The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work! (Chapter 2:14-20)

Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through “The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!”

The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work! (Chapter 2:14-20)

This week we will continue our reading of verses 14-20 in chapter 2 as we consider A Dead Faith…

Inevitably, people with “dead faith” will always substitute worthless “words” of the “flesh” for the righteous “works” in Jesus Christ. However, true “faith” is not demonstrated by what we “say“ but is found in what we “do!“ Therefore, we must not trust in words alone, but in actions. True Biblical “faith” will always be seen in “righteous” and God-honoring “works” from a “pure” redeemed heart – But dead faith will not be seen at all!

Therefore, we could paraphrase James this way: “Faith plus nothing equals nothing!” And throughout these poignant passages, James describes this kind of "dead faith” in three ways:

Empty Confession!

False Compassion!

Shallow Conviction!

Here again in this serious section of Scripture, James provides for us another test of “true faith” verses “false faith” through – Unrighteous works of the flesh!

A Dead Faith!

James begins this passage with two telling questions for the “brethren” to consider regarding a phony “faith” of which does not please God. Here is an empty confession:

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? – James 2:14

The very important point that “we” must understand in approaching this passage of Scripture is that there is a kind of “faith” in Jesus Christ that does not “save” a soul. Valid “faith” has always been verified by a “fruitful” life of “obedience” to God’s Word. This is the true saving “faith” of Jesus Christ! 

For example, James’ big brother Jesus instructed His “disciples” with this command regarding their “good works” in the opening of His Sermon on the Mount teachings:

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven – Matthew 5:16

In other words, the “light” that “shines” out of the life of a true “believer” is one of “good works” demonstrated by deeds associated with true “repentance” from “sin” to “salvation” in Jesus Christ. And again Jesus said this concerning the “will” of His “Father” at the closing of His Sermon on the Mount teachings:

Not everyone that says, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of My Father in heaven – Matthew 7:21

The point? It is not the “someone” who “says” they are “doers” of God’s Word. The “brethren” will exhibit true saving “faith” in Jesus Christ by their “works” for Him. Sadly, many “religious” people are being deceived and deluded by a fatal “faith” that does not “profit” their soul nor will save them from an eternal hell. James is essentially asking the question: “Can that kind of faith save anyone?” The obvious answer is NO! Therefore, we must not trust in what people say – We must discern what they do!

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Because of the extreme load of man-made “legalistic“ piety found throughout the “religion” of Judaism, these precious Jewish people internalized a tremendous amount of stress due to their self-induced “works-righteousness” belief system. Imagine being required to keep relentless “religious” laws that you know you couldn't possibly keep. Imagine being absolutely overwhelmed with a myriad of rules and regulations of which no human being could ever uphold. And imagine “believing” that your “salvation” was dependent on your own ability… A tremendously terrible burden! As a result, many of these Jewish “brethren” may have gone from the one extreme of “legalism“ found in Judaism to the other extreme of “cheap grace“ found in Antinomianism pertaining to an improper understanding of “works” within their “Christian” worldview. In other words, if “works” were not necessary for “justification” before God, their “faith” became simply a “dead” intellectual exercise... Then along came the gracious “Gospel” of “salvation” as a free “gift” from God in Jesus Christ – Praise the Lord!

How do all these concerns manifest themselves in the lives of the phony “one” of whom James is addressing here? James continues with the “dead” outcome concerning a false compassion:

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? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead – James 2:15-17

James points to the fact that this kind of “religious” rhetoric is nothing but a “dead” and empty confession of a false “faith” in the flesh. It is a phony “profession” without provision and a rash “religion” without compassion. There are no righteous “works” associated with the worthless “words” such as “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled” propagated to a “brother or sister” of whom are in desperate “need.” James asks how this kind of phony “faith” will “profit” anyone. True “faith” that is placed in Jesus Christ alone will receive a “new nature” manifesting itself – In loving action!

Up to this point, James has said that a “dead” phony “faith” is marked by an empty confession and a false compassion. Next James contends that a “dead” and worthless “faith” is also marked by a shallow conviction:

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 – James 2:18

The “someone” James refers to here is most likely himself. Much like the Apostle Paul, James is a “humble” man and therefore speaks here in the third person. In other words, James says: “Go ahead, show me your faith! How can you show true faith without your profitable works?” James possesses true “faith” and refers to this “unbelieving” person as the “you” of whom claims to have a “faith” without “works.” Incidentally, the word "show” here means to exhibit or put on display. Therefore, if there are no “righteous” deeds nor the “fruit” of “righteousness” found in their life, then there is no way to demonstrate the validity of their profession of “faith” in Jesus Christ – It is impossible!

Sadly, this “unbelieving” person might even argue further by claiming: "Well, I believe in one God. In fact, I'm a monotheist!" To this point James again refutes with this stinging statement:

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! – James 2:19

In other words, James says to this person: “You intellectually believe that there is one God? Good for you!“ Historically, the Jews have always prided themselves on their “religious” orthodoxy, particularly “believing” in the “one true God” as the shema of the Old Testament states:

Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! – Deuteronomy 6:4

By the way… The “demons believe” this fact too! However, unlike this pious “unbeliever,” at least the “demons” have the sense enough to “tremble” at this “truth” – Seriously!

DEMON FAITH? There is no such thing as a liberal demon! In fact, all “demons” are quite sound in their theology. They “believe” in the deity of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son. They “believe” in the person of the Holy Spirit and the triune God head. They “believe” in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They “believe” God created everything in six literal days. They “believe” in the Rapture of the Church. They “believe” in Israel’s Biblical place and God’s future plan for the Jewish people. They “believe” in a literal return of Jesus Christ to the earth and His Pre-millennial 1000-Year Kingdom to come. They “believe” in Heaven and Hell. In fact, they could even sign the theological statement of any “doctrinal” creed. And although “demons” do not have the capacity to “receive” Jesus Christ as “Lord” and “Savior” due to their wicked rebellion against God, there are no heretical “demons” – They agree with everything orthodox in the Scriptures!

Now we conclude our time in this passage as James bluntly questions this “false” and “foolish” critic:

But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? – James 2:20

James says “O foolish man” of which means empty-headed and without a clue. In other words, “Are you willing to recognize this fact, you empty-headed man? Your false faith without righteous works is dead!"

This “foolish man” mentioned here in verse 20 is the same unbelieving “someone” mentioned in verse 14! Incidentally, James uses a different word for “dead” here than he used previously in verse 17. Here he uses the word “arga” which means fruitless such as a tree that bears no fruit and is worthless for the harvest! Therefore, James reiterates to this “foolish man” that “faith” without “works” is indeed a “dead faith” – And it profits absolutely nothing!

POINT TO PONDER: We can hear all about “faith” but the validity of it has to be seen in the “life” of the professing person. Therefore, James essentially asks “Look at your works… What do they say about your faith?” So… What about your “faith” – Is it authentic?

In closing:

Inevitably, someone will ask the question: "Isn't James in conflict with Paul?" This is the typical “religious” argument espoused by those who mishandle and malign God’s Word. To answer this objection, we have to accept what James says in that we must have “works” to validate our “words.” In so doing, we are not denying what Paul also taught when he said “salvation” is of “faith alone,” by “grace alone.” But wait! Since Paul is saying no “works” and James is saying “works” aren't they in conflict? – Good question! 

James and Paul are not standing face to face in a confrontation. They are standing back to back fighting two common enemies! Paul is fighting those people who want “salvation” to be by their “works” of the fallen “flesh” and James is fighting those people who want “salvation” to be without “works” of any kind. Paul is saying “salvation” is by “grace” alone and James is saying “salvation” produces “works” unto the Lord – There's absolutely NO conflict!

 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them – Ephesians 2:8-10

The Apostle Paul is defending “the faith” against a legalistic “salvation” that claims one must “work” of their own merit to be “saved” through the “Law” of God. James is defending “the faith” against a libertine “salvation” that claims one can simply “believe” and have no changed life and therefore be “saved” through the intellect. Therefore, to add any “works” to the “grace” of God is to deny “grace” itself! That is the issue – We are saved by faith alone for the good works God has prepared in advance for us to do for Him!

With this information as a foundation for your personal studies, please read through verses 14-20 of the second chapter of James.

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

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