The Epistle of James

The Epistle ofJames Lesson 4 “Faith and the Social Man” (Continued) James 2:14-26 Page 8

Overview of Chapter 2 Our attitude about social status • Have respect for all – verses 1-13 • “Do not hold the faith… in partiality” (2:1) • “If you show partiality, you commit sin” (2:9) • Without works, faith is dead – verses 14-26 • “What does it profit,… if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” (2:14) • “…so faith without works is dead” (2:20, 26)

Question • Verses 14-26 teach that faith must be manifested by works of obedience. How do these verses connect (or do they?) with the lesson taught in verses 1-13? (verses 15-17) Faith in God’s way of salvation is useless to us without the works of obedience He has attached to that salvation. Both sections deal with our social contacts.

Define Faith and Works • What is “faith” in God? • What are “works” of God?

An Illustration to Demonstrate… (2:15-17) • The absolute necessity to prove what we believeabout God’s standards of fairness by what we do as we deal with our social contacts • If we tell the disadvantaged to be warmed and filled with food and do nothing, what does it profit? • The most touching expressions and sentiments spoken will not put clothes on the poor or food on their table

Faith – Dead or Alive (2:15-17) • No one can be a Christian without faith • Unless he makes his faith a living one by good works, his faith is dead (17) • If you find a brother or sister in need, supply them with the comforts of life to prove your faith is alive

The Illustration Demonstrates… (2:15-17) • Faith without works is of no profit (14) • Faith without works is dead (17) • There is a direct connection between thinking right and doing right about those of lesser social acceptability • The sameconnection exists between whatever truth we believe and how we behave with regard to that truth

Other Examples • Belief and baptism in primary obedience • Theory and practice of the Christian life • Revering God and worshiping Him regularly • Feeling grateful and giving our money • Again, feeling sorry for the disadvantaged brother and helping him • Can you think of other examples?

Question • How must faith in any doctrine of the New Testament be proved? (vs. 18-20) 18 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. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Faith By Itself Is Dead (2:18-20) • One can remove any doubt about what he really believes by doing something that demonstrates what he believes • The demons believe there is one God • They accept God’s Person, but they haven’t submitted to His Dominion • Faith without action is no more acceptable to God in men than it is in demons

Question • When did Abraham prove conclusively his belief in God’s complete authority? (vs. 21-23) 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 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.

Abraham’s Example (2:21-24) • He demonstrated the reality of his faith in God’s providence when he acted (“offered”) on his faith • He gave his son as a sacrifice when so commanded by God • He was justified after he complied with God • He worked because he had faith in God • He offered the ultimate proof of his confidence in God • His faith was made “perfect” (22)

Abraham – “Justified by Works” (2:23) • “…when he offered Isaac his son on the altar” • Abraham believed God [faith], obeyed God [work], and was justified [made just] • It [faith] was “accounted to him for righteousness” (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3, 9, 22; James 2:23) • Paul used “justified by faith” because Abraham had only believed God’s promises • It was not of Abraham’s own righteous [plan] • James is referring to the fulfillment of faith by Abraham’s action of offering his son

Abraham – A “Friend” of God (2:23) • Abraham is said to be “a friend of God” (James 2:23; II Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8) • What qualifies one to be a friend of God? • Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:14) • We can show our faith by believing His commands and doing them

Question • Why might James have chosen Rahab as the person other than Abraham to illustrate the principle of faith and works? (vs. 25; also, see Matthew 1:5.) To prove that Gentiles as well as Jews are bound by the same law of faith and works 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

Rahab’s Example (2:25) • She was a lowly sinful woman – a harlot, a heathen, a Gentile • She believed in the “God of heaven and earth”(Joshua 2:11) • She acted [worked] by hiding the spies and sending them on their way • At her own peril, she saved the spies • Her faith and works saved her (Heb. 11:31) Note: She seemed to have turned her life around and may be the Rahab in the lineage of Christ (Matt. 1:5)

Question • What obvious physical truth portrays the not-so-obvious spiritual truth about faith and works? (vs. 26) 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James’ Conclusion (2:26) • All should be able to understand the analogy he offers between social and religious behavior: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” • When is the body dead? • When is faith dead? • The answer to both is – “when it stops working”

James 2:14-26 (NKJ) Faith Without Works Is Dead 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 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? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:14-26 (NKJ) 18But 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. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

James 2:14-26 (NKJ) 23And 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. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The Epistle of James