DEAD FAITH 

JAMES 2:14-26

           James asked the question, “can faith alone save you” and he does so in such a way as to make one question his own beliefs.  In fact based on the argument presented here one might say that the answer to James’ question is no.  However, those who have only a little Bible knowledge recognize that the Bible teaches that we are saved by faith.  For Paul says in Ephes. 2:8-9,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.” What Paul teaches here and what James says seem to be in direct opposition.  In other words Paul’s emphasis on salvation through faith alone and James’ emphasis on faith and works appear to be contradictory.  But once again if we stop to look at the root of these discussions and to study on a deeper level what is taught by Paul and James, we will find that there is no conflict or contradiction.   

Let’s look a little at what Paul had to say. 

ROMANS 3:28; GAL. 2:16 

Keep in mind the time period in which we are talking and the people to whom Paul is ministering.  In the books of Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians Paul’s primary audience is Gentiles who before hearing of Christ had no covenant relationship with God.  In many cases, as these new converts tried to begin their new lifestyle in Christ they encountered opposition from both Jews and Jewish Christians who still held the Law of Moses as the standard for relationship with God.  The Jews believed that before a man could enter relationship with God he had to be circumcised and commit to following the Law of Moses.  Even many Jewish Christians, who believed that salvation came through faith in the resurrected Christ, still believed that it was necessary for one to obey the Law of Moses also. 

ACTS 15:1-6, 19-21 

From the very beginning when Paul began to minister to the Gentiles, there were those who want to mix the law with saving by grace through faith.  Even some of the early church leaders believed that one could get saved by faith in Christ, but they also had to obey the Law of Moses.  Many of the Jews were determined to mix the Old Covenant, with the New Covenant.  (When Jesus was alive He had a similar problem with the Disciples of John and the Pharisees – Matt. 9:16-17). 

It is this attempt to dilute salvation by faith in Christ that Paul is addressing in his early letters to the churches.  This same issue is a major focus in the Book of Hebrews. (Gal. 6:11 – large letter; Hebrews follows Galatians and is addresses to the Hebrews, i.e., one letter in two parts). 

Paul is not teaching that works have no part in the Christian life.  Paul himself says in Romans 2:6 that we will have to stand before God in judgment “who will render to every man according to his deeds”.   In Philippians 2:12-13 Paul speaks of us working out our own soul salvation, saying that God works in us as He chooses but then we must work or display what God has done on the inside.  In both his letters to Timothy and to Titus, Paul speaks of the need to do good works. 

TITUS 3:8 

So Paul is not preaching against the need for Christians to do good works, but rather against the Jewish doctrine that required the keeping of the law along with faith in Christ as a means of salvation. 

Now with James, he has a different problem.  He is writing to Jews who are scattered all over.  These Jews have through the grapevine heard Paul’s teaching on works and the law and have received it with great joy.  They liked the idea of a salvation or covenant with God wherein you did not have to keep the law and as they saw it you did not have to do any works.  In other words they took Paul’s teaching to the extreme.  What they heard was that belief in Christ was the only requirement for salvation.  James challenges them by saying will belief alone save you.  They probably answered that question by saying yes, because Paul says that we are saved by grace through faith.  James replies, yes even though we are saved by grace through faith, if you faith is not evidenced by work then your faith is dead.  In other words, your faith is void, dead, inactive if it is not acted out or displayed in works.  He asks them.  Is belief alone enough?  The answer to that question depends on how you define belief.   

In this passage James demonstrates two kinds of belief.  There is belief which is purely intellectual.  Displaying this type of faith implies that the idea is an accepted fact but has absolutely no effect on your life and actions.  The example of this type of belief is given in James 2:19.  The demons not only believe in the existence of God but also know and understand His power.  Yet their knowledge and belief does not motivate them to obey Him or to submit to Him.  Will this type of faith, a faith that will not move you to action, save you?  The answer is no.  This is the faith that James is arguing against.

         The second kind of faith is the one that brings about action in our lives.  It influences our lives; playing a primary role in our actions and decisions.  It is this kind of faith that saves us.  This kind of faith moves us to act on God’s plan of salvation and accept Jesus as savior and Lord.  This type of faith was illustrated in the text by Abraham who took the son of promise, tied him to an altar and prepared to sacrifice him at the command of God.  He had faith that if need be God would resurrect him and still fulfill the promise that was to flow through Isaac.  His faith led him to action.

          James wanted the people to understand that true faith in God would lead to action in the lives of the believer.  He summarizes this by stating that if there is no action, then ones faith is dead, void or lifeless.

          The question today is, “is the faith of the earthly church dead”?  If we would answer that question with a no, then where are the works to support our answer?  And since the church is but an institution and each of us must give a personal account to God, then we must ask ourselves individually is my faith dead?  If we would answer that question individually as no, then once again, where are the works to support my answer? 

          Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Today if Jesus were here on this earth he would be talking to us.

TITUS 2:14         

This verse says that Jesus gave himself for two reasons: that He might redeems (buy us back) from our sinful state, and two that he might set apart a people on fire to do good works.  Some will respond to this message by sincerely saying I don’t know what to do.  That is an age old question.  Even when Jesus was here on this earth, it is recorded in John 6:28 that the people came to him asking “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?”  No one can answer this question specifically for you.  As I have said before, it is the responsibility of each of us to get with God and earnestly seek the answer to this question.  But in closing I would like to offer you a bit of wisdom from Solomon. 

Eccl 9:10