Show Me Your Faith
James 2:14-26
There are some who believe this passage is contradictory to what Paul taught about us being justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Martin Luther grabbed hold to this great truth of justification by faith alone, and it was this truth which began the Reformation. Martin Luther came to understand that we are not saved by any works which we do, that we are justified by faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ plus nothing and minus nothing, and this the great truth of the Reformation literally transformed the Christian faith at that period of time.
Paul is the great hero, the great champion of the truth that we are justified by faith alone. In Romans 3, verse 28, it says, "Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
In Galatians 2, verse 16, he says, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." So Paul teaches very clearly that we are justified by faith alone.
Now James comes along and he says in these verses of scriptures that a man is justified by works and not faith alone.
verse 24
We have here an apparent contradiction in scripture. But I want to underscore the word apparent. It is an apparent contradiction. It is not an actual contradiction.
What we have to understand when we take the teachings of James and compare them to the teachings of Paul is that you have two warriors who are facing opposite enemies. Paul and James are not soldiers who are toe to toe fighting one another, but rather they are soldiers back to back and they are fighting opposite enemies.
Paul is fighting those who teach that you have to work in order to earn your salvation. He is fighting those who say that a person is justified by the deeds he does, by the life he lives, that salvation is something you can merit, that salvation is something you can work for.
On the other hand, James is fighting an opposite foe because James is fighting those who would say, "Just get saved and it doesn't matter how you live." Just pray the prayer, no change in your life, makes no difference how you live. You're going to heaven when you die if you just simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
What you have here is Paul on the one side talking about faith on the believing side. James is talking about the same faith on the behaving side. Paul is saying that we are saved by faith "into" life. James is saying that we demonstrate that saving faith by the life that we live.
On the one hand Paul is saying that faith is an inward experience. James is saying that faith expresses itself in outward behavior. That's the theme of the book of James, "Behave Yourself."
I want us to look very carefully at what James has to say. There are three times he makes a statement. I want you to check them in your Bible.
Note first of all verse 17.
Here he says that faith has to be accompanied by works if it's the real thing.
Then notice verse 20. And then verse 26.
What James is saying is that a faith which works is not a faith without works. Saving faith is without works, but a faith which saves is never without works.
Let's talk about saving faith on the basis of what James has given to us here. The first thing I want you to notice in these verses is that James is saying to us that
I. Saving Faith Is a Matter of Works as well as Words.
It's not just enough to say it. You have to demonstrate it in your life.
verse 14, 16, 18
He's saying here that it is not just enough to say it, it's not just a matter of your words; it is also a matter of your works.
It is more than just a "Say so" faith." Jesus talked about that one time in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said that not everyone who says unto Me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of God from his heart. It is not a matter of just saying something.
There are many people who give verbal assent to their faith in the Lord. There are many people that if you asked them, they will verbally agree and say, "Yes, I have put my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." But James says that it is not just enough to say it. He says that you have got to also demonstrate it in your life.
Notice verse 14
A faith which does not produce works, James is saying, that kind of faith cannot save an individual.
Then he gives an illustration for it in verse 15 and 16.
Here's an individual and they don't have enough clothing and it's cold. Here's an individual and they don't have enough food. They're hungry.
And you say "God bless you, be clothed and be fed. Good to see you" and slam the door and go right back to what I was doing, what good has been accomplished?
That is exactly what James says in verse 16. It is not enough to say it. You have to show it. It is not a matter of just your words. It is also a matter of your works.
Someone objects here in verse 18, and he gives an imaginary objector.
In other words an imaginary objector says, "There are different kinds of Christians. There are some Christians who specialize in the faith department, and there are other Christians who specialize in the works department."
Some paraphrase it this way, "You take care of the faith department and I'll take care of the works department." But what James says is that you can't separate those two. It is not a matter of the fact that some people are especially gifted in the area of faith and other people are especially gifted in the area of works. He says that you can't separate the two. They go together.
In fact, he puts it this way, "I can demonstrate my faith by my works. I challenge you to exhibit your faith without works." He's saying that faith, if it is genuine, saving faith will always demonstrate itself by the works that we do. If your faith is the real kind of faith, it will be a "show me faith." That is the first thing he says about it. It is a matter of works as well as words.
What would Paul say about that? Paul would say the same thing. Let's see whether or not Paul would agree with this assessment that true saving faith is a faith which manifests itself in works.
In Ephesians 2, verse 8 and following, it says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves," that is, you don't work for it. You don't earn it. You don't merit it. "It is the gift of God."
Verse 9 says, "Not of works, lest any man should boast." You are not saved by your works, but then look at what he says in verse 10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
We are not saved by good works, but we are saved unto good works. Do you get it? Saving faith is a matter of works as well as words.
The second thing James teaches about saving faith in these verses is that
II. Saving Faith Is a Matter of the Heart as well as the Head.
verse 19
It is a good thing to believe in the existence of God.
I think one of the hardest things in all the world for a person to be is an atheist. You've got to work real hard to believe there is no God. To really be an atheist you've got to work at it. To go out and to look at this creation of ours and believe that it all came about by accident and not to believe that there is an all powerful, eternal God, who created all of that. That takes a lot of hard work.
I head about an atheist who was talking to a Quaker. The atheist said to the Quaker, "Have you ever seen God?" The Quaker said, "No." The atheist said, "Have you ever felt God?" The Quaker said, "No." The atheist said, "Have you ever smelled God?" The Quaker said, "No." Then the atheist asked, "How do you know there is a God?"
The wise Quaker said, "Hast thou ever seen thy brain?" The atheist said, "No." "Hast thou ever felt thy brain?" The atheist said, "No." "Hast thou ever smelt thy brain?" The atheist answer was "No." "Well, how doest thou know that hast a brain?"
There is an intellectual aspect in faith. But notice what he says. "The demons," that's what the word devils means. It would be better translated demons. "The demons also believe, and tremble." The word tremble is that feeling you get when you're scared and your skin tightens up and you feel the hair on your neck standing straight out. It means to shutter, to be shaken. The demons believe, and they are moved emotionally by what they believe.
You would be surprised about what the demons believe in the Bible. For instance, the Bible teaches us that the demons believe that Jesus is the Son of God. The Bible says that the demons believe that Jesus is the Holy One. The demons believe that Jesus is the Messiah. The demons believe that there is a judgment. They believe that there is a hell. It's all in the New Testament. The demons believe a lot of things. In fact, the truth of the matter is, the demons believe a whole lot more than some preachers today believe. "The demons believe and tremble."
Somebody says, "O.K. The demons believe there is a God. All you've got to do is believe there is a God and you're going to heaven." Let's think about that for just a minute. Have you ever thought about a demon wanting to join our church? A demon comes down the aisle, and Jimmy greets him and says, "We expect people to believe certain things if they join our church.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world?" The demon says, "Oh, yes. I know He is the Savior of the world." "Do you believe that Jesus was born of a virgin?" The demon says, "Yes. I believe he was born of a virgin." "Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross?" The demon says, "Yes. I was right there the day He died on the cross." "Do you believe that Jesus rose again from the dead?" The demon replies, "Oh, yes, I believe that. I was there when He rose again from the dead." "If you join our church, will you be baptized?" He says, "Oh, yes, I'd be willing to be baptized." "If you join our church and you are baptized, would you attend the services?" The demon says, "Oh, yes, I'll attend a lot more regularly than some of your members now do." "If you join our church, would you work?" He says, "Oh, yes, I'll be a deacon if you want me to be. I'll join the choir if you want me to." "Will you confess that Jesus is Lord?" The demon says, "No. I hate Jesus Christ."
It's not enough to just believe it in your head. James says that you've got to get it in your heart. "The demons believe and tremble."
Verse 20
You have to get it in your heart.
Remember Romans 10:9-10
There are some people who have it in their head, but they don't have it in their heart. There are some people who have an intellectual belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. You believe it in your head intellectually. You believe Jesus died on the cross. You believe Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. You believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. You believe that if you will invite Him into your heart and into your life you will be saved. You believe all of that in your head, but you have not received it in your heart.
Saving faith is a faith which is real, a faith which is genuine. It is a matter of the heart as well as the head.
So saving faith is a matter of works as well as words, it is a matter of the heart as well as the head, and then thirdly,
III. Saving Faith Is a Public Matter as Well as a Private Matter.
it is something that will be demonstrated publicly as well as being believed privately. It is something that will be manifested outwardly as well as being experienced inwardly.
There are some people who say, "I've accepted Christ as my Savior, but I'll never make a public profession. I'll never follow the Lord. I'll never join a church. I'll never be baptized."
James says in these verses that saving faith is a public matter as well as a private matter, and he uses two illustrations from the Old Testament. The first illustration he uses is in verse 21. He says, "Was not Abraham, our father." He goes into the Old Testament and he gets the great patriarch of the faith, this man Abraham.
We are told in verse 21 that Abraham is our father. What does that mean? It means that Abraham is the father of all of those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the father of the faithful. Then it says about Abraham at the end of verse 23 that he was called the friend of God.
Isn't that a wonderful thing to be known as the friend of God? Sometimes in heaven God would say to the angels, "See that old man down there? That's my friend. Every now and then, from time to time, I go down and visit with Him and we talk together." Abraham was the friend of God. I want to be known as the friend of God, don't you? James uses Abraham as an illustration that saving faith is a public matter as well as a private matter.
Interestingly enough, Paul uses Abraham as an illustration that we are saved by faith alone. James comes along and he does the same thing, but he adds something to it. He gives an additional statement to it. If you will look at these verses in this passage of scripture you will notice that James makes reference to two key experiences in the life of Abraham.
He says in verse 21, "Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works?" Then in verse 23 it says, "And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness."
In the margin of your Bible by verse 23 put Genesis 15. That is a reference to something that happened in Abraham's life recorded in Genesis 15. Now, alongside verse 21, put in the margin of your Bible, Genesis 22.
That is a reference to something which was experienced in Abraham's life in Genesis 22.
Let's take the two. In James 2, verse 23, it says that Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. In Genesis 15 God had promised to Abraham that he was going to have a son. Abraham lived years and years and years and that son was not born.
In Genesis 15 God repeated that promise to Abraham. In plain English, what Abraham said to the Lord was, "Lord, You promised me this son, but where is he?" Genesis 15 says that the Lord took Abraham outside. It was one of those clear nights, those cloudless nights, and the stars were out. God said, "Abraham, do you see all those stars?" "Yes, Lord." "Abraham, your seed, your offspring, will be as numerous as those stars." Then it says in Genesis 15, what James quotes, "Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness." He was saved. That is something that took place privately. He was justified before God in the privacy of his heart.
Most of you here, there was some time in your life when you asked God to forgive you of your sins and where you personally received Jesus Christ, believed on Him in your heart and in your life, and in the privacy and sacredness of your own heart, you were saved. You were justified before God privately.
But now notice what James says. He says that that private, inward experience manifested itself in an outward experience, and he refers to that in verse 22 and Genesis 22.
Do you remember what happened in Genesis 22? In Genesis 22 God gave to Abraham one of the strangest commands ever given to a human being. God said to Abraham, "Take your son, Isaac," which was the son God had promised, "Take him up to the mountains of Moriah and offer him on an altar for me."
The Bible says in Genesis 22 that early on that morning Abraham took his boy Isaac, and the Bible says that he put the wood on the altar and he bound his son Isaac and he laid his very son, Isaac, his all, on the altar publicly, so that the whole world could see on a mountain, he demonstrated his total faith in the Lord. The Bible says according to James that Abraham was justified by works before men.
That's why he says in verse 22, "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works," that is, how faith and works held hands. "And by works was faith made perfect?" That is, it reached its intended goal. It came to maturity. It came to completion. Faith was proven to be genuine by the outward demonstration of putting his son on the altar.
Faith is a public matter as well as a private matter. You say, "Abraham was the friend of God. He's the father of the faithful. That's too tough for me. That example is beyond me."
In verse 25 he says, "Let me give you another illustration then. Let me give you the illustration of Rahab the prostitute." If Abraham, the patriarch, is a little too heavy for you, then let me give you Rahab the prostitute. Let's go to the opposite end of the social scale.
He moves from Abraham the Jew to Rahab the Gentile. He moves from a man to a woman. He moves from a patriarch to a prostitute. You know the story of Rahab. She was living the city of Jericho. Notice what James says about her in verse 25. He says that she was, "Justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way."
The spies came into Jericho. The children of Israel were getting ready to go in. Rahab had heard about the children of Israel. She heard what God did for them at the Red Sea. The Bible indicates that when Rahab heard about the Israelites she came to believe that the God of the Israelites was the true God of the universe, and so somewhere in the privacy of her own heart she believed in the God of Israel and she was justified by faith before God.
What did Rahab do? Rahab hid the spies. She put a scarlet cord outside her window for anyone to see, and by her works she was justified before people.
Faith is a public matter as well as a private matter. You say, "I've accepted Jesus, but I'm not going to make it public." That would be just like someone saying, "I'm going to join the Navy, but I'm not getting on any ships!" I am prepared to challenge the legitimacy of the reality of anybody's faith in the Lord if it never manifests itself in any outward way.
He closes with this illustration in verse 26, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." He's saying that if you separate the spirit from the body, that's what death is. It is when the breath leaves the body.
One of the first things they do to check if somebody is dead or not is to check to see if they are breathing. If they are not breathing, then they are a corpse. He's saying that just like a body without a breath is a corpse, faith without works is a corpse. It's dead.
What kind of faith do you have? Is your faith a matter of works as well as words? Is your faith a matter of the heart as well as the head? Is your faith a public matter as well as a private matter?
Let's bow our heads in prayer.
