“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; not withstanding ye gave them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-26)
YOUR FAITH
In the verses now before us the subject of faith is discussed in connection with our works. It should be pointed out again that here too we can see a continued natural background movement in the order in which these subjects are introduced. The epistle is not just a recollection of disconnected or separate themes as some have expressed. Rather it is a continuous unfolding of the beautifully consistent attitude and behavior of the truly dedicated believer.
IS IT DEAD
In our previous chapter we saw how evil works, such as the sin of partiality, contradicted any claim to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Here we will be shown how the absence of good works will testify that the faith we claim to possess is in fact dead. Or to say it in different words; it may be true that we are not guilty of doing anything bad (such as we saw in the last chapter), but it also may be true that we are guilty of not doing anything good. The concern of the epistle at this point seems to be the danger of an erroneous reaction to the previous lesson; that of concentrating so much on not doing evil that we forget that the healthy thing is to do good.
It is written that our Lord Jesus “went about doing good”. (Acts 10:38) It is not enough to say that we do no evil. That is important, but we must do good also. Dead men do no evil, but they do no good either. This is a very important Bible truth and our Lord dealt with it very positively.
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he (the Father) taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2) I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go forth and bring forth fruit…” (John 15:16) He was not concerned here with branches that brought forth bad fruit, but branches that brought forth no fruit. Absence of fruit is a sign of death.
It is also written: “we are his (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…” (Eph. 2:10)
When the rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life, our Lord first reminded him of the commandments. But the man claimed he had observed them all from the time of his youth. “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasures in heaven …” (Mark 10 17-22) He could claim that he did no evil, but his faith was tested when he was asked to do good. He was sad and went away grieved. His faith was not a living faith.
WHY TALK ABOUT IT IF IT’S DEAD
What profit is there if a man says he has faith when the faith is dead? Now I have purposely condensed the question of our text in order that we see what we should in this lesson. There is no profit in talking about something that is dead, inoperable, nonproductive, something that doesn’t work! If it doesn’t work in our conduct and attitude toward the wealthy and the poor who come into our assembly, what good is it? It won’t work either should a brother or sister be destitute of clothing or daily food. To say in such a case, “go in peace, be clothed and eat well,” without giving any aid is not only cheap but is mockery as well.
This is the reason we find in verse twenty that one who continues this practice is addressed as “O vain man.” The word vain here means empty, like a cloud without rain in time of drought. Or like the fig tree our Lord cursed which outwardly had all the promise of fruit, but in fact had none. So the question ending verse 14 is “Can (that) faith save him?” The answer is plain. There is no profit or advantage in dead faith. And of course there is no life.
SHOW ME YOUR FAITH
Verses 17 and 18 constitute a challenge to our thinking. Show me, or demonstrate to me your faith apart from your works. Note how interesting this challenge is.
Faith itself is invisible; it abides in the heart. Faith expresses itself through action and reaction, or if you please, our works. These actions and reactions are the only means by which faith can be made evident. Immediately from James’s challenge we can see the impossible and the point is well driven home.
You cannot show me faith apart from works, but you can show your faith by your works. In fact we are doing so all the time. Our works, or the way we live and conduct ourselves, are declaring all the time both what and whom we depend on and trust in most. The what may be one or more of many things, such as money, position, influence, or our own ability. The whom may be ourselves or someone we admire or look to. But when we are dealing with Scripture and the saving faith it speaks of, the what can only mean God’s Word, and the whom can only be God and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “Have faith in God,” (Mark 11:22) and again, “Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1)
THE VALUE IS IN THE LIFE
Consequently, faith is only worth talking about when it is living and productive; when it saves; when it obeys; when it cares and ministers; when it lifts and heals and gladdens the heart; when it brings hope and changes things for good.
AT LEAST THE DEVILS TREBLE
Ah, but many whose works are not godly would defend themselves and say, “I do, I do believe in God.” To them the answer comes: “Thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
WORKS PROVE FAITH
In verses 21-26 we are given examples which graphically illustrate this spiritual truth we have been discussing. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed (credited) to him for righteousness. Abraham’s faith in God was proven by what he did. It is important to notice that what he did was in obedience to God’s Word. This is always the foundation for our faith. We cannot invent in our own minds what we think the will of God is. We must only respond in humble obedience to that which God has made known unto us in His Word. Abraham’s actions or works justified his claims of faith in God.
FAITH AND WORKS WORK TOGETHER
The word “wrought” in verse twenty-two could be better translated “worked together.” The Greek word is translated in Romans 8:28 and elsewhere in the New Testament. “Seest thou how faith wrought (worketh together) with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” Our claim of faith and our conduct and behavior must work together, agree, harmonize, compliment each other. Else there will be no testimony that we truly believe God.
When Abraham’s works harmonized with his faith the scripture was fulfilled which said, “Abraham believed God … and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (verses 23,24) To say it in another way, improper works only prove a claim of faith in God to be either premature or false.
FOR EVERYONE IT IS THE SAME
Then from the great Hebrew patriarch our attention is drawn to a Gentile sinner women who became a convert and was justified also when her faith was made perfect by her works. The introduction of Rahab as an example of faith is significant. For it show us that the lowest of social status cannot hinder an honest believer from receiving all the blessings true faith in God can bring.
AND IT MAKES SENSE
The chapter summarizes with a final example: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
FAITH MUST LIVE AT HOME FIRST
Before we leave this second chapter of James there is a very important consideration which I feel should be observed while we are here. Our Christian faith is tested in part by our attitude and behavior toward others. Be careful to note though that those others who are mentioned in these instructions and admonitions are people with whom we personally come into contact — our neighbor, our brother and sister, the rich man or the poor man who comes to our assembly, etc.
Not being discussed here are those whom we do not personally meet: the poor and needy, the weak and suffering, the heathen of remote areas or foreign lands. It is important that we realize and become aware of the distinction. The point is that it is wrong to ignore the needs at hand and attempt to transfer our attention, and consequently our obligation to fields we’ve never seen and people we’ve never met. Missionary work is an important part of God’s program, but it must be in addition to, not a substitute for, godly living at home. Some have been deceived in this very thing, but remember, the devil is the deceiver.
How pleased the devil is if God’s people become preoccupied with things beyond their horizon to the point of failing at home. How many have deceived themselves and seared their own conscience by adopting the idea that they are fulfilling their obligation by supporting some missionary to the poor, or the illiterate, or unfortunate of some other land. And because of this they become insensitive to the needs close at hand.
The truth we must see in this most valuable book of James is that true faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ results in godly character and conduct with and among those whom we personally come in contact with according to God’s providence. This is true regardless of any additional ministry we participate in through a missionary or other representative of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor … and Have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing.” (1Cor. 13:3) It is also written: “He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1John 4:20) This being true it could also be asked; how can he love the heathen whom he has not seen? The proof of our faith is shown at home and among those with whom we come in contact.