Studies from the Book of James

Faith and Works Part 1 James 2:14-26

On the surface it would seem that these statements are contrary to the great Biblical doctrine of Justification by faith. They seem to contradict the teaching of the Apostle Paul.

James seems to be saying that a person is justified by what they do, by their works. Are Paul and James in conflict over this issue? If they are, the Unity and the authority and the inspiration of the Bible are destroyed.

We need to carefully examine just what James is saying.

The Faith and works dispute arises when people fail to make a distinction between the "Requirement for true salvation and the Result of true salvation.

Eph 2:8 for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

It is impossible for a person to have the new birth experience, to have moved from darkness into light, from death unto life.

To have the life of God dwelling within, and not to produce the fruits of that new life. The new life in Christ produces a new life style, new values, and the fruit of good works.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith is not some kind of vague feeling that we work up from time to time.

Faith is being confident that God’s word is true and having the conviction to act upon what the Lord says. This will bring the fruit real blessing.

The Church needs a Faith that works—a faith with accompanying fruit. Faith alone saves but faith that saves, is not alone it is always accompanied by good works.

While performing on a cable across Niagara Falls, he asked his audience, "How many believe I can walk across this tightrope pushing a wheelbarrow?"

To which the people cheered loudly. "How many believe I can push the wheelbarrow across the cable with a man in it?" Again, there came a loud response.

Blondin then pointed to one of the most enthusiastic men in the audience and said, "You're my man, now get into the wheelbarrow!!" Needless to say, the man made a quick exit.

Faith without fruit is the burden of James in this section. James shows us that Faith without fruit is false, futile and fatal.

In the early Church, as it is today, there were those who claimed to have a saving faith in Christ but they did display the fruit of salvation. Where there is the true, you will always find the counterfeit and where there is wheat you will find the tares.

A faith without fruit is false.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (KJV)

He is saying in v 14, what profit is there in that? For one to profess to have faith, and not to show the works of that faith, the fruit of faith. Can such faith save his soul? No

Mat 7:21 not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven.

Merely claiming to be a Christians does not make us children of God. We're not Christians just because we say we are. Many people claim to have faith, but they have never trusted Christ alone for salvation, entering into a personal relationship with Him.

Unless the fruits of a living faith are evident in the life the claim of faith is a false one. People with dead faith substitute words for works.

They speak the language of a Christian. They talk the talk but do not walk the walk, for they are still dead in sin. Dead men do not walk.

A truly converted man will be a changed man. " If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, the old things have passed away all things have become new. This will be evident in the fruit of his works.

In these verses James again uses a very vivid, and practical illustration. Having explained false faith, he proceeds to illustrate it.

He tells a hypothetical story of one who claims to be a Christian. He comes into contact with a person who has a great need of the basic necessities of life.

This man is not a con artist; he has a legitimated need. He comes into the Church fellowship and a man who professes faith in the Lord says to him after the service.

"Goodbye, have a nice day, and be sure to keep yourself warm and I hope that you find something to eat, I will pray for you" The person, who claims to have faith does nothing about the needy persons physical needs. All that this man got was a few pious words but no compassion.

Words would not keep this poor man warm or his stomach filled. Faith that stops at words is useless and fruitless.

Faith shows Genuine Compassion, which comes from a Genuine Conversion. If a person does not show compassion to those who are in need, it indicates that their "Faith" is not a true and living one

Luke 10:30-37----The Story of the Good Samaritan

A priest, and a Levite, one of the priestly line, passed by the beaten man. But a man, who was a Samaritan, went to where the man was and he had compassion on him.

Gal 6:10 as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

It is the duty of Christians to help meet the needs of all men, but especially we are to help those who are of the household of faith, our brothers and sisters in Christ

1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his (his heart) of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Christianity demands a level of caring that transcends human inclinations. How often do we defend our faith and yet fail to show compassion to others.

Here is the reality of real faith. Would we dare to say such words? What a challenge and what a contrast to the type of man whom James has in mind.

James 2:14 what doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? (Can such a faith save him?) Amp.

James is not asking Can faith save! He is asking Can faith, that is never seen in practical works be real faith? The only way to know faith is by its fruit.

Now we are not to judge whether someone else’s faith is false or not.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

True saving faith will never be alone, by itself; it will produce fruit to accompany it. The Legal profession would be quick to tell us that it cannot deal with hearsay. They look for evidence; they look for the facts to prove the case.

. James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

1. False Faith shows no Compassion.

2. False faith shows no fruits of Conversion.

3. False faith has no communion with God

False faith believes in God but has no experience of communion with God. Friends, demons believe in the existence of God, and believing they shudder and tremble.

We must ever keep in mind the reality of demons and the activity of demons. Jesus often cast out demons. Paul often confronted demonic forces in his ministry.

In Eph 6 He exhorts the Christian to put on the whole armour of God, to claim God’s protection to defeat the spiritual forces of wickedness.

James is telling us that demons have faith. They believe in the existence of God. They believe in the Deity of Christ, and they bore witness to His deity.

Mark 11&12 and unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

Luke 8:31 and they besought him (Demons) that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

Luke 8:33 then went the demons out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Friends a person can be enlightened in their minds, stirred in their emotions, know whom Christ is, tremble before Him and still be lost in the abyss forever.

Why? Because they have never experienced a saving faith that forgave their sins and brought them into the place of communion with God.

Their faith is no more than head knowledge and not a heart experience. Therefore their faith is false and futile. True saving faith involves something more, something that can be seen and recognized.

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

We have now a snatch of a conversation between two people who were discussing this whole question of a genuine Christian experience.

The conversation goes something like this. One says to the other " Well you have great interest in Doctrine, and in theology, and therefore you put the emphasis on faith. There is nothing wrong with that, it is fine for you, but I put the emphasis on the works that I do.

For me, Christianity is living up to the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. You major on what you believe but I labour on what I do.

"Surely there is room for both of us"? This is still the argument today.

The word translated "By" in the Greek, means emerging out of or emerging from.

Friends. How can a dead person show his faith without works? Can a dead sinner perform good works that bring glory to God? The Apostle Paul states.

Eph 2 8 -10 for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Paul is saying, "that Faith alone is necessary for salvation. That Grace saves a man through faith unto good works.

Good works is the result of genuine faith. Paul and James are in fact complementing, not contradicting each other.

One said, "let us assume that one of these Oars is "Faith" and the other one is "Works"

Let us take the "Works" oar out of the water and we will just use the Faith Oar".. When they did this the boat went round in circles. After some more discussion they said " perhaps we have got it wrong.

Let us take the "faith Oar out of the water and we will just use the Works Oar. Again they went round in circles. Finally they put both Oars back into the water and made straight for the shore. When the Oars worked together there was balance.

Friends, biblical Christianity has precisely this kind of balance. Only the person who has Faith and works, working in perfect harmony is going in the right direction.

2. A Comparison that if Foolish

3. A Conviction that Is Firm.

James 2:17 even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 2:26 for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James develops this theme and we shall look at it again in our next study. There is no great disagreement between Paul and James.

When Paul speaks in

Titus 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him,

This verse makes it very clear that Paul and James were on the same wavelength.

May our Faith in Christ be always displayed in our good works?