April 29, 2019
READ TIME: 2-3 MINUTES
James 2:14-26 — Part 1
“In James 2:14-26, is James contrasting a genuine faith that saves a person from final damnation (this faith is accompanied by works) and a non-genuine faith (not accompanied by works) that does not?”
I’ll answer this question in parts. I don’t think this is what James is teaching in James 2:14-26. This post will give a brief overview of James 2.
First of all, James wrote his epistle to believers. The recipients were born from above (1:18), possessed faith in Christ (2:1), and called brethren (1:2, 19; 2:1, 14; 3:1; 4:11; 5:7, 10, 12, 19).
So, James wrote this epistle to believers to challenge them to add works to their faith NOT to prove they are believers or to “maintain” their initial salvation. He was trying to help them realize that a non-vibrant faith wouldn’t deliver them from the temptations and trials of life which lead to spiritual impoverishment and negative judgment at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
James emphasized to the recipients that if they don’t add works to their faith, this non-productive faith would offer little profit to those around them (the brother or sister in need of daily provisions, the widows, the orphans), and as mentioned above, there will be little profit for them at the Judgment Seat of Christ (look at the verses before and after this section, James 2:13 and 3:1).
So, James wasn’t contrasting the two types of faith asked in the question above, but he was contrasting a productive/useful/effectual/vibrant faith with a non-productive/useless/ineffectual/non-vibrant faith.
It’s likely the problem facing James’ readers was that partiality, materialism, and contempt for others had eroded their faith. They were in something of a state of paralysis regarding good works. As they sat around in this state of paralysis, they grew more and more self-centered and complacent. We could very well describe their faith as “dead.” This does not mean they did not have any faith. Nor does it mean that their faith was false. It simply means they had lost their fire or fervor for Christ. Their faith was dead, in other words, lifeless and inactive.
James wanted to discuss the quality of faith that endures during trials. This kind of faith is not the faith of the baby Christian. It is the faith of the mature Christian. And it is only after persevering with good works, in the midst of the trials of our Christian life, that our faith can be declared mature. Our works cooperate with our faith in this sense, to develop it and bring it to maturity.
There is no contradiction between James and Paul. When Paul speaks of justification through faith alone, he is speaking of judicial righteousness before God. When James speaks of justification by a faith that works, he is speaking of practical righteousness displayed before other people.
If this passage is taken to mean that one must demonstrate “real” salvation through works, then works unavoidably becomes necessary for salvation—a contradiction of Ephesians 2:8-9. Also, there are no criteria mentioned for exactly what kind or how much work verifies salvation. This opens the door to subjectivism and undermines the objective basis of assurance—the promise of God’s Word that all who believe in Christ’s work will be saved.
SOURCES USED
Anderson, David R. Free Grace Soteriology: 3rd Edition. Grace Theology Press, 368-370, 372.
Bing, Charlie. <http://www.gracelife.org/resources/gracenotes/pdf/gracenotes2.pdf.> GraceNotes #2.
Dillow, Joseph. Final Destiny: The Future Reign of The Servant Kings: Fourth Revised Edition. Grace Theology Press, chapter 28.
