James 11 – Faith and Works

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James 11 – Faith and Works

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: James 2:14-26


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STUDIES IN JAMES (11)

Tonight, we continue our study through James.  As we have noted this is a book with very practical application to living as Christians.   We have already addressed various subjects – such as dealing with trials and temptations (to sin), humility, our conversations, our need to be doers of God’s word and the sin of partiality.  Tonight we continue with a passage that has sparked much discussion in the religious world – How Abraham was justified by faith.

It is worthy to note that in James 1 we find several subjects addressed briefly.  In chapters 2 & 3 we find some of these subjects further developed.  For example: In James 1:9-11 he spoke of the rich being humble, and then in James 2:1-13 he addresses the sin of showing favoritism to the rich.  In James 1:19-20 he briefly addressed our conversations (swift to hear, slow to speak) but he will develop that in greater detail in James 3:1-12.  Our present text, recall in James 1:22-25, he noted that we must be doers of the work and not hearers only.  Now, he elaborates on how faith and works complement each other.

  1. Paul vs. James?
    1. Another consideration as we begin examining this text is to consider the audience to whom James is writing. We have noted that likely this was a Jewish audience which we have assumed it was an earlier letter (but still several years after the beginning of the church 10-15 years later at the earliest).  As such, Paul has been preaching and likely some of James’ audience had met him or at least heard some of his teachings.
    2. Paul addressed how we are saved by God’s grace through our faith and that it was NOT a meritorious works-based faith (Romans 4-5, Galatians 3 & 4, Ephesians 2:8-9, etc.). The point he was seeking to establish is that you cannot earn your salvation, especially by the works of the Law of Moses, or any other meritorious works for that matter.  They needed faith in Jesus to be justified, as the LOM had been nailed to the cross.
    3. Paul will appeal to the example of Abraham and how he preceded the LOM by some 500 years. He believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Romans 4:3, Genesis 15:6).
    4. NOTE that in Paul’s letters NEVER does he say we do not need to be obedient to God’s commands as we serve God and Jesus (cf. Romans 1:5 – Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name). His letters were filled with instructions to the faithful
      1. Philippians 2:12 – work out your own salvation;
      2. Ephesians 2:10 – we are His workmanship created for good works;
      3. Romans 6:13 – present your members as instruments of righteousness;
      4. Romans 7:4 speaks of bearing fruit to God, etc. .
    5. It is probable that some, having heard Paul’s teachings, reasoned that as long as they had faith they did not need to act (which is the common denominational mantra of “faith only” today). James counters that belief in our text.
    6. Understand that he is NOT contradicting or challenging Paul but rather clarifying the complementary relationship that exists between faith and works of obedience (NOT meritorious). James is emphasizing that if you do nothing, you do NOT have a justifying faith.  Let us consider this context.
  2. Faith without works (14-19)
    1. What does it profit if someone has faith but does not have works. (14) In this phrase, James is addressing the subject at hand.  He is establishing how useless words are that are not accompanied by action.
    2. Can faith save him? (14)
      1. With this expression it becomes clear that James is addressing saving faith in this text. Some advocate that the works of this text are not related to salvation, but simple a demonstration of what faith OUGHT to look like.  That is NOT what James says! He is describing a DIFFERENT type of work than Paul – works (or deeds) we do because of our faith.
      2. James here is declaring the type of faith that DOES save. In context he will show how saving faith is obedient and active.
    3. A needy brother or sister – true faith demonstrated (15-16). He give the illustration of brother or sister that needs something to sustain themselves.  And all you do is wish them well, you have not helped them.
    4. (17) – Thus also, faith without works is dead! James describes this as a dead faith.  A faith that can accomplish nothing, before man or God.    AS you study what scripture has to say about faith, it is clear that it is intended to be active.
      1. Romans 1:5 speaks of “obedience to the faith.” Note that this is the introduction to a letter (and repeated at its conclusion in Romans 16:26) where he will describe our salvation as being not of works but of faith (Cf. Romans 4:1-5, etc.)
      2. Galatians 5:6, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
      3. 1 Thessalonians 1:3, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
      4. Hebrews 10:23, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
      5. Matthew 25:31-46 finds a picture of judgment in which we WILL be accountable for what we do and do not do for others. Jesus did not use the term faith, but He DID tie active conduct to our salvation.  BUT, even He emphasized that you have not EARNED your salvation – cf. Luke 17:10, So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”
    5. (18) – Show me your faith… – being obedient and actively caring about others SHOWS faith.
    6. (19) – Concerning demonic faith – they even believe and tremble. James here describes the faith of demons as GREATER than that of the one who does nothing. Consider:
      1. Demons knew who Jesus was – Luke 4:34, at Capernaum Jesus casts out demons who said, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
      2. They quaked at the thought of being confronted by Jesus – Matthew 8:29, And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
      3. Note: They OBEYED Him!
      4. Demons even knew who Paul was – Acts 19:15.
      5. Thus James is comparing the faith of demons (belief without justifying action – i.e., an intellectual belief) to those who do nothing. With sarcasm he declares demonic faith greater than those who do nothing.
      6. But was demonic faith a saving faith? Absolutely not! Cf. Jude 6.
  3. Justifying faith (20-26)
    1. But do you want to know that faith without works is dead? James will illustrate the type of faith that saves.  He appeals first to Abraham.  Do NOT dismiss this point in relation to the teaching of Paul.  Abraham was justified by faith, but it was not a dead or inactive faith.
    2. Abraham (21-23)
      1. The prime example of his faith was his willingness to offer up Isaac. Recorded in Genesis 22:1-19 where God tests him by telling him to sacrifice his son of promise.  Abraham immediately and without question obeys God.  This was not about earning anything, but he so strongly believed God that as he carried out the deed, he know God would raise him up.  In Genesis 22:5 Abraham, having gone to the specified place tells his 2 servants who accompanied them, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”  Hebrews 11:17-19 says he offered up  Isaac, his only begotten son, “concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead…”  Abraham trusted and obeyed God throughout his life.
      2. 22, His faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect! Abraham’s faith was perfect (complete).
      3. 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. Note that James TOO appeals to Genesis 15:6, the very passage Paul appealed to in Romans 4:3.
    3. He was also described as the friend of God – an honorary description showing the relationship he had with the LORD.  While Genesis never used that terminology, we do find it in 2 Chronicles 20:7, Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?  Also Isaiah 41:8, “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.”
    4. WHY was Abraham pleasing to God? Because of his faith – an obedient faith.
  4. (24) – You see than that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. James drives home this point about Abraham noting that we are justified by works.
    1. To be justified means to be made right.
    2. The ONLY time in the NT, where the expression “faith only” is used in reference to our salvation. And it preceded by the word NOT.
    3. Understand that we ARE justified by faith. But not faith alone.
      1. Romans 5:1 notes that we are justified by faith and have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
      2. Titus 3:4-7 notes, But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
      3. 1 Corinthians 6:11, And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
    4. Rahab the harlot (25)
      1. Yet another example, who in STARK contrast with Abraham was justified by works is Rahab the harlot as she received the messengers who spied out Jericho (Joshua 2:9ff). James mentions her “works” justifying her.
      2. Rahab is mentioned twice more in the New Testament – Hebrews 11:31 where her “faith” is addressed. She is also mentioned in Matthew 1:5 where she is mentioned as an ancestor of Jesus.
      3. Contrasting Abraham and Rahab.
        1. Abraham was the father of the Jews/ Rahab was a Canaanite Gentile
        2. Abraham was a godly man/Rahab was a prostitute.
        3. Abraham was a friend of God/Rahab was from the enemy camp.
      4. Comparing Abraham and Rahab
        1. They BOTH had faith – they believed God. The speech of Rahab demonstrates her belief in God.
        2. They both acted upon their faith which is the point of our text.
        3. Because of their working faith, they were both justified. This demonstrates that God is no respecter of persons.
        4. NOTE: Rabbinic tradition holds that Rahab became a proselyte Jew, which makes sense when you consider her and her family being spared and being recorded in the lineage of the Jews. Even an ancestor of David.  Thus she became faithful in service to Him.
    5. (26) – Summary, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James wants his audience to understand that the only type of faith that is acceptable to God is one that obeys and works.  It is not about earning your salvation, but belief that is strong enough to surrender to God.  Anything less will render LESS of a commitment that is needed to be faithful to Him.  And thus James encourages genuine faithfulness.  When you stand before in judgment, what will He say about your faith?  Think about it!

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