My Friend James: Uh, oh! Works!
Martin Luther famously called the book of James an “epistle of straw”, specifically because of its strong support of good works being required as evidence of faith. So, as we come to James 2:14-26, James, our friend and half-brother of Jesus, tells us that faith alone is not enough to keep us spiritually alive.
James 2:26 [ESV] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Do you want your faith to be dead? Of course not. Since the Holy scriptures do not contract themselves, how do we align “faith without works is dead” with Ephesians 2:8 [ESV] “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”
James fully explains himself by using two important examples.
1. Brothers and sisters in need.
James 2:15-16 [ESV] 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
God clearly expects us to do something when we have the means to do so, rather than just sending “thoughts and prayers”. Matthew 25:31-46 supports the link between doing for others and being a faith filled follower of Jesus.
2. Abraham
James 2:21-23 [ESV] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God.
Abraham’s faith caused him to act on the thing God told him to do. Just like our faith should cause us to act. If you are a believer in following the great commandment to “love the Lord, your God with all your heart and with all our soul and with all your mind” and the second to “love your neighbor as yourself”, you should be led by the spirit to prove that love by doing – by serving both God and man.
Faith is the Fearless Active Intimate Traveling of Hope, from your Head to your Toes, that Ignights our Actions and Feelings to prove its presence. Faith moves mountains [Matt. 17:20]. It also moves believers.
The scripture that many call the “great commission”: "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” [Mark 16:15 ESV] is action oriented. “Go”, He says. There is no room for just believing that the gospel needs to be preached. Our feet must be “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” [Eph. 6:16]. Gospel preaching is an action that shows both love and obedience.
James 2:26 [ESV] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Works do not save us. Works cannot save us. Works will not save us. We cannot “feed the hungry and visit the sick” our way into salvation. 1 Corinthians 13 shows us that good works can be done without underlying love and be of no effect on our spiritual journey. The one and only work required for our salvation was the work of Jesus Christ in being the Perfect Lamb and Savior. This work of His is what saves us.
Jesus’ faith in the Father and the Father’s plan for the salvation of mankind bled out from his hands, feet, and side.
Faith without works is dead because the faith God seeks from us is an active one. “Works” is not a dirty word. Works don’t save us. But good works pour out of the faithful children who live by faith like rivers of living water to bring hope and peace to a hurting world, and to preach an active gospel of love that leads sinners to an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father whose greatest work is to take us from lifeless dirt to eternal, spiritual life.
I hope you will continue to meet with me here and will share your own thoughts on the book of James.
You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org
James 2:14-26 [ESV] 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.