Scripture Text

James 2:14-26

Theme

If any man says he has faith but that faith never effects change in his life and never produces fruit in his work, then his faith is empty and worthless. Such a faith is a dead faith, for there is no life-producing power in it.

Faith Evidenced by Works

(James 2:14-19)

The Emptiness of Faith Without Works

(Verse 14)

Faith That Saves and Then Works

Is James saying that our own good works can contribute to our salvation?

The short answer is:

No!

The longer answer is that James is not saying that a man is saved by works.

Ephesians 2:8-9
“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.”

How then can James raise the question:

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?”

James is emphasising the fact that faith must produce something or else it is not real faith at all.

Saving faith, the sort of faith that receives salvation as a gift of God’s grace apart from good works, is also effectual in producing new life in the possessor of it.

Such faith will be evidenced by good works.

Therefore:

Faith without works is dead.
Faith that produces works reveals that it is living faith.

What Benefit Is There in a Faith That Is Undetectable?

Can a hidden, unfruitful faith really obtain grace from God unto salvation?

“It seems to be a tendency inherent in most of us to go to extremes in matters of doctrine. This is true in regard to the question of our salvation as well as in other things. Some insist that we are saved by character; that only as we do good works and consistently obey the law of God can we be justified. At the other extreme are those who rest solely upon an historical faith for their acceptance with the Lord, ignoring the need of that inner change which the Saviour described as a new birth, and which is evidenced by a life of practical righteousness.”

The Apostle Paul was used by God to explain that salvation cannot be obtained through good works.

James now tells us that genuine faith unto salvation must produce good works, or else it is proven to be ineffectual in obtaining salvation also.

“James… makes it plain that the faith that saves is a faith that works, and that no one is justified before God who is not justified practically before men. What profit, he asks, if a man says he has faith and his behavior belies his profession? Is this the kind of faith that saves?”

To put it simply:

You say you have faith, but if you never act upon it, then you do not really have faith at all.

Genuine faith will always produce a result that is consistent with itself.

If I have faith in God, then I will act upon that faith in trusting Him for salvation and evidence that life-changing salvation through my daily living.

The Evidence of Faith by Works

(Verses 15-19)

The Example of Empty Faith

(Verses 15-17)

James draws a practical picture of faith that is empty, or dead.

James asks us to picture a brother or sister in desperate need of food and clothing.

This naturally should make us empathetic toward that person.

He then asks us to imagine responding by saying:

“Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled”

while refusing to provide food or clothing.

The question is:

What good have we done by saying the words but not fulfilling the actions required to make those words a reality?

If you say:

“Be warmed and filled”

but refuse to provide food and clothing, you reveal that your words are empty and lacking real substance.

Your heart is not truly behind what you are saying.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

The parallel is undeniable.

If a man claims to have faith, but his actions do not support that claim, then his faith is empty and lacks substance.

His heart is not convinced of the faith his mouth professes.

Again, it is not that we are saved by works.

Rather, a man who professes faith but lives like the faithless reveals that true faith is absent.

True faith possesses the power to effect real change.

The Evidence of Living Faith

(Verses 18-19)

Faith Without Works Cannot Be Proven

James says:

“Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

How can faith be demonstrated apart from action?

Acting upon faith is the only way to validate its existence.

If faith is never exercised, it was never truly there.

Faith Must Have the Right Focus

Notice that devils believe in God and tremble.

Yet their belief was not acted upon in obedience.

Instead, they rejected God.

For faith to be effectual unto salvation:

It must be placed in the one true God.
It must produce a healthy fear of God.
That fear must drive us toward God in dependence upon Him for salvation.

True faith moves a person toward God rather than away from Him.

Faith Perfected by Works

(James 2:20-26)

The Production of Works by Faith

(Verses 20-21a)

The Example of Abraham

God Tested Abraham’s Faith

(Genesis 22)

In Genesis 22, God commanded Abraham to take Isaac and travel to a place that He would reveal.

There Abraham was instructed to offer Isaac upon an altar.

God used this event to test Abraham’s faith.

Would Abraham trust God even when he could not see the outcome?

Hebrews 11:19
“Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.”

Abraham’s Faith Produced Obedience

As verse 22 tells us, Abraham’s faith wrought works.

Because Abraham believed God, his faith led him to obey God.

His good works gave visible evidence of the faith that produced them.

The Perfection of Faith by Works

(Verses 21b-26)

Faith Is Perfected Through Practice

Because Abraham trusted God, even in testing, his faith was proven genuine and strengthened through exercise.

Verse 22 tells us that by works Abraham’s faith was perfected, or brought to maturity.

We often say:

“The proof is in the pudding.”

The same principle applies to faith.

Do not simply believe someone who claims to have great faith.

Watch what happens when God asks them to exercise that faith.

Then the reality of their faith becomes evident.

Abraham Was Justified by Faith

Verse 23 emphasises that it was Abraham’s faith that was counted to him for righteousness.

Yes, Abraham performed good works.

But it was justifying faith that produced those works.

God saw Abraham’s faith and counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 3:28
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Two Extremes to Avoid

There are two errors to avoid:

Error #1

Faith is all that is needed, and it does not matter whether there is fruit or evidence of faith.

Error #2

Faith is dead without works, therefore works must be the basis of salvation.

Both positions are wrong.

Faith is the beginning of salvation.

But saving faith leads us into a life of faith that produces good works.

The Example of Rahab

Rahab Put Faith Into Action

Rahab chose the God of Israel over Jericho.

When she received and protected the spies, she acted upon her faith.

Her declaration of faith is found in:

Joshua 2:9-11

“For the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”

Rahab believed that God would accomplish what He promised.

Because she believed, she acted.

Her faith caused her to side with God even when doing so required abandoning everything she had previously known.

James’ Conclusion

James draws a simple but powerful conclusion:

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Works are the evidence of living faith.

They reveal that faith possesses life-producing power.

If faith does not produce good works, it is no better than a body without a spirit.

It is dead and therefore worthless.