James 2:14-26 – Suppose a brother or sister without clothes and daily food; If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, ‘ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.
The question is: Concerning the connection between faith and works, does James contradict Paul?
The answer is No, The apparent issue arises from the fact that James and Paul both use “faith”-related terminology to discuss very different concrete situations.
We must comprehend the context in which they talk to understand this.
James asks, “What good is it? Can such faith save? No. He is trying to explain, ‘What faith isn’t’ or what false faith is?
The prejudice against the poor in worship or matters of judgment (James 2:1–13) and the neglect of the poor are major issues James is dealing with among the Jewish Christian churches of Jerusalem and the surrounding area (2:15-16). ‘James the Just’ takes a positive view of “works,” not as a way to earn righteousness but rather as a fundamental component of real, saving faith; he is not contrasting works with faith but rather ‘false faith’ with ‘true faith’.
On the other hand, in a few of his letters (Galatians, Romans) Paul states that he’s faced with a severe issue of legalism or works-righteousness, where certain people claimed special positions before God based on their performance of the law. However, in another context, Paul agrees with James by speaking positively about “works” as acts of obedience in response to the gift of grace. In this context, Paul exhibits a negative view of “works,” stressing instead that one is justified by faith, i.e., by belief in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Paul’s glowing remarks regarding “works” in Romans 8:4 explains that this is done “so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit.” Galatians 5:6 says that “faith works through love.” Verse 1 Thessalonians 1:3 “Work of faith, and Labour of love” is simply “work brought about by faith.”
The Pre-Post Conversion Works
James emphasizes the importance of “Post-conversion works“—acts of neighborly compassion such as providing for the less fortunate and not exhibiting favoritism.
God’s gift of righteousness within the heart of man impels man to respond in such a manner. As new creatures in Christ – 2Cor 5:17/Gal 6:15, intentionally we must unveil the new nature, which we derived from God – 2Pet 1:4. The Scripture says, Put on the new man (a conscious effort), which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24).
In his particular historical setting, Paul was vehemently rejecting “Pre-conversion works“—works of the law like circumcision, observing dietary restrictions, and adhering to the Jewish calendar—all undertaken to merit God’s righteousness.
According to Frances Ginch’s medical metaphor from Hebrews and James, Paul deals with Obstetrics, with how new life begins. James, on the other hand, deals with Paediatrics and Geriatrics, with how Christian life grows, matures, and ages.
In essence, James is saying that “faith without its corresponding works is dead.” It does not work, period. Faith must be founded upon the love of God.
How we love the brethren determines the genuineness of our faith.
But whoso hath this world’s good, and sees his brother have a need and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth – 1 John 3:17-18. If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother (does not righteousness – 1 John 3:10), he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (1 John 4:20)
True faith results in commensurate actions.
The ‘gift of faith’ that comes to a person – Rom 10:17 – we obtained a like precious faith (2 Peter 1:1) – before faith came (Galatians 3:23) – grace and truth came (John 1:17), this faith empowers him/her to obey that form of doctrine – Rom 6:17 – that would eventually process the regenerative work and justification.
The fundamental thrust of this argument, which is stated three times (in verses 17, 20, and 26), is not that works must be added to faith but rather that genuine faith encompasses actions, according to Douglas Moo.
To validate his thought James interestingly laid forth two examples, which are opposite in their context. One we know is Abraham and the other Rahab the harlot – James 2:25
Works of Righteousness
James provided two interesting examples that are opposed in their context to support his ideas. One of them is Abraham, and the other is Rahab the harlot, according to James 2:25. The story of Rahab shows his readers what pure, saving faith looks like (Joshua 2).
How was Abraham the father of faith justified? Had his works of obedience contributed to his justification? We will have to cross-examine two contrasting verses to conclude.
Apostle Paul and James the brother of Jesus seem to contradict. Paul said, For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. (Romans 4:2) – James says, Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (James 2:21) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? Consummated (James 2:22)
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? She not only received the messengers but also sent them out another way. Receiving them alone would not have satisfied the criterion, but she also protected their lives by sending them in a different direction.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:24-26 – But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:20).
Why faith alone doesn’t save? Because there will be no distinction between the devils that believe and tremble and a soul that believes – James 2:19. So James meant, “Faith without works does not work”! As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (invalid) (James 2:26).
Whether we are justified by faith and works, it is a gift of God. Until God works in the heart of a person, we are incapable to respond to the things of the Spirit. For it is God which works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13); so we have nothing to glory. If we must work, God through His eternal Spirit must revive us to even respond, because we were dead in sins, weren’t we? (totally depraved) – Col 2:13/Eph 2:5.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (Psalm 10:4)
God had to save me to love Him back. God had to regenerate my spirit to respond to Him. God hath justified me because of one man’s obedience, that is the second Adam Jesus Christ. Where is the boasting then? It is by the law of faith that we are justified and a justified person is empowered by the Spirit of God to be subject to Christ.
Jesus Christ must become our Lord and Saviour. One must not only believe in Jesus but also submit his/her life to the lordship of Christ. The grace of God must transform the character, which shows itself in good works or holy living, otherwise, it ain’t faith. ‘Faith and work’, work in tandem.
James 3 clearly expounds on two types of grace.
Which type we adhere to determines the kind of faith a person has come to possess or is subjecting oneself to daily. The work that is referred to is the work of Christ in the heart of man, not the contrary. It is Christ working in them whose flesh is crucified with its lusts – Gal 2:20/5:24. Christ begins to live in us is the good fruit that we get to produce. For he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit – 1Cor 6:17.
As is heavenly, such are they that are heavenly – 1Cor 15:48. Let us not confuse with ‘Believing and Faith’ Believing is not faith. The devils believe but we possess or inherit faith. The former doesn’t produce fruit but the latter does. If you ask an unbeliever whether they believe in Jesus of Nazareth. They would vehemently agree that they do. But do they possess faith? Not necessarily!
The Reformers identified three facets of faith.
- Knowledge (Notitia): a thorough intellectual comprehension of anything
- Belief (Assensus): the conviction that something is real/true.
- Trust (Fiducia): personally commit to this true thing.
Faith comes from God – it is the saving faith, which changes the whole persona and the way of life – otherwise, it isn’t genuine. Receiving faith itself is not enough we must grow and be perfected in faith – 2 Thess 1:3 – building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost – Jude 1:20.
A person’s character can inspire belief. In other words, belief can be created through learning about someone. However, faith can only be given by the Holy Spirit’s act of regeneration in the soul of man. The grace of God does all these, which is why the word of God calls it, ‘the saving faith’. It seeks you and finds you and saves you. The words of Jesus are trustworthy: He said, No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him (John 6:44).
Have you ever considered yourself to have received Christ? Well, this disproves your claim. How absurd would it be to accept the claim that a drowning person saved himself? Or perhaps a dead body spontaneously sprung to life. The truth is far from it: And you hath he quickened, who were dead (nekros) in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (Ephesians 2:4) – Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved – Ephesians 2:5)
We cannot love God while disregarding our neighbor, can we? We cannot love God if we are unable to love our brothers and sisters. If we cannot love our brethren we aren’t born of God in the first place. It takes work and effort on our part to grow in this Agape love, which is where God’s grace enters the picture and enables us to accomplish previously impossible things. It is essential to walk and live in the Spirit because of this. Having said that, trying to lead a spiritual life without the assistance of the Spirit Himself is not feasible.
Our total subjection and obedience are vital for the Spirit to bring fruitfulness. It takes time and diligence and effort. We thus partake of His holiness, the divine nature, etc.. without which we cannot please God. Our flesh is the greatest opposition that we will have to contend with – Gal 5:17/Rom 8:13.
True, saving faith entails more than merely having knowledge of God. The faith must be perfected by divine character. To embrace the character of God requires total commitment. “Binding Isaac to the ramp” to offer him as an offering on the altar – requires tremendous trust and faith. No wonder God called him, ‘His friend’. Abraham staggered not but was strong in faith – for He knew whom He trusts – Heb 11:17,19/Rom 4:20/James 2:21,22. In explaining this case, James says in verse 22: “You see that his faith and his deeds were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did”. James didn’t stop there; he went on to remark that, just as a body without a spirit is lifeless, so too is ‘faith without deeds’.
James is thinking about all of Abraham’s actions (plural!) throughout his life that showed his sincere, saving faith, not simply the sacrifice of Isaac. How can we overlook Abraham’s ‘hospitality’? Gen 18
James concludes this picture of pure, saving faith by saying, “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” (v. 24) In this chapter, Paul and James seem to be at odds. The key part of the sentence is the term “alone” at the end. James contends that a faulty form of religion consists of merely having faith and no corresponding deeds.
In conclusion, In the first example, the contrast is not between faith and deeds but rather between a false, non-saving faith (with no works) and a true, saving faith (with works).
In verse 17, James explains this, saying, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
A faith that is “all words and no action” sees someone in need and then merely says a sanctimonious cliché like “Depart in peace, be you warmed and full.”
“What is the profit?”