James 2:14-26

“The Benefit of Authentic Faith” James 2:14-26

This next section is often misunderstood because it’s often mis-taught.

·      The writings of Paul and the writing of James do not contradict each other, they actually complement one another.

·      James was written before Paul’s writings, so it isn’t true that James was writing to contradict Paul’s teaching on salvation by grace alone, through faith alone.

·      James 1:18 ”Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.“

Ø  Christians are not to be only hearing about the faith, but we are to be living out the faith.

Ø  Four times, “faith without works” is mentioned in 2:14-26.

Ø  What does faith profit? What does faith benefit?

14 What does it profit {benefit, what good is it?}, 

my brethren {the saved family of God}, 

if someone says {claims that} he has faith

but does not have works? 

Can faith save him {NASB: “can that faith save him?”}? 

A] The issue here is in regard to those who make empty claims of faith. 

·      A person can say that they are orthodox in their faith and yet still have a useless faith if it isn’t accompanied by works. (Mt 7:21-23)

B] “Can fruitless faith save him?” Faith that’s all talk.

·      In Greek, the word “faith” can have different meanings based on the context.

·      In Greek, the word “save” can have different meanings based on the context. The word “save” can mean saved from sin’s penalty, it can mean rescued, or delivered, or kept from.

C] This doesn’t stop with having authentic faith, but having what the application of authentic faith brings to life, specifically, active love.

D] The grammar of the Greek text expects a negative response to the questions, posed in verse 14.

15 If a brother or sister {within the saved family of God} 

is naked {poorly clothed} 

and destitute of daily food, 

A] The Apostle Paul taught that food and clothing are the 2 bare essentials in life.

·      1 Timothy 6:8 ”And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.“

·      The Lord Jesus Christ taught His followers not to worry about food and clothing because He knows that we need them.

B] Galatians 6:10 ”Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.“

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 {2x; benefit}? 

·      Our practical righteousness, and not our profession of righteousness will be a blessing to those around us in the Church.

·      If we profess our faith without practicing our faith, the love of God is not flowing from our lives.

·      1 John 3:17-18 ”But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.“

·      Authentic faith will lead to a compassionate lifestyle.

17 Thus also {in the same way} faith by itself {without love}, 

if it does not have works {result in active love}, 

is dead {barren, fruitless, of no value, useless}. 

·      Authentic faith is accompanied by active love.

·      The absence of active love may be indicative of a person who has not been truly born again, has not yet come to authentic faith. 

18 But someone {hypothetical skeptic} 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. 

·      Practical righteousness and positional righteousness are inseparable.

·      Colossians 1:6 ”which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;“

·      What matters is faith working itself out in love.

·      The genuineness of our faith is shown by our works.

·      Don’t tell me you have faith; show me you have faith.

·      “The child of God works not for life, but from life; he does not work to be saved, he works because he is saved.” -Spurgeon

19 You believe that there is one God {that God is one}. 

You do well {2x in ch.2; verse 8 “love your neighbor as yourself”}. 

Even the demons believe--and tremble {from fear of the Lord}! 

A] Deuteronomy 6:4 ”“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!“

·      It’s one thing to believe that there is one God, and yet it is another thing to live like it. 

B] Demons believe in God but they have no obedience, no love, no good works.

·      The Devil and his demons aren’t atheists. Even Satan and his angels know better than to believe in evolution.

·      These fallen angels also acknowledged the deity of Christ.

C] The person who is showing partiality or being reluctant to help other Christians in need, lacks the fear of the Lord, and the love of God.

·      A Christian can believe and even tremble in the Church service, but without works, their faith isn’t benefiting anyone.

·      We need to be careful of believing, something intellectually, but not being convicted by it, spiritually. There is a difference between being convinced by something in our head, and not convicted by it in our heart.

20 But do you want to know {want proof}, 

O foolish man {he who separates works from faith}, 

that faith without works is dead {useless}? 

·      James offers 2 proofs; a Jewish example, and a Gentile example, he offers an example of a man of high esteem, and a woman of low esteem.

21 Was not Abraham our father {Jewish example, upper class} justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 

A] This is an example of why it’s important to keep Scriptures in their original context, to keep the author’s intended meaning in mind.

Ø  Here we have a case of same word, but different meaning. James uses the word, “justified,” in speaking of validation, while Paul uses the word, “justified,” in speaking of justification.

B] Abraham’s faith was demonstrated through his actions, and his actions demonstrated that he had a right standing before the Lord.

22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, 

and by works faith was made perfect {complete}? 

·      His faith was made complete by the works which proved that He trusted the LORD.

·      John 6:28-29 ”Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”“

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 

"Abraham believed God, 

and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

And he was called the friend of God {Abraham was accepted by God}. 

A] James quotes Genesis 15:6 to validate Abraham’s faith, while Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 to demonstrate Abraham’s saving faith.

B] Ephesians 1:3-6 ”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.“

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 

·      Are people justified by works?

·      Galatians 2:16 ”knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.“

·      Romans 4:2-4 ”For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.“

·      James’s point: “Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone.”

·      Authentic Faith expresses itself in works.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot {Gentile example, lower class} also justified by works 

when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 

·      Hebrews 11:31 “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”

·      Rahab was saved by trusting the LORD.

·      Because Rahab put her trust in the LORD, she both received the spies and hid them.

·      Rahab went from living the life of a prostitute, to living the life of a proselyte.

26 For as the body without the spirit {breath} is dead {it becomes a lifeless body}, 

so faith without works is dead {useless, of no benefit} also.

A] This transitional conjunction at the end was the main point. He was leading up to, the main point he was making.

·      Ephesians 2:8-10 ”For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.“

·      Authentic faith, which is genuine trust in Christ, is accompanied by a lifestyle of good works, the fruit of our lives.

·      Believe and be living. 

·      You say you have faith in the LORD, who is your faith benefiting? 

·      Salvation is never earned by good works, but good works are evidence of authentic faith and genuine conversion.

·      Matthew 3:8 NLT ”Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.“

B] The Church body, without the work of the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, the wind of God is dead, useless, of no benefit.

·      Now that you’ve come to authentic faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit wants to do a work in you and through you among those in your circle of influence.

·      May our authentic faith benefit those around us, in the church, and in the world.