Faith Without Works is Dead.

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 say to them. “Depart in peace be warmed and be 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, I will show you my faith by my works. You believe there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! …faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac on the alter? 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 it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called a friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. [Rehab received the spies and sent them by another way.] For as a body without spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:14-26   

Faith must have an appropriate action?

Abraham at the height of his growth in faith, was able to reason and convince himself even if he sacrificed his son on the alter, God was able to give him back to him raised from the dead, though he had no form of references for it. He believed God is able, even over death because he received his son when it was impossible for them to have and his future was named in Isaac. [Hebrews 11:17-19] But Abraham did not get there overnight. When God first promised him that he will make him a great nation, and he will give the land to his descendants: He did not then reason to himself saying, “I have had no children as yet therefore wherever I go God will protect me since death can not come near me, until God’s word is fulfilled.” But he acted in fear twice, when he asked Sarah not to make him known as her husband in case they killed him on the account of her [even as far as the year before Isaac was due.]

God had to build Abraham’s faith. From Abraham’s first act of obedience, He protected and delivered him. To subduing his enemies and displaying the might of His power before him. And God showed him how He watched over His word to fulfil it, rebuking kings for his sake. Finally God tested and blessed him saying, “for you have not withheld, your son, your only son from Me.” and the whole earth was blessed on the account of him because “you have obeyed My voice.”

The testing of Abraham’s faith at the right time was accounted for his works. But God did not have him tested before he was ready but with patience brought him to the place, he would give his all and that which is most dear to him. “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 The trials and testing that comes upon us, is to bring out the genuineness of our faith, and that not of ourselves. If it was we would be tested as random as it can be, but God has us tested when He knows we are able to go through it.

It is not that we are saved by our works; it is through faith but that faith is and must be tested and be justified by works. How? Because if you had truly believed by faith, then the proving of the genuineness of your faith is just as assured. “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 1:13 Then faith is working with your works. God chastise every son he receives, that none are exempt all must be tried and proved but the confidence is not in us but in God who will bring us through just as sure. The completion of your salvation includes works, then is the Scripture fulfilled, “he believed God and He accounted to him for righteousness.” that “by works faith was made perfect.” it is complementary. 

• “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”  Hebrew 12:6
• My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2  
• In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 6-7    

When God brought Israel out of Egypt, they played no part in their deliverance, it cost them nothing of their substance except to walk and follow Moses. The test came when entering the promised land, that a reasonable response was expected on their part. However, they drew back to go back to Egypt and to them he said “they will never enter My rest.” because “they have tempted Me this 10 times and have not believed Me.” That they did not enter because of unbelief. Did they deny God? No, the pillar of cloud and fire is before them. What then is accounted for unbelief then? They thought God unable to do and chose to rebel and turned back to Egypt [world & sin], according to their belief. 

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness. Psalm 95:7-8

Rehab believed the city will be given over to Israel and her faith necessitated a response. She found justification when she stood against the inhabitance, to help the spies by risking her life for theirs. Why did she do that? Because, she feared God, if she had trusted in the wall as the rest she would have given them up. Therefore James uses Abraham and Rehab to illustrate, the works that account to salvation born out of faith as evidence for genuine faith. That faith is not faith if it does not stand the test. He is not speaking of the working of law for justification, but the testing of faith through trials which necessitates a reasonable response, which is accounted for works of faith.

Works of faith? 

James begins his epistle by affirming the need for faith to be tested as a means of perfection. He exhorts to be firm and acts in faith, being assured of God’s unchangeable willingness. But the main aspect he addresses is be doers of the word and not hearers only. That the Scriptures hold the person you ought to imitate [be], then so act and so do accordingly to the royal law: “love your neighbour as yourself.” That a perfect religion before God: bridle your tongue, consider the orphan and the widow and keep yourself unspotted from the world. And he exhorts not to show partiality between rich and poor.

Then addresses the issue of faith and works. He gives an example of naked and hungry person, and an expected reasonable response to their need. If you simply speak I bless you and send them away, when you have it in your ability to do them good, what does that profit? “thus faith by itself if it does not have works is dead.” And proceeds to corrects those who have mistaken faith, for a reason not to do good works. James shows works are associated with salvation, as a reason for doing good works. Therefore endeavour to do them and seek to meet the needs of the saints which Paul also instructs. That good works are your reasonable service and even evidence of your faith. “I will show you my faith by my works.” There is distinction to be drawn between the testing of faith such as Abraham and Rehab and the works associated with clothing and feeding the poor.

“For by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

There is works associated here but it is the working of faith not works of righteousness through the law. That naked faith avails nothing, if you believe and do not confess Him, then your faith won’t work. The confession of your mouth, is the working of your faith. You profess to believe but do not endure and deny Him then your faith won’t mean nothing. Faith is worked. They are one unit, as body is to spirit then faith is to works, they are of the same complement. If your faith does not act [work] then it is dead, it is a body without spirit. That faith is animated by works. 

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient and disqualified for every good work. Titus 1:16 [due to unbelief]

Paul exhorts saying, “be careful lest there is be an evil heart of unbelief leading you away from the living God. And to exhort one another while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” Hebrews 3:12-14 Then faith is a state of being, a continual walk not by our strength but having faith in the God who is able.

“That God will not have us tempted beyond what we can bare.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 And “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 2:18

And God has given us of His Spirit to enable us to live holy and sanctified lives. “He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 Then the manner we live our lives bares significance, it is evidence of our faith, and testament to God who works it in us.

“Seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.”

Is there any contradiction between Paul and James?

Paul in his letter to the Romans uses Jew and Gentiles to show righteousness is through Grace. If through grace then it has to be through faith and not the works of law. Saying “By the working of the law no flesh will be justified” & “The just shall live by faith.” One reason is that salvation may come to the Gentiles as well. It is through God’s grace that it might be applied to both Jew and Gentile without partiality, and no one may boast.     

Grace is the works of Christ. Grace is free for us but it has cost God everything. Then either the works of Christ suffice for righteousness or we seek to establish our own righteousness by our own efforts through rules and regulations, through which there is no justification. So Paul compares Grace and Law. That the works of Christ [Grace] is received by faith and that faith is put to effect by the the confession of our mouth: “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10. Then salvation is not apart from works. Baptism, being identified as one of His, and enduring the challenges that comes with it, these are all works of faith [Hebrews 11:35-38] and without such means of expression faith stands dead.

Why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I affirm by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 1 Corinthians 15:30-31

Paul in his letter to the Galatians lists the things he endured for the sake of Christ, he exhorts Timothy to endure suffering as a good soldier and expresses the affliction of the Thessalonians in receiving the word, all this are works of faith which they have endured. Since they have had many opportunities to to turn away from Christ and avoid such trouble but it became evidence of their faith. “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13 Jesus spoke these words in regards to the tribulation and persecution that His disciples will endure on the account of their faith in Him.

The distinction from the law: when speaking to the Galatians, Paul takes a firm stand to express the dangers of mixing law as a means for justification. That such act is a move away from grace, by which it is nullified. If the power of the sin is the law, then by implementing any law as a means for righteousness/salvation in effect one is being put back under sin and not grace. Such a one then has become, “estranged from Christ you who seek to be justified by law;” Galatians 5:4 That law and grace are as contradictory as flesh and Spirit.

Which James also says the same, he makes references to the law but he says it in a manner, “so act and so do as one judged by the law of liberty.” He uses the “royal law” that one may have a bases for good conduct, and calls it “the law of liberty,” it is not a bondage through which one is condemned by. Therefore James and Paul speak of the same thing, each expressing a portion of it; Paul grace over law [salvation is not earned] and James the works of faith [faith is proven]. That the grace of God, His promises are never obtained through works of law, but the faith received from God is proved by works. And both are alike in exhorting believers to do good works and conduct themselves befitting salvation. That they may be doers of the word and not hearers only.    

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10