James Chapter Two, Part 4

 

James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

James is deeply interested in the actions of his readers and the motives that spawn them. A man walking in faith, drawing close to God and resisting temptation will receive reward, James 1:12. The latter, failing that temptation or trial as daily habit becomes sinful lifestyle, results in death, James 1:15. Many sins may naturally result in death. Drug use, drinking, sexual perversion resulting in STD’s…the list goes on. God does not need to strike one down from one high dramatically. He need only permit the sinner to chase their folly to its natural end, Deuteronomy 32:35. The writer reiterates how actions (doers, his word) justify one’s faith, James 1:22-25.

Just as the partial judgment of the Christians giving preference to the rich man condemned them, so James wishes for a believer’s actions or lifestyle to reflect their confession. Thus he poses this question: can the faith you claim to have ACTUALLY save you? Coined differently: is your faith really living? Anyone can say they have faith. Words are simple. But when those words are tested, do they prove to be true?

James 2:15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute [deprived] of daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

Like the example given for partiality, James begins with a practical lesson. The rich man and poor man’s treatment demonstrated partiality among believers. Now we are given a visual example of dead faith. If we were to see a fellow Christian suffering grievous loss and made no real effort to help them, is that person profited? Like the “someone” from verse 14 that states that they have faith divorced of works, this person’s lip service hardly warms or fills the person suffering starvation and nakedness. Works should be the natural result of salvation, Matthew 7:17; 12:33. A tree is known by its fruit. A pear tree will yield pears, while an apple tree yields apples. A Christian ought to yield the fruit of the Spirit and works befitting our salvation for the benefit of others, Galatians 5:22; Titus 3:8.

James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Pay attention to the “also”. Citing the example given in the previous two verses, James asserts quite logically that just as words without complimentary action do not profit, a faith of that nature is “dead”. The Greek term here is “Nekros” and typically means physical death or the natural state of unregenerate men. The kind of faith that does not manifest in works in our lives then is dead. Note that the apostle never tells his audience they are dead, but warns them that such faith is. Speaking to fellow saints, James is brutal in his warnings about resting on our confession and not “work[ing] out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” Philippians 2:12-16. As Christ’s life on Earth wasn’t to serve self, but the Father, so the Christian ought to emulate his Lord. That was why in the first century the saints were gifted the title Christian. Likely it was meant to be slanderous, but James calls is a noble name because its invocation likens us to the Lord we follow in life, and will be gathered to in death. Knowing this, as Christ walked serving a lost and blind world, His followers should likewise do. The spiritually dead need the light of the gospel. But they will never see that light if Jesus’ saints have only a “dead” faith.

James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Here James offers a hypothetical interjection. “Someone” with a broader mind than James suggests that some people have faith, and others have works. But the issue cannot be separated. They are two sides of one coin. Faith in the gospel of Christ regenerates a man, making him a “new tree.” But that tree, by virtue of its very existence, will produce fruit in accordance with its kind, Genesis 1:12. James then challenges this notion by asking someone to showcase their faith without the benefit of works. His faith, however, will manifest by his works. In other words, because of what he now is (a Christian) his works will confirm his new nature. His faith is in his Savior. His Savior commanded obedience to the faith, Matthew 28:20; Luke 6:46. If someone’s faith does not result in a changed life—a life noticeably transformed by evidence of our conduct—then what are others to believe regarding your confession? While no person can know if another is truly saved, we are commanded to judge within the church and to "put away from yourselves the evil person,' 1st Corinthians 5:12-13. When you encounter someone with such a barren faith, come beside them in an effort to help them mature, being wary not to succumb to the spiritual slough they are stuck in, James 5:19-20; 1st John 5:16-17; Jude 1:22-23.

James answers further by commending these Christians for accepting an obvious truth: there is one God. Remember that James is writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad (James 1:1). In other words fellow Hebrews. These Christians were likely former Judaists that had been raised under the banner of the Shema: “Hear, O Isreal: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” Deuteronomy 6:4. A monotheistic deity was the norm for devout Jews scattered in a sea of polytheism. To recognize that a creator God exists and is back of the universe and human destiny may be discerned by the reasoning mind, Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:19-20. Such a realization is meant to stimulate the seeker into looking further for this "one God." James seems to launch a stinging insult at his readers by likening such rudimentary “faith” as being no better than the type a demon possesses. Fallen angels know that God is real. The problem is that His presence didn’t stimulate them to obedient service. Christians that claim to be saved but live a barren life, void of works attesting to their new life are, in this respect, mirror the faith of the demons James makes mention of.