2

Author : Keith Sharp

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 ExaminedJames 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 AnsweredProtestants 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).

SummaryThe 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).