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James 2:14-26
What Does True Faith Look Like?
Introduction - Dilemma
Read passage. We have a serious dilemma here. The dilemma is that James
appears to directly contradict what Paul teaches (show James 2:24
and Galatians 2:16). This is not something that we can simply ignore.
If James and Paul contradict each other, then either one of them doesn't
belong in the Bible, or God's Word itself is contradictory. Some scholars
even say that James is purposefully refuting Paul's teaching, and cite
this as evidence for the fact that the Bible is full of contradictions.
If this is so, how can we know that any information about God in the
Bible is reliable?
Furthermore, this appears to be a contradiction in the most important
issue there is: how can I be accepted by God? If the Bible is contradictory
on this issue, how can I move forward in my dealings with God with any
confidence?
Therefore, the first order of business in studying this passage must
be to seek a resolution to this dilemma. Then we can go on to ask how
we can practically learn and benefit it . . .
Resolution
In interpreting any passage of scripture (as with any document), it
is important to remember two things.
First, individual words have a range of meaning (“semantic range”).
Second, the context of words must be taken into account in order to determine
their exact meaning. For example, RATIONALIZING.
When we study these two passages in context, we discover that Paul and
James are teaching on the same issue, but they using the same terms in
different ways, and their points are not contradictory, but rather complementary.
OPPONENTS
PAUL: those who teach that God's acceptance can be earned by our good
works (LEGALISM)
JAMES: those who teach that mere mental assent to certain creeds is
sufficient for God's acceptance (vs 19) (DEAD ORTHODOXY)
“FAITH”
PAUL: personal, active trust in God's promise to accept us through
the work of Christ
JAMES: uses this term in two ways
“LIVING” - personal, active trust in God's promises (1:6)
“DEAD” - mere mental assent without any practical expression
of trust (2:14-17)
“WORKS”
PAUL: deeds done to earn God's acceptance; in place of faith
JAMES: acts which demonstrate living faith (vs 18); the result
of faith
THE QUESTION ANSWERED CONCERNING “JUSTIFICATION”
PAUL: “How can I receive God's acceptance?” ANSWER: “Only
by faith in Christ's work, not by your works.”
JAMES: “How can it be shown that I have received God's acceptance?”
ANSWER: “Only by actions that manifest a living faith in God (vs 21-25).“
This is what vs 24 means: “a man is shown to be justified
by works, and not by faith alone.”
MAIN LESSON ABOUT TRUE FAITH
PAUL: It trusts in God's promise instead of human merit.
JAMES: It reveals itself in actions consistent with God's promises.
Just as a living body always breathes, living faith always manifests
itself in action (vs 26)!
Application: What Kind of Faith Do You Have?
How can I know that I am exercising living faith? By the actions that
it brings forth! FAITH IN DOCTOR TO PERFORM SURGERY: What if I say “I
believe you can do it”—but I refuse to sign the permission slip?
The same principle applies in our dealings with God.
RECEIVING GOD'S ACCEPTANCE: The most important question is not
“Do you that God exists and Jesus was his Son and that he offers
salvation through him?” but rather “Have you acted on this?
Have you personally put your trust in Jesus to forgive you and make you
alive to God?” If you haven't done this, you have the same kind of
faith in Christ that the demons have - but it brings them only terror,
not peace with God. This is what it means to “sign the permission
slip.” This is kind of faith that justifies!!
John 6:29—“This is the work of God, that you believe
in him whom God has sent.”
When you act on God's promise in this way, he justifies you for all
time. It is a gross misapplication of this passage to use it to erode
your assurance of justification if you have received Christ. Remember,
James is refuting those who say it isn't even necessary to receive Christ!
If your walk is struggling, the last thing you need to do is start doubting
your justification!
DEMONSTRATING YOUR JUSTIFICATION & EXPERIENCING GOD'S LOVE &
FAITHFULNESS: This is what God wants Christians to do and have in
increasing measure. The most important practical issue now is not whether
you put your personal trust in Jesus to justify you in the past. It is
whether you are continuing to put your personal, active trust in him in
the present. This is the kind of faith that gives evidence (to us and
others) that we are justified, and which results in spiritual growth in
our lives.
The proof that we trust God's promises is that we follow the commands
associated with those promises (CONTRA “PASSIVITY”). The result
of this is “abiding in God's love” (John 15:10).
James gives two illustrations of this from the Old Testament:
- ABRAHAM: God promised him to create a nation through Isaac.
Now God commanded him to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice. What is the
proof that Abraham believed that God would keep his promise? What would
you say about the quality of Abraham's faith in this situation if he
said, “I really believe you will create a nation through Isaac,
but I refuse to offer him up to you?”
- RAHAB: God promised that he was greater than the Canaanite
gods and would grant his followers security in the land. Now some of
his followers ask for protection from the Canaanites. What is the proof
that Rahab believed God would keep his promise? What would you say about
the quality of Rahab's faith if she said, “I really believe that
you will protect your followers from the Canaanites, but I'm going to
turn these spies in?”
God makes a variety of promises to us in his Word that speak to every
major area of our lives. Then he calls on us to demonstrate that we trust
his promises by obeying his scriptural commands in concrete situations
(NOTE: contrast this view of scriptural imperatives to the view that they
are to ruin our lives, keep God from rejecting us, etc.). How we respond
in these situations demonstrates whether we are exercising living faith,
and determines whether we will continue to grow toward maturity in our
relationship with God. Let's talk about some examples that come in the
life of the Christian.
God promises you that he will provide for your material needs. He
also commands you not to engage in theft or financial dishonesty. You
are tight for money and an opportunity for dishonest profit arises.
What is the proof that you believe God's promise?
God promises you that he will provide for your relational needs. He
also commands you not to engage in extra-marital sex to try to meet
this need. You feel lonely and you have the opportunity to get sexually
involved in this way. What is the proof that you believe God's promise?
He also commands you to be relationally involved with his people by
giving and receiving encouragement, confession, etc. You feel afraid
of and aversive to this kind of involvement. What is the proof that
you believe God's promise?
God promises you that he will supply you with the ability to verbally
share your faith with others. He also commands you to do this as he
provides you with opportunities to do so. An intimidating friend who
is antagonistic to Christianity asks you if the rumor that you've become
a Christian is true. Or your non-Christian neighbor shares that she
is confused about what to believe. What is the proof that you believe
God's promise?
God promises you that he will give you strength to endure adversity
and work through adversity in your life to mature you and make you effective
in your service for him. He also commands you to thank him during adversity
and continue to follow him as well as you know how. You experience painful
suffering in your life and have a strong desire to run away from God
and numb the pain. What is the proof that you believe his promise?
There are innumerable examples of this because there are so many promises,
so many commands that express what trusting these promises mean, and so
many situations of life through which God provides opportunities to express
trust in him. Learn to keep asking yourself: “What would it look
like in this situation to exercise living faith? What promises of God
pertain to this situation? What commands of God pertain to this situation?
What response will I choose?”
Copyright 1993 Gary DeLashmutt
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