James 2:14-26 NKJV – What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 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? 17 Thus 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 without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe–and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 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. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
This section explains the relationship between faith (belief) and deeds (faith in action). The things we do show the faith we believe. This does not teach that works are needed for salvation. Our way of life is proof of our faith.
V14 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” They say they believe. Do they? If there is no change in their life, their actions, etc., then there is no true, saving faith. Actions are important. See Psalm 106:3, Matthew 5:16, Matthew 7:17-19, and 1 John 2:29.
V15 “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,…” James gives an example.
V16 “…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?” Words are nice, but words do not meet their need. When we see a need, we pray. When we can fulfill a need, we give. When we receive thanks for fulfilling a need, we praise God, not ourselves. We must avoid taking credit for God’s blessings.
V17 “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Thus, if there is no actions that show faith in Jesus, then it is a dead faith. The standard of faith is the Bible. The Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) is the standard for Christians. What we do in public and private is to glorify God, not ourselves. See 1 Corinthians 6:2, 1 Peter 2:12, and Matthew 5:16.
V18 “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.” True faith can be shown by our deeds. Our attitude, our words, our countenance, our treatment of enemies, friends, and family will show our faith.
V20 “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe–and tremble!” This is the second example. The demons believe, even to the trembling in fear, but their actions show the opposite.
V21 “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?” The third example–Abraham. See Genesis 22.
V22 “Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” His obedience reveals his faith. If Abraham did not have faith, then he would not have obeyed. Adam showed the opposite (Genesis 3:6). He received God’s law (Genesis 2:16-17), then he was tested by the enemy (the Serpent). Adam disobeyed God, proving that he did not have a living faith. God’s instructions are a blessings, but the blessings will not be given to those who rebel against the King of kings.
V23 “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.“ Do we want to be enemies of God? That is the position of all people at conception (Romans 5:10 and Ephesians 2:3). Salvation brought a restoration of fellowship with God. Jesus is the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), who suffered for our sins (1 Peter 3:18), who rose for our justification (all sins and their penalty is completely paid for–Romans 4:25), and brought new life to those who have faith alone in Jesus alone (2 Corinthians 5:17).
V24 “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” We don’t do works to earn salvation, we do good works as thankfulness to God for providing our salvation.
V25 “Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?” This is the fourth example.
V26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Death is separation. Physical death separates soul and spirit from the flesh. Spiritual death separates us from fellowship and right standing with God. Faith brings forth new life (2 Corinthians 5:17), and eventually a new body like Jesus’s (Luke 24:39 and 1 Corinthians 15:44-46).
We learn:
- Just saying we believe means little
- What we say and how we live must match
- Faith is revealed by what we do