Faith and Works

Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.

Faith That Works

James 2:14–26

Introduction

Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ.

I would like to thank the Lord for the privilege to once again share God’s Word with you. I thank the leaders for the opportunity, and I also thank all of you for praying for me—whether in your personal prayers or during the prayer meeting. Your prayers are very much appreciated and very much needed.

The passage for our consideration today is taken from James chapter 2, reading from verse 14 all the way to the end of the chapter. I will be reading from the New King James Version.

James 2:14–26
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

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?
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.
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

May the Lord add His blessing to the public reading of His precious Word.

Let us bow our heads in prayer.

Holy Father, we thank You for this wonderful morning where we can remember the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet we are reminded again that He first remembered us. He first loved us and went all the way to the cross to lay down His life for each one of us.

We thank You for this remembrance through the bread and the cup. And now, as we quieten our hearts and listen to Your Word from the book of James, we pray for the Spirit’s help. I also pray for myself—that whatever is shared may be to Your glory, and if there is anything incorrect, You may gently remove it.

We commit this time into Your hands. May Your name be glorified and Your people edified through the preaching of Your Word. We pray all this in the name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Story About Faith

I would like to begin with a story that I heard from my brother some time ago. It is the story of a tightrope walker.

This tightrope walker was well known for some of the most death-defying stunts he had accomplished throughout his career. One time, he attempted to walk across the Grand Canyon on a tightrope with a person riding on his shoulders. A huge crowd came to witness him accomplish that amazing feat.

When he finally reached the other side of the canyon, he received a standing ovation from the crowd. Cheers and applause filled the air. It was indeed a spectacular achievement.

The tightrope walker then faced the crowd and asked, “Do you believe that I can go back to where I started by walking on this same tightrope with a person once again riding on my shoulders?”

The crowd was ecstatic and shouted, “Yes! Of course we believe you! Nothing is too difficult for you—you can do it!”

So the tightrope walker motioned to the crowd and asked again,
“If that’s the case, can I have a volunteer to be the person to ride on my shoulders?”

The crowd laughed—and then grew silent.

Not a single person volunteered.

The Controversy of James 2

The passage for today’s consideration is most commonly known as the “faith without works is dead” passage.

It is also well known for causing much controversy among many Christian circles throughout the centuries.

The key issue with this passage is that it seems to contradict what Paul wrote in his epistles concerning the doctrine of justification—that salvation is by faith alone and not by works.

Early church history tells us that only a few Bible scholars referenced the book of James in their writings. Some of those who did even doubted its authenticity.

During the Reformation period, Martin Luther was rather critical of the book of James, calling it an “epistle of straw.” He felt that what James was teaching here was contrary to his understanding of justification by faith alone.

It also did not help that the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches at that time were using this passage in the book of James to teach the necessity of works for salvation.

Nevertheless, God was in control. The book of James was successfully preserved as a book in the Bible until this day for our edification and learning.

Are Paul and James Contradicting Each Other?

Let us look at the verses that were the source of controversy.

James begins in verse 14:

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”

At first glance, it seems that James is suggesting that if a person has faith but does not have works, his faith alone cannot save him.

James goes on to say in verse 24:

“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”

The example given is Abraham, who according to James was justified by works when he offered Isaac on the altar. Rahab is also given as an example.

So is James really teaching that justification is not by faith alone but by works as well?

Is James contradicting the apostle Paul?

Commentators suggest that we must first consider the context and audience that both Paul and James were writing to.

Paul is known as the apostle to the Gentiles. The problem the Gentile believers faced was that the Jews insisted the Gentiles must follow the Mosaic Law and be circumcised in order to be saved.

Paul therefore emphasized salvation by faith alone and not by works to counter these teachings.

James, on the other hand, was writing to Jewish Christians who had just converted from Judaism. At that time the gospel had not yet spread widely among the Gentiles, so most believers were converts from Judaism who had lived under the law all their lives.

Some of these believers thought Christianity was a way to escape the burden of observing the law. They thought that once they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, they no longer needed to maintain good works.

James addressed this misconception—not by teaching that works are needed to be saved, but that works should follow because we are saved.

In fact, Paul also teaches the same truth.

Thus, Paul and James were emphasizing different aspects of the same salvation, and they should not be seen as contradicting one another.

What James Is Actually Asking

Is there internal evidence in the passage itself that supports this?

James begins with this question:

“What profit is there if someone says he has faith but does not have works?”

Notice something important.

James is not questioning whether the person actually has faith. Neither is he debating whether the faith is genuine.

In verse 17 he calls it “dead faith.”

He does not say that faith without works is no faith at all. That would contradict the doctrine of justification by faith.

He simply says it is dead—or in other translations, useless.

James is asking:

If a person has faith but does not have works, what profit is there? What value does that faith bring?

Profit Toward Others

Firstly, God does not need our works to know whether we have faith. He sees our hearts directly.

Therefore, the “profit” must be toward other people.

James gives the example of a brother in need. If someone says,

“Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,”

but gives nothing to help, those words are useless.

Likewise, faith without works profits no one.

Yes, the person might be saved—but that is all.

It is only when faith manifests itself in works that a person can show his faith to himself and to others.

Why Must Faith Produce Works?

James gives two reasons.

1. Faith Must Grow Toward Perfection

James speaks about the completion or perfection of faith.

Our faith on the day of salvation is sufficient to save us. But that faith should not remain in the same state throughout our Christian life.

Faith should grow.

Hebrews 7:25 reminds us that Christ saves us “to the uttermost.” Philippians 2:12 tells believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

This refers not to earning salvation but to the outworking and completion of salvation in our lives.

When faith and works operate together, faith grows toward perfection.

Faith becomes active.

Many of us have experienced this cycle:

Faith produces works.
Works strengthen faith.
Stronger faith produces more works.

The more this cycle repeats, the stronger our faith becomes.

So the question is:

How much has your faith grown since the day you first trusted the Lord?

2. Faith Without Works Is No Different From Demonic Belief

James gives a striking warning:

“Even the demons believe—and tremble.”

This puzzled me for a long time.

How can demons believe in God and tremble before Him—and yet act in complete opposition to that belief?

Here we learn something important:

Faith is manifested by works, not by emotions.

Emotions can accompany faith, but they are not faith.

Every Sunday we may hear a powerful sermon. We may feel convicted and even tremble.

But if we go home and live exactly the same way as before, then that faith has not produced works.

And if that is the case, James asks a serious question:

What difference is there between us and the demons?

Two Examples of Living Faith

James now gives two examples: Abraham and Rahab.

Abraham: Faith That Thinks and Trusts

James says Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac.

Yet we know from Genesis 15:6 that Abraham was already justified when he believed God.

Therefore, Abraham’s works did not justify him before God.

Instead, they demonstrated his faith before people.

His faith became visible through his works.

Abraham’s faith was also not impulsive.

When God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham had to take a three-day journey to Mount Moriah.

During those three days he had many opportunities to turn back.

But Hebrews 11 tells us what Abraham was thinking:

He concluded that God could raise Isaac from the dead.

Abraham’s faith was not blind faith. It was faith based on what he knew about God.

Likewise, the faith God wants us to have is not blind faith. It is faith grounded in God’s Word and in our experience with Him.

Faith Is a Journey

Faith does not always produce works instantly.

Abraham himself failed.

After Genesis 15, when he believed God, in Genesis 16 he tried to fulfill God’s promise through Hagar.

Did Abraham lose his faith?

No.

His faith simply did not manifest into works at that moment.

But the story did not end there.

Abraham continued his journey of faith—sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing—until finally his faith reached its climax when he offered Isaac.

Our journey will be the same.

There will be victories and failures.

But as long as we continue exercising our faith, it will grow closer and closer to perfection.

Rahab: Faith That Takes Risk

The second example is Rahab.

The people of Jericho had all heard about the God of Israel. They all believed the Israelites would conquer their city.

But only one person acted on that belief.

Rahab hid the spies.

She risked her life, risking a charge of treason.

Everyone believed—but only Rahab acted.

And because of that, Rahab and her family were saved while the rest of Jericho perished.

This teaches us another truth:

Faith that produces works will always cost us something.

Starting With the Basics

Before we think about great sacrifices like becoming missionaries, perhaps we should start with the basics of Christian life.

Do we believe in the power of prayer?
When was the last time we truly made time to pray?

Do we believe in the power of the gospel?
When was the last time we stepped out of our comfort zone to share it?

Do we believe we have victory over the evil one?
When was the last time we resisted temptation?

Faith that works will cost us something.

But we can start small.

Remember—Abraham started small too.

Yet look how profitable his faith became.

Conclusion: Do We Know the One We Trust?

Let us return to the story of the tightrope walker.

The crowd said they believed he could do it.

But none of them volunteered to ride on his shoulders.

There is actually nothing wrong with their answer. They probably truly believed he could repeat the stunt.

But who would entrust their life to a stranger?

They had just met him. They did not know him.

So I leave you with this question:

If our faith is not producing works, could it be that we do not truly know the One in whom we claim to believe?

What is your relationship like with your Heavenly Father?

Do you know Him well—or is He still a stranger to you?

Abraham was called the friend of God.

May our relationship with our Heavenly Father grow stronger and deeper, so that our faith in Him will lead us to accomplish great things through Him and for Him.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word that reminds us that we are made alive in the Lord Jesus Christ.

You have done so much for each one of us. And it is only right—it is only reasonable—that we live lives that reflect the life You have given us.

We pray that as we continue our journey of faith on this earth, our faith will not remain dead or unprofitable.

By Your grace and by Your strength, may our faith move toward perfection as it manifests itself in works.

Help us even in the daily routines of life—in prayer, in sharing the gospel, in living holy lives, and in doing good.

May these things be reflected not only in our words, but in our actions.

We thank You for Your Word, and we ask for Your continued blessing upon the rest of the day.

We pray all this in the name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.