FAITH THAT WORKS (JAMES 2:14-26)
In our passage this morning James distinguishes between a faith that is living and a faith that is dead. It is very important as we read these verses that we understand that James is not contradicting the apostle Paul. Paul consistently taught that we are justified by faith alone. James is not saying we are justified by faith and works. The mathematics of religious legalists is; Faith + Works = Salvation. James is simply saying Faith = Salvation + Works. The legalist sees works as the root of our salvation whereas James says that works are simply the fruit of salvation. Our reading this morning shows that a faith that is living will prove itself in a Godward as well as man-ward direction.
- DEAD FAITH (Vrs 14-19)
First of all in vrs 14-19 we are told that dead faith is ineffectual in both a Godward and man-ward direction. Firstly, dead faith is ineffectual in a man-ward direction. It has no compassion for others. This is the clear thrust of vrs 15-17. Here is someone who claims to be a believer. They visit a fellow believer who is in dire straits who has no food for their bellies and no clothes for their backs. What do they do about it? Although they see the need they do nothing. All they offer are pious words; go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed. Pious words will not keep a needy person’s back warm or satisfy their growling tummies. As vrs 17 says faith by itself if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James is not saying that a person with good deeds is saved. He is saying that the person without them is not saved, no matter how loudly they protest. Secondly, according to vrs 18-20 faith that is dead is ineffectual in a Godward direction. It has no communion with God. In vrs 19 James addresses an imaginary person; you believe that there is one God. This was the basic article of the Jewish faith, the Shema. It is a quote from Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Every Jew could recite this. In vrs 19 James says; good! even the demons believe that – and shudder. Even demons believe the Shema. This is a startling statement but it has a great deal of biblical warrant (Mark 1:24; 3:11). There are no atheists in hell. Even demons believe but that “faith” does nothing for them except lead them to hate God and His people. If James were writing to us today, he could say; “You can quote the Apostle’s Creed. Good! But even the demons believe that. Such faith does not lead them to love and serve God.” In vrs 18 James introduces us to a foolish conversation. But someone will say, you have faith; I have deeds. “You might be concerned about doctrinal truth, but I don’t mind what a person believes. I am a practical person. Surely we are both right.” NO! James says they are both wrong. “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” John Blanchard uses the following helpful illustration. Imagine two people arguing over faith and works as they were being rowed across a river. The oarsmen who was a Christian asked if he could join the conversation. Given permission, he said; “let us assume that one of these oars is faith and the other one is deeds.” We will take out the deeds oar and just use the faith oar.” The boat went around in circles. After a while the man said; “Perhaps we have got the wrong oar. Let us take the faith oar in and put the deeds oar out.” The result of course was the same. They still went around in circles. Finally, he put both oars in together and the boat made straight for the shore. Biblical Christianity has precisely this kind of balance. Only the person with faith and deeds working in perfect harmony is heading in the right direction. - LIVING FAITH (Vrs 20-26)
Dead faith is ineffectual in both a man-ward and Godward direction. It has no compassion for others and does not lead to real communion with God. Living faith on the other hand is altogether different. Firstly, it is effectual in a Godward direction because it does lead to real communion with God. To illustrate his point James directs us to Abraham and Rahab. Thirty years before the incident at Mount Moriah we are told that “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” His faith oar was already in the water. Now in advanced old age God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. This must have devastated him. Nevertheless, his trust in God was such that he obeyed. Is it any surprise then that according to vrs 23 God called Abraham his friend? Living faith is effectual in a Godward direction. But secondly, living faith is effectual in a man-ward direction. Some people might object to James’ first choice of Abraham as being unfair. “After all he was a great patriarch. We expect such faith from him.” James goes to the bottom of the social barrel and choses a prostitute to prove the same point. The spies Joshua had sent to survey Jericho were trapped in the city. Rahab at great personal risk hid them amidst the flax in her roof. In Joshua 2 it is clear that she had already come to faith in the God of Israel. She told the spies; “the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” Her faith oar was already in the water. Her actions in assisting the Israelite spies proved that her faith was genuine. In vrs 15 people with dead faith have no compassion for those around. All they offer is pious words. Rahab however when confronted with human need does not offer mere words. Her faith was practical and at considerable risk she hid the spies and helped them avoid capture. when the coast was clear she sent them in the opposite direction to the soldiers. In Galatians 5:6 Paul says; “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Over the centuries Christians have consistently demonstrated their grasp of this truth by being at the forefront of social reform movements.