Is it possible to have a genuine saving faith without works? Seven questions are asked in this passage and some of these questions are rhetorical. If rhetorical questions reveal a self-evident response, why are these questions asked? To emphasise the need for a genuine living faith as a doer, not just a hearer of the word of God. Faith without works is akin to a hearer (armchair believer), not a doer of the word of God.
Sometimes these verses have sadly been presented in opposition to Paul’s writings. Martin Luther was massively instrumental in the Reformation, yet in addition to his later damaging anti-Semitic views he considered James’ writings an epistle of straw! Luther struggled with these verses but James/Jacob was responding to a different question and situation to that of Paul. John MacArthur helpfully notes the phrase, ‘if someone says’, governs the interpretation of the entire passage and that James does not actually state this person has faith, but claims to possess it.[i] Faith without works is dead. Hence the question, can ‘faith’ save him?
A purely theoretical faith is not faith at all. 2 Corinthians 5:7 instructs us that the believer walks by faith, not by sight. Arnold Fructenbaum explains in effect how James and Paul were responding to different questions and situations. The situation for Paul was the way of justification since he was counteracting legalism, though for James it concerned the life of the justified individual as he was counteracting antinomianism, Paul dealt with works according to the law, whereas James spoke of the works of love and faith, Paul used justification in the sense of legal acquittal, apart from works, while James spoke of justification as in vindication, as he was concerned with justifying one’s profession to another, evidenced in works of love and faith.[ii]
What does the Bible state about justification by faith?
Galatians 2:16 informs us that we are not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus the Messiah.
Romans 3:28 tells us that “a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
Romans 4:3 confirms, “for what does the Scripture say? (referencing Genesis 15:6) “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Faith without works is dead
James is an intensely practical letter and he expounds on how to be a doer as well as a hearer of the word of God. Hence, he provides an example to demonstrate the futility of faith devoid of works. Note James is not stating that works save us or contribute to salvation. Works are the product of faith. A brother or sister is destitute of daily food and is naked and one says, depart in peace, be warmed and filled. How can your brother or sister have shalom (peace), be warmed and filled with empty words?
John spoke of the outworking of love in 1 John 3:17-18, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
How can one illustrate and demonstrate that faith without works is dead? Think of a fruit tree bearing fruit. Would the tree bear fruit if the root was severed? The root precedes the fruit. Faith is the root and works are the fruit. Yeshua (Jesus) is the vine and His talmidim (disciples) are the branches. Without Him we can do nothing.
But how is it possible to recognise someone’s faith? We will know them by their fruit. How do we know what someone believes? Consider and examine the root (their faith). What use is a fruit tree that fails to produce fruit? It is a fruitless tree! What use is a profession of faith that fails to produce any fruit? It is a dead faith! If someone professes faith in the Lord, there should be evidence of fruit in their lives.
Now think of the Parable of the Sower. Some seed fell on the wayside, some fell on stony ground and some fell on thorns. What do these seeds have in common? They have no root and produce no fruit. Some may appear to last longer than others, but the root is not established, so they stumble and are unfruitful. But the seed on the good ground is for those who hear it and understand it. They are doers as well as hearers of the word of God. Some yield more than others. Some a hundred-fold, some sixty and some thirty. What do they have in common? They bear fruit. Do their works save them? No. What is the purpose of their works then? They do those works since they possess genuine faith. Hence faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead.
James refutes the idea that faith is merely verbal affirmation or intellectual assent. Note James’ emphasis on demonstrating faith. How can others see what someone believes? What is the evidence of faith? Faith lived. Can other people read our minds? No. Are they reading the book of your life? Probably. Will others make a connection between your actions and your faith? Yes. James demonstrates the impossibility of useful works pleasing to God, without faith. Faith must precede works but works must follow faith. That is living faith.
James helps us to consider genuine saving faith. James is writing to the diaspora in his Messianic epistle and is undoubtedly referencing the Shema. It is a good thing to confess, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One (Deuteronomy 6:4).” But reciting creeds or great statements of faith is not enough. The demons believe that God exists, yet they tremble! The devil is well equipped to quote and misuse Scripture from evil motive. Knowing about the Bible is not enough, knowing Him and obeying Him and His word is needed.
Some will read, others lecture on the Bible yet they might not even trust in the Lord. Again, faith without works is dead. One of my old lecturers formerly taught religious education and one day he realised that the Bible was true and he trusted in the Lord. Previously it was simply a matter of teaching a course syllabus, but when he came to faith, he began to live for the Lord. My grandfather went to a congregation for most of his life. Shortly before he died, he came to faith and had a living faith. The believer will want to please God, serve Him, tell others about Him and seek to glorify the Lord.
I have no doubt that the demons could pass the most rigorous theological exam, but they are known by their fruit. It is good and necessary that we have statements of faith to define and clarify what we believe. But are you trusting in the Lord and living for him? Are you a disciple who is following Him? Are you aiming to become more like the Saviour? Do you want to see His will in your life? Are you keen to fellowship with the Lord and with others? Are you praying for others to be saved? Do you want to tell others of Messiah and are you looking forward to His return? That is the difference between knowing something in our minds and being obedient to His will.
The believer has a lifestyle that is vastly different from the ‘armchair believer’ (someone who professes faith but is not living for the Lord). The believer has turned from their former ways, but the armchair believer has no desire to turn. The believer is trusting in God’s righteousness, yet the armchair believer is still trusting in their own righteousness. The believer is living for the Lord, though the armchair believer is still living for themselves. The believer has the root of faith and produces fruit. They profess a living faith. The unbeliever has no root and they produce no fruit.
Abraham demonstrates living faith through his works
James provides a great example of real faith referencing Abraham’s faith in the Lord through his willingness to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22. Later in Hebrews 11:17-19, we discover that Abraham concluded that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead. So, Abraham also received Isaac in a figurative sense. Abraham’s faith was shown in his works. A ram was provided in place of Isaac and Yeshua is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Some said they had faith in Blondin the tight rope walker, though they could not demonstrate faith in him, since they were unwilling to let him carry them safely across the Niagara Falls! The nuts and bolts of faith are knowledge, belief and action that is exercised through obedience.
Faith works together with works and by works, faith is made ‘perfect’ meaning ‘complete’ or ‘mature’. Faith is a gift of God which He imputes to the believer. That faith which He has rooted bears fruit, through works, making faith visible to others. No credit for works is claimed by the believer since the works merely point to the faith that is God given.
James explains how faith and works fit together. Notice that James/Jacob quotes Genesis 15:6 which was before Isaac was born. The word ‘accounted’, means ‘credited’ or ‘imputed’ and is something that the Lord does in the believer. Abraham was justified by faith and believed God would give him descendants. This occurred despite his advanced age, Sarah’s old age and the seemingly human impossibility of that happening. Abraham was justified by God at that stage through faith. But how can we observe his faith? Abraham’s faith was tested and demonstrated in Genesis 22, when he was asked to sacrifice Isaac. That righteous act of obedience demonstrated his faith to us and others.
Ephesians 2:8-10 shows clearly that we were created to be God’s workmanship and that we are made to serve him, but the believer is saved by grace through faith, not of works, lest they should boast.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,not of works, lest anyone should boast.For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
I have mentioned that Martin Luther was instrumental in the Reformation but he called the book of James, an epistle of straw. He began positively towards Jewish people but his latter writings against Jewish people caused incalculable damage. He was correct in that the believer is justified by faith apart from the law and he saw that in the book of Romans.
In Romans 1:17, we read, ‘the just shall live by faith’, which is quoting Habakkuk 2:4. Luther read and re-read Romans and this was the lightbulb moment when he recognised that the believer is justified by God, by faith, not works. The just shall live by faith is also quoted in Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38. How sad, that like so many, Luther did not latch on to Romans 1:16, the preceding verse!
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). How often the line, ‘for the Jew first and also for the Greek’ is left out when it is quoted! Paul’s consistent strategy of outreach in the book of Acts was to go to his fellow countrymen in the synagogues first and then speak with the Gentiles. This of course also applies to the gospel today.
Rahab demonstrates her living faith through her works
Rahab’s example is markedly different to that of Abraham. Do you think Rahab would boast in her works? Her title was ‘Rahab the harlot’! They possessed a different ethnicity, way of life and background, but they both had faith in the Lord. Rahab was commended for her faith in Hebrews 11:31, that great hall of faith. She is mentioned in the genealogy of the Messiah in Matthew 1:5. Her actions are a precursor of saving Jews in Nazi Germany. Are you hiding any Jewish people in your home? Well, there were some here earlier, but they have gone that way. Meanwhile, they are actually safely hiding in your attic.
What do we know of Rahab’s faith in Joshua 2? The Hebrew God is God of heaven and earth. She knew that the Lord had given them the land. She had heard of the miracles and marvellous deeds. Rahab hid them and showed kindness. God knew Rahab’s faith in Him and she is remembered. But how did the spies and how do we know that she had faith? Through her actions recorded in Scripture. Do you think Rahab was justified by faith or works? She was justified by faith before God. How was her faith justified to others so that she and her family were spared? Through her works.
What use is the body without the spirit? There is no life. But God breathed life into Adam. What use is faith without works? Faith without works is dead. Genuine faith produces good works. What use is a fruit tree producing no fruit? It is just a tree. Genuine faith produces fruit. The evidence of a living faith is good works. Works proceed from faith, a gift of God. Works cannot save anyone and it is impossible to please God without faith. The believer is saved by grace through faith, but they are created to serve God and by doing that will glorify Him.
[i] John MacArthur The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2005; Nashville), p1887
[ii] Arnold G. Fructenbaum Ariel’s Bible Commentary The Messianic Jewish Epistles Hebrews-James I&II Peter-Jude (Ariel, 2005; San Antonio), p251-252
