THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKS
James 2:14-26
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
1. In James 2:14-26, James shows that faith is made perfect through
works.
2. Actually, what James said in 2:14-26 is an enlargement on what he
had already said.
a. In 1:22-25, he showed that the doers of the word are the ones,
not the "hearers only," who are blessed.
b. In 1:26-27, he affirmed that one must practice the pure and
undefiled religion.
c. In 2:1-13, he taught that the doer of the whole law is the one
who upholds the royal law.
d. Indeed, the faith that obeys is the faith that saves.
3. Let's consider James' words verse by verse.
2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith
but does not have works? Can faith save him?
1. His question introduces his theme.
2. What profit (advantage, blessing, or good) is there in having a
faith which does not work?
a. Mere profession without obedience is worthless. Luke 6:46; Heb.
5:9
3. James asked, "Can faith save him?" - "Can that faith save him?"
(ASV)
a. Thus, he refers to a particular kind of faith, a dead faith
which does not work, as is also shown in vs. 17, 20, 24, and
26).
4. Of course, James is not minimizing faith.
a. Grace is the foundation with reference to God's part in man's
salvation.
b. Faith is the foundation with reference to man's part in his
salvation.
i. Faith is often made to stand for all of the conditions of
salvation; indeed, it often stands for the entire Christian
system.
2:15-16 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
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?
1. He expects a negative answer to his question: "None! It profits
nothing!"
a. Thus, he uses an illustration to show that faith apart from
works is vain.
b. Notice that the person admits the need ("be warmed and
filled"); thus, he acknowledges the need as real.
c. However, he takes no action.
i. Empty words do not substitute for good deeds.
ii. It is good to have sympathy, but unless supplemented with
actions, it is worthless.
iii. One is not warmed from the cold by good wishes, and one's
stomach is not filled by good wishes.
2. Here's a good poem by an unknown author.
I was hungry and you formed a humanities club
And discussed my hunger.
I was imprisoned and you crept off
Quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release.
I was naked and in your mind you debated
The morality of my appearance.
I was sick and you knelt
And thanked God for your health.
I was homeless and you preached to me
Of the shelter of the love of God.
I was lonely and you left me alone
To pray for yourself.
You seem so holy and so close to God;
But I'm still very hungry, and lonely, and cold.
2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
1. Thus, he gives his own application from his question in verse 16.
2. The "works" here refer to the works of God which demonstrate
faith.
a. Just as empty words are worthless, empty faith is worthless.
b. Just as sympathy by itself is worthless, faith by itself is
worthless.
c. To do what God commanded is not to merit salvation, but is to
meet the conditions God requires for all recipients of His
grace.
James now moves on to a study the "Faith Only" position.
2:18 But someone 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.
1. The man's comments here should end with "works"; e.g., he is
saying, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith
apart from your works."
2. James answers by saying he will show his faith by his works: "I
will show you my faith by my works."
3. James is not the only one who emphasized the importance of works.
a. Look at a few of the Lord's words in the sermon on the mount.
Matt. 5:16; 6:20,33; 7:21,24
b. If one will not work, it is a sure sign of improper faith.
c. One demonstrates his faith by his actions.
2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons
believe; and tremble!
1. Thus, to believe in the One True God is well, but not enough.
a. The devils have the very kind of faith that those who ascribe
to "faith only" allege is sufficient.
2. The devils not only believe, but tremble. Matt. 8:29; 25:41
a. In the end the devil and his angels will be cast into the lake
of fire. Rev. 20:10
2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without
works is dead?
1. "O foolish man" - Literally, "Empty headed fellow"; hence, one
devoid of the qualities for proper reasoning.
2. Saving faith is conviction that expresses itself in whatever
action God requires.
3. The faith that will not work is dead (unproductive, barren,
without life).
a. Yet, this is the kind that the denominational world argues will
save.
b. We quote G. Timothy Johnson in Christianity Today: "Here is a
little rule I have come to believe: the more dramatic and pious
we become about our faith, the more likely it is that we are
trying to please the gods of this earth--sometimes disguised in
religious robes--rather than the one true and holy God. Jesus
couldn't stomach public sanctimonious displays of religion. He
preferred those whose actions spoke for their faith. That is a
thought that should scare us all into judgment. I have long
believed that our checkbook will say more about our true
commitment than all the pious words we utter."
c. Amen! However, our giving is only one of the many ways we
exhibit our faith.
James now uses the example of Abraham which would be strong to the
Jews and to us as well.
2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered
Isaac his son on the altar?
1. James expects an affirmative answer. Abraham was justified
(counted or reckoned just or righteous before God) when he worked
(obeyed).
a. Gen. 22:18; Heb. 11:17-19
b. We need a simple trusting faith and obey like Abraham.
2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and
by works faith was made perfect?
1. Abraham's faith was working together with his works.
a. Faith and works cooperated with each other to produce
justification.
2. By works, faith was made perfect (complete).
a. Neither faith nor works by themselves can justify.
3. An illustration of the balance between faith and works lies hidden
within any tree, vine, or plant. Leaves use up the nutrients in
the process of photosynthesis. As the leaves consume nutrients in
the sap, a suction is formed, which draws more sap from the roots.
Without the sap, the leaves and branches would die, but the
continual flow of this sap comes only as it is used up by the work
of the leaves. Likewise, we work (keep the Lord's commandments) in
order to abide in His love. John 15:4-10
2:23 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.
1. Please notice from verses 22 and 23 that the Scripture was
fulfilled (Gen. 15:6) when faith worked.
2. Was Abraham saved by faith only? Certainly not!
a. When the statement was made of Abraham in Gen. 15:6, he had
already obeyed. Gen. 12:1-4 ; Heb. 11:8
b. Also, God knew that he would continue to prove his faith by his
works.
3. James clearly shows that Abraham believed God and when his faith
was made perfect by offering Isaac, it was accounted to him for
righteousness.
4. Abraham was called the friend of God. 2 Chron. 20:7
a. How do we also become friends of God? John 15:14
5. In Rom. 4:3-5, Paul quoted the same verse (Gen. 15:6) and showed
that Abraham was justified by faith.
a. Do Paul and James contradict each other? Certainly not!
b. James is showing that one is not justified by "faith alone" and
Paul is showing that one is not justified by "works alone,"
although Paul does not use the word "alone."
c. Paul showed that if a person never violated God's righteous
requirements, he would be justified on the basis of his merits.
Rom. 4:4
d. However, since man fails in his service to God (violates His
requirements), God, through His grace, take one's faith into
consideration.
e. The faith that God takes into consideration is the same kind
that Abraham had, a faith that obeys. Rom. 4:12
2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith
only.
1. The only conclusion that can be drawn here is that Abraham was not
justified by faith only, and neither are we.
2. There is a vast difference between "justification by faith" and
"justification by faith alone."
James closes this section with one last illustration.
2:25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when
she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
1. Likewise (in like manner, in the same way) Rahab was justified by
works. Denominational people often argue, "James' words are
written to Christians, and thus apply only to Christians. There
are no works to becoming a Christian, but once one becomes a
Christian there are works to do."
a. Rahab had an active faith in God. She demonstrated her faith by
her actions and was thus accepted by God.
i. She had heard of the miracles at the Red Sea and believed in
Jehovah. Josh. 2:10-11.
ii. Because of her faith she hid the messengers. Josh. 2:4-6.
iii. Because of this faith, she asked for mercy for herself and
her family. Josh. 2:12-14.
(1) Heb. 11:31 cites her as an example of faith.
2. It is true that James' words were written to Christians;
nevertheless, the principles apply to non-Christians as well.
a. Rahab who was a harlot did works to be justified, and so must
an alien sinner.
2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without
works is dead also.
1. This verse is James' concluding statement to the arguments he had
just developed.
2. Faith without works is as lifeless as the body without the spirit.
It is as a corpse from which the breath of life has vanished.
Concl.
1. Those who are trying to be "justified by faith alone" stand in
opposition to the Word of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit.
2. All professed disciples of Christ whose faith is inactive need to
learn an important lesson from James.
3. We quote an old familiar song:
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify.
A never dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage,
To do my Master's will. (By Lowell Mason, arranged as a song by
Charles Wesley).