Conversion definitely requires faith, for it is our belief of the gospel of God’s gracious salvation.
Glorification can only be known and trusted
to the degree that a child of God brings forth works.
We believe on Christ, not to be justified or regenerated, but to lay hold of coming salvation. James did not write a theoretical lesson for their evangelistic program, but for their own conduct!
Actual, legal, literal, or vital salvation is not pursued here, or you end up being saved by works! The point pursued
is the evidence of eternal life resulting in future salvation – faith plus works.
- Faith provides evidence of eternal life only when it bears good works (II Pet 1:5-11; I Thess 1:2-4).
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Here is a simple rhetorical question illustrating the vanity and worthlessness of faith without works. The hypothetical case is to shame carnal believers for thinking professions of faith carry any weight.
James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Mere words do absolutely nothing to provide peace, clothing, or food for those naked and starving. This is the same as someone saying they believe and love Jesus, but never do anything to obey Him. If choices and actions are not made producing good works, then faith or claims of faith are nothing. The illustration is not teaching charitable performance, for that is taught elsewhere (
I John 3:17-19).
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
In precisely the same way – even so – as the illustration,
faith without works is vain and worthless. Belief or profession of a thing without actions confirming and proving it is alone – naked and vain. It is dead, for true faith is a living expression of trust in God
by actively seeking Him (
Heb 11:6).
Jame 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
There are two options about works for men with faith – you can confirm your faith, or you cannot. Which would you rather have? Faith that you cannot prove, or
works that prove faith a reality? Give us the works, Lord, for even if we have weak faith, but strong works, we know we are thine! Evangelical religion today guarantees salvation for a trite formula that often does not even have to admit that Jesus is Lord (Lordship controversy), but James here takes the whole mess and flushes it!
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
The man with faith and a carnal life professes to any who listen, “I believe there is one God … and this faith in the monotheistic religion of Israel (and maybe even His Son) proves I have eternal life.” The words of James here – thou does well – are not sarcastic irony, due to the following context. Faith in the one God of Israel, which is the fact considered here, is good (
Deut 6:4;
I Cor 8:4-6). James commended the man with this faith as far as it goes, for it is a blessing to believe this fact. He then declared that devils also believe, which reduced any vain confidence in such a faith. And he added that the devils tremble in fear, which proves its certainty, but denies their sincerity. In the next verse, the disjunctive but indicates that James is criticizing the faith he praised. If he had just annihilated his faith by sarcastic irony, he would not have contrasted v.20 by but. The devils believe on Jesus Christ as God’s Son, as their confessions while He was on earth proved. The devils would fall and worship Jesus Christ – they knew Him well (
Mark 1:23-25;
5:6-12). The devils knew Jesus and His servant Paul, but they did not know gypsies (
Acts 19:13-17). The trembling of the devils is their devilish fear of their coming torment from the Son of God.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Though I have commended you for faith in one God as doing well, there is still a need for works. Though the devils believe there is one God and tremble concerning it, there is still a need for works. In contrast to whatever you may think about your faith, without works it is nothing but a dead thing. Presuming on a decision or faith in Jesus is a vanity, for He will condemn many such (
Matt 7:21-23).
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
This is very different historical reasoning than that of Paul, who traced Abraham’s justification to his faith in
Genesis 15:1-6, and referred to that event often (
Rom 4:3,
9,
22;
Gal 3:6). Paul did not oppose easy believism, but rather many Jewish legalists in love with Moses’ law. Therefore, he referred to that event in Abraham’s life where God declared him righteous by faith. Paul argued from faith to silence Jews who trusted (a) works of the law, (b) circumcision, (c) Moses religion, or even (d) Abraham’s genes … but Abraham the father of Israel was justified while uncircumcised, 430 years before the law, and then by faith without any respect of persons! God declared Abraham truly did fear Him after he went the distance to sacrifice his son (
Gen 22:12).
What justification is considered here? Our legal position before God, or
our knowledge of it? Our legal position before God, or
His declaration of it? Our legal position, or
our assurance of it?
James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
These rhetorical questions indicate that this concept of justification by works should be easy to see. Faith leads to works to please God, for faith believes God rewards diligent seekers (
Hebrews 11:6). The faith of Abraham in
Genesis 15:6 was made complete and true
by his works in Genesis 22:12.
Faith is dead and devilish without works; but it is complete or perfect by works, as with Abraham.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Abraham’s trust in God’s promise secured a preliminary declaration of his righteousness (
Gen 15:6). God’s declaration of Abraham’s righteousness was confirmed
by his actions on Moriah (
Gen 22:12). Abraham was called the friend of God as a result of his faithful actions (
II Chron 20:7;
Isaiah 41:8).
Please remember Abraham was a just and righteous man, living by faith,
long before he got to Genesis 15:6. It is one of the travesties of Bible interpretation to hear that Abraham was justified in 15:6 in any other way that God declaring his faith in an impossible promise
as evidence of his righteousness.
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
What can we see from Abram’s history? The real evidence proving righteousness requires works. What we see is that
Genesis 15:6 is only part of the picture. It
is incomplete without Gen 22:12! Those who cry, “Sola Fide,” and think that
Genesis 15:6 is the end of justification
are wrong. Abraham’s subjective justification by faith was made complete or perfect by his
further works. Justification is being declared righteous by God: Abraham was declared
so by faith and works. It is vain confidence to trust in some belief, decision, or profession of Jesus
without good works. Abram’s actual justification, or acceptance and acquittal with God, was without faith by Christ! James did not teach justification by the works that Paul condemned, or the Bible lies (
II Peter 1:20). Paul rejected Jewish legalists and their trust in Moses’ law by teaching the historical fact of God’s declaration of Abraham’s righteousness by virtue of his great act of faith (
Gen 15:6). James taught that any man’s faith
without works was not nearly enough evidence or proof to claim righteousness, justification, or the hope of future glorification.
James 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Not content with his glorious explanation of Abraham’s case, James used Rahab as another example, which he by the Spirit considered to be an exact match to Abraham with Isaac (
Gen 22:12). For those ignorant of Rahab, she was a mother of Jesus and in the hall of faith (
Mat 1:5;
Heb 11:31)! Bless the great God for exalting such a Gentile woman so highly and forgiving such a great sinner. The actions described here – hiding the spies and lying to her city’s leaders – were done by faith, but they constituted works that proved her faith to be real and true (
Joshua 2:8-21). She had come to believe and trust the God of Israel, so she willingly risked her live to serve Him. She received the spies in through her front door, but she sent them out through her window.
What is this justification? The same as Abraham’s –
evidence and proof of righteousness by works.
Who wants to ride this horse to heaven? Did God legally accept Rahab based on her noble lying? Rahab definitely believed the God of Israel was the LORD Jehovah, and
she acted upon it.
Did this change her status in heaven, in the book of life, in the sight of God … or
only display it?
If the justification here is actual legal justification, then salvation is by works, which it is not. We understand this verse
to declare Rahab’s justified character and status by works, just as the Bible declares the same thing for Phinehas by his zeal in using his javelin (
Ps 106:30-31).
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
A body without the spirit is very dead indeed … it is clearly nothing more than shaped, damp clay. The animating, vital component of a living person is missing – the spirit bringing the clay to life. The body without the spirit is an empty house or tabernacle, for the substantial soul life is gone.
As dramatic as a dead body is,
so is faith or a profession of belief without any supporting works. James here condemned those in his audience who were confident of eternal life
by their faith only~without godly works proving their faith. .
Conclusion:
The law of liberty, which will judge man shortly, condemns religious partiality and
requires neighborly love. So much for easy believism! The great God declared with harsh severity that decisions for Jesus are nothing, without godly works in the life of those who profess to believe.
sheep 
