Ralph Porter

© 2003

    Many people, when they first become familiar with James, think they see a contradiction between James' message in James 2, and Paul, in Romans. Because of this apparent conflict, Martin Luther called James an "epistle of straw".

    The conflict appears when you compare James 2:20-24 with Romans 4:2-5.

         James says:

            "Faith without works is dead"

            "Was not Abraham our father justified by works . . . ?"

            "A man is justified by works, and not by faith alone."

         On the other hand, Paul says:

            "To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly,

                his faith is reckoned as righteousness."

         In Galatians 3:6-14 Paul concludes:

            "For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse . . . . Now that no

                one is justified by the law before God is evident; for the righteous man shall

                live by faith."

    The solution to this "conflict" comes from observing James 2 carefully, in its own context. The message James wants us to understand isn't that we are saved by works. James is explaining his concept of authentic, living faith.

    Throughout the book James is calling us to demonstrate a living faith, when the pressure rises. As we consider life in the pressure cooker, James wants us to understand how a genuine living faith affects our lives.

    James raises the issue with a summary question that introduces his theme in this section. In 2:14 he asks the fundamental question: "What good is it, my brothers, if a person says he has faith, but never does anything about it?" This question sets off the verses raising the issue. He asks the same question in the summary statement in 2:14, as well as at the conclusion of the specific problem they were facing in 2:16. What good is faith that doesn't make any difference in our life? His assumption is that such a faith is useless.

    Can faith like that get anybody out of the mess they're in? When a person says he has faith, but never does anything about it, what good is that? We say we have faith, but we aren't showing it in daily living. What good is that? Will that kind of faith do anything for us?

    When people discuss this passage, we most often focus in on the kind of faith people have: "Can that kind of faith save us?" While that is the question James raises, the key question we ought to ask concerning the theological discussion people debate in this passage is what kind of "salvation" James is referring to.

    Coming from our relatively "safe" environment in the United States, we assume that the issue is theological in nature: "What must I do to be saved?" We apply that thought to the topic of our eternal salvation from sin. However, James isn't addressing that doctrinal issue! In this letter James has been talking about how God's people face the rising pressure in the midst of persecution. We are called on to trust Him even in the midst of persecution on account of our faith. Even when the pressure is rising we ought to trust Him.

    The verb "save" is used more frequently, both in Scripture and in contemporary language, to describe deliverance from the problems of life and from the dangers we face from day to day (Acts 27:31). Thus as we deal with the significance of James' exhortation, we must ask what is the specific situation they are facing.

    James answers that question, just as he did in the previous discussion, by presenting a practical illustration following the initial introductory statement:

        "If a person is lacking clothes, or is lacking daily nourishment, and one of you says to

        them: 'Go in peace! Stay warm! Get plenty to eat!' but does nothing about their

        physical needs, what good is it?"

    When a person needs food or clothes. . . . When he has a physical need or is going through hard times . . . . These were common problems in times of suffering, when many lost their jobs because of faith in Christ. Times were hard; they had families to care for! They were suffering from shortages. When you wish them well, but you do nothing about it, what good does that do? Why don't you take a risk to help those in need? You say you have faith, but when food is in short supply, you hoard it for yourself!

FOUR FACTS ABOUT FAITH WITHOUT ACTION 2:17-20

    What does this passage teach us about faith without action? James uses four different affirmations to tell us that faith without action is useless!

    Faith without action is dead It's lifeless! In 2:17 James tells us, "Even so, if faith doesn't change the way you live, it is dead, because it stands by itself." James has been calling the church to a living faith, a faith that produces fruit. Faith without action will never produce fruit. It's dead.

    Faith without action is not verifiable. In 2:18, he states: "But someone will say that you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without the works and I'll show you by my works that I have the faith." In other words, James is asking us, how can anyone see faith, unless it does something? My works are the way by which I demonstrate the reality of my faith. Faith that doesn't make a difference in our life is invisible. You can't see it! You can't prove it's there! It can't be authenticated. The only way to demonstrate that we have a living faith is by our actions.

    Faith without action is like the demons' faith. In 2:19 James continues, "You believe that "God is One" that's good! The demons believe that too! And they even tremble before Him." Would you call what the demons have a living faith? They believe in God, but their faith hasn't changed their lives! They do whatever they please. They don't submit to God's authority. Therefore, their faith is useless!

    Faith without action is useless. Finally, in 2:20, James concludes his explanation of the worthlessness of this kind of faith: "But do you really want to know the truth, oh foolish person, that faith that doesn't make a difference is useless." It's just like a lazy person who accomplishes nothing!

    James' basic premise concerning the value of this kind of faith starts and concludes this section. In verse 17 he tells us: faith that doesn't make a difference in our life is dead! In verse 20 he affirms again: faith that doesn't make a difference in our life is useless!

    Our faith ought to be a living faith. Living things always produce some kind of fruit. Therefore, our faith--a living faith--should bear fruit in our lives! Any faith that does not produce fruit is a dead faith--It's useless!

TWO ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT   2:21-25

    James introduces two Old Testament saints who demonstrate by personal experience that faith goes with action. Both of these examples stand out because of their faith. They believed in God and were willing to sacrifice--to suffer personal loss--because of their faith in God. Their faith made a difference in their lives.

The example of Abraham 2:21-24

    James introduces Abraham with a question (21): "Wasn't our father Abraham declared righteous on the basis of what he did, after he offered Isaac his son on the altar?" Wasn't Abraham declared righteous because of what he did? The question could be translated to affirm that Abraham was "demonstrated to be just" by what he did. His action proved the reality of His faith.

    From this example, James deduces that faith and works go together. In 2:22 he asks: "Don't you see that faith works together with works, and by works the faith is made complete?" This logical conclusion is supported by Scripture (2:23): "And so the Scripture came to pass which says: Abraham believed God and it was accredited to him as righteousness and he was called 'God's friend.'"

    Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith. It's faith that counts. Nevertheless, his faith isn't observed until he offers Isaac on the altar. That's what provokes the statement concerning his faith. He did something about it! He's the key example. If anyone is clearly declared "saved by faith," it's Abraham. But Abraham's faith made a difference! He was willing to give up the one thing that meant more to him than anything else: His son!

    This example, then, leads James to the conclusion in 2:24: "Don't you see that a person is declared righteous on the basis of what they do, and not on the basis of faith all by itself." Our faith is never isolated from what we do! Living faith will make a difference in our life.

The example of Rahab 2:25

    "In the same way, wasn't Rahab declared righteous on the basis of what she did after she welcomed the messengers and sent them out a different way." Rahab also was declared righteous on the basis of what she did. She was also "demonstrated to be just" because of what she did. Her actions demonstrated her faith. Her faith made a difference! It affected what she said! It affected what she did!

    James concludes Rahab's story and the entire passage in 2:26: "For just as the body without spirit is dead so also the faith without works is dead." Faith that doesn't make a difference is dead.

    If we have genuine faith in God, it will be seen in the way we respond under pressure. If we trust God, we'll do what's right--even when we can't see how it will come out. We trust God in the dark--when we can't see where He's taking us! That kind of faith is never more significant than when we're under pressure!

    How does this principle apply when we're facing rising pressure in our own lives? The contemporary example James writes to the early church about (15-16) is still instructive for us. We can illustrate the problem by putting ourselves in their place. When times are hard economically, we all suffer from lack of food. No one has enough.

    One day a fellow Christian comes to my house at lunch time. We only have two days' supply of food in our cupboard, to feed ourselves and our family. Then it's gone. He is already out and has no food to give to his family. What do I do? I say that I trust the Lord. Can I share what I have today, even when I don't know where my food will come from tomorrow? That was the situation of the first century church

    In Abraham's case (21), God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, as a demonstration of the fact that doing God's will was more important to him than clinging to the son God had given him. Abraham says he trusts God. Is he willing to give up his only son, in order to obey God and please Him.

    In the example of Rahab (25), her own people were under siege. She has heard about the God of Israel, and she has believed what she has heard about Him. Can she trust Him? Is she willing to risk everything to protect His representatives and send them safely on their way?

    In Guatemala, at the time of the revolutionary attack by the guerrillas, one of the women in our church there lost her husband. Everyone assumed he had been killed by the "right wing" militia. The people of the church wanted to go to her and encourage her. They wanted to take her food and help her family. But the word was out that her house was being watched, and a list was being made of who went to help them. We said we trust God to protect His people when we do what's right. Would we take a risk and minister to her?

    How about us today? What is God asking you to do? Some of our young people have had a choice to make in the last few weeks about our summer ministry to Mexico. Thirty-three of our young people and their leaders have signed up to go. But a lot of them have had a real struggle. $1250 is a lot of money. We can't afford it. We say we trust God, do we trust Him to provide that much money, when we can't see where it's coming from?

    Or, maybe you've been asked to help send someone, but you're not sure you can afford it. For some of the parents it's not easy to trust God to take care of our kids on a trip like that. Something could happen to them. Americans aren't very popular these days. Someone might kidnap them or take them hostage! We say we trust God. Can we trust Him with our financial situation? Can we trust Him with our kids?

    What are you facing this week? Is God asking you to trust Him and do something for Him? Is He calling you to do something about your job or business? Is He telling you to make a school or vocational choice? Is He asking you to follow Him and move to a new place to serve Him? We say we trust Him. Do we really believe Him enough to do what He's telling us He wants us to do?

    What is true concerning our daily lives is also true concerning salvation. While that's not James' point in this passage, it is just as true about our eternal destiny! While Abraham is held up as an example because he was willing to trust God with his son's life, the central truth concerning his faith is that Abraham was declared righteous because He believed God--He trusted Him.

    It is also true today. People who believe God DO what He says. They trust His Son. They stop trying to earn their own way to heaven. Having received His gift, they live to please Him. People who are in Christ are new creatures.

    The starting point in the Christian life is faith in Christ. Have you trusted Him? Having begun by faith, we don't walk by rules and regulations, but faith in Christ DOES make a difference in the way we live! Has Christ made a difference in your life? If He hasn't made a difference, we had better go back and take a closer look at our faith. For,