The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work! (Chapter 2:21-26)

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 2:21-26)

This week we will continue our reading of verses 21-26 in completion of chapter 2 as we consider A Living Faith…

THE SCRITURES ARE CLEAR: No one is “saved” by “works” of the “flesh” nor are we “saved” without becoming a “new creation” in Jesus Christ! This supernatural “justifying” and “sanctifying” power of God includes: “repentance,” “submission,” “obedience,” “love” as well as all other good “works” the Holy Spirit produces in the “life” of a true “believer” – Praise the Lord!

Again, to paraphrase James: “FAITH + NOTHING = NOTHING!” Non-saving “dead” and lifeless “faith” is known by the absence of righteous “works” for our Savior. Therefore, throughout these closing passages of chapter three, James describes the kind of "living faith” that pleases God of which was “made perfect” in the one and only God-man – Jesus Christ!

Throughout these poignant passages James describes a true “saving” and "living faith” with three Old Testament illustrations from the lives of:

Abraham

Isaac

Rahab

Therefore, here in this section of Scripture James provides for us yet another test of “true faith” verses “false faith” through – Righteous works of the Spirit!

A Living Faith!

Any “faithful” pastor would want to warn his “brethren” about the reality of non-saving “faith” and James is no exception! Up to this point, James has shown us what a “dead faith” is and now he will show us by contrast how a “living faith” manifests itself in the life of a true “believer” – Praise the Lord!

James continues structuring his argument as if in a debate with a Jewish attendee within his “assembly” who is arguing that a “faith” with no “works” is valid. In so doing, refers to an Old Testament patriarch as a prime example:

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? – James 2:21-22

When James says "Abraham our father” he has in mind that “Abraham” is the “father” not only of the Jews racially, but of “all” who “believe” in God unto “salvation,” whether they are “Jew” or “Gentile.” Therefore, “Abraham” is the “father” of the “faithful” Jew and Gentile. We are one in Messiah – All those who believe!

Incidentally, this verse has really caused trouble for many people. Was “Abraham” really “justified by works” of his own when he offered “Isaac his son on the altar” to be sacrificed to God? No! What does it mean to be “justified” before God? It means to be considered right with Him. However, one cannot be “justified by works” before God. No personal merit of any kind is possible, only by “faith” can one be made “righteous” before God. The good news of the “Gospel” is that the holy “righteousness” of Jesus Christ is “imputed” to your spiritual account and you become “justified by faith” when you “received” Him – God grants His imputed righteousness!

God through our “faith” acting in response to His sovereign “grace” deposits into “us” the very “righteousness” which He possesses and we stand right before Him. Therefore, “Abraham” was “made perfect” by his “faith” in God ”working together” with his “works” of “obedience” to God and he experienced this blessing – This is our sound salvation!

REAL REFLECTIONS: “Abraham” wasn't a perfect man. His “faith” was so weak, he lied about Sarah being his sister when they were in Egypt to protect her. His “faith” was so weak, he foolishly committed adultery conceived a baby with the handmaid “Hagar” and produced “Ishmael” who fathered the Arab nations – A theological thorn in the side of God’s people!

James then continues his argument by quoting Old Testament “Scripture” to further emphasize the “faith” of “Abraham” and precisely how he was “justified” before God: 

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. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only – James 2:23-24

Here James unpacks a passage from Genesis 15:6 and understands exactly what it means. “Abraham” was “justified by faith” before God but he was “justified by works” before men – A very important distinction!

In fact, James is quoting the very same text Paul quotes in the book Romans:

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt – Romans 4:3-4

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Jesus Christ would in the future die for the “sins” of “Abraham” just as He has in the past died for the “sins” of every “believing” person. Therefore, “Abraham” was clearly “justified” before God by “faith” outlined in Genesis chapter 12 for his “obedience” to God’s commands of which was later made manifest through “works” before men some 40 years later outlined in Genesis chapter 22. The closest thing that “Abraham” ever came to a theology of “resurrection” was the birth of his son “Isaac” out of the dead womb of his wife “Sarah” in her old age. And yet his “faith” was so strong he “believed” that his son would come back to life again. In other words, “Abraham” indeed “believed” God to the degree that he was willing to sacrifice the life of his son because he was so strong in “faith” that God would raise “Isaac” from the dead – He believed and obeyed the Lord!

This man “Abraham” was a co-partner with the Holy One and it was made manifest through his outworking genuine spiritual character. Incidentally, it wasn’t until 2 Chronicles chapter 20 verse 7 and again in Isaiah chapter 41 verse 8 where Abraham is referred to as the “friend of God” In fact, Jesus put it this way in John 15: "You are My friends if you do whatsoever I command you." In other words, we too are “friends of God” – If we obey His Word!

James then chooses a woman from the Old Testament of whom is so remarkably unlike “Abraham”:

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? – James 2:25

What a contrast! This man “Abraham” is a good man, a great leader and received direct revelation from God. This woman “Rahab” is evil, a common follower and received very indirect revelation about God. Believe it or not, the Messiah came through the loins of “Rahab” the harlot! This woman “Rahab” lived in Jericho and ran a brothel where women prostitutes would sleep with men for money and that was how she made her living. But by God’s “grace,” this woman takes in the “messengers” realizing who they are and Whom they serve…

And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath… Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall – Joshua 2:11 & 15

Now when that woman “believed” this truth about the “Lord” she was “justified” before God. She “believed” that God was the true God of miracles who had led His people out of Egypt and who had defeated the Amorite kings! She “believed” all she “knew” about God at that time in her life and thus “faith” was “imputed” to her for “righteousness.” At that point “Rahab” was “justified” by her “faith” being vindicated before man by the action she took to save the life of those “messengers” of God – Justification made manifest!

In both cases with “Abraham” and “Rahab” the visible vindication of their “justification” was putting their life, dreams and hopes on the line for God! That is the kind of “work” that God wants us to “understand” is demonstrated in true “faith” before men. In fact, Jesus further commanded “faith” in this way: “If you're not willing to take up your cross and follow Me, you're not worthy to be My disciple” – All or nothing for Him!

And James then concludes this chapter with a vivid vantage point of a decaying corpse:

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also – James 2:26

Here is a somber analogy and in both cases, the result is death. If the “spirit” is missing from the “body” it is “dead” and if “works” are missing from “faith” it too is “dead.” A “body” without the divinely imparted “life” is nothing but a rotting corpse and has absolutely no value. And likewise is a phony “belief” without godly “behavior” – A decaying death!

QUESTIONS TO PONDER: Do you have a “belief” without godly “behavior?” Do you “believe” but do not “obey” God? Or rather do you loathe “evil” and “pride” by seeking “humility” in Jesus Christ? Is your “faith” useless or is it a saving “faith” of the soul? – What about you?

That's the very question James wants to ask us too! Another great test of “living faith” is in the moment of life when everything is at a crossroads… Will “we” choose to honor God no matter what the cost? “Abraham” did and “Rahab” did – Their faith was alive!

In closing:

When you place your “faith” in Jesus Christ, His “righteousness” is “imputed” to you for the forgiveness of your “sins” and therefore you cannot earn it. You “receive” it as a free “gift” from God – That's the miracle of salvation by grace through faith!

Likewise, “Abraham” was “justified by faith” before God but he was “justified by works” before men. Can you discern the difference? That's the whole point James is making! Therefore, our “works” are the only way our “faith” can be clearly seen and verified by other people as valid. In other words, the only way I can “know” I'm genuinely “redeemed” by God is to see the growing pattern of “godliness” in my life – The evidence of true saving faith!

That said, there may be a time in the life of a true “Christian” when there is a “fruitless” season of barrenness. At that time they may even lose the “assurance” of their “salvation” because they can't see this reality due to a prolonged time of willful “disobedience” in their life. But they must take heart. Why? Because true “assurance” is a beautiful “gift” from God! Eternal security is a Biblical fact and our “assurance” of “salvation” is something we enjoy because of our “obedience” to God and His Word – Thank you Jesus!

With these important thoughts in mind… You may be a true “Christian” living in a barren season of life. However, if there is a consistent pattern of unrepentant sin along with no evidence of God’s “work” seen in your life, the Scriptures are clear… You are not a “Christian” – Very serious indeed!

With this information as a foundation for your personal studies, please read through verses 21-26 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!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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