I mentioned in a recent Newsletter article about the placement of James in our holy bible with some difficulty.  Luther called it a book of straw because of this passage which seems to contradict the great teaching of the Church and the scriptures on salvation by faith alone.  This avoids what is often called “works righteousness” or the idea that we can become righteous in God’s sight through our works or actions. This teaching or doctrine is termed justification by faith and not by any works or actions on our part.  Here are a couple scriptures from Paul’s letter which, on the surface, seem to be in conflict with James.

Romans 3:28  We maintain that a person is justified by faith not by works of the Law. 

 Galatians 2:16  By the works of the law, no flesh will be justified.     

I  How do we match these scriptures that seem in conflict?

One of the fundamental principles of biblical interpretation is to use scripture to interpret scripture.     That is when one scripture seems in conflict with another, you use other scriptures to try and shed light into the meaning of a text.  And if you look at other scripture, you will find other examples like James.  For example:

John the Baptist demanded “fruit of repentance” Matthew 3:18

In other words, repentance was not just being sorry or remorseful about a wrongdoing.  John was demanding evidence that showed a person was truly repentant.

Remember Zaccheus, the wee little man, who climbed up in the tree to see Jesus.  He declared that he would pay back people the money he had extorted from them unfairly.   His giving back funds was “fruit of his repentance”.  But notice here that the repentance preceded his actions of reimbursing people.

Another example is Jesus teaching:

Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works glorify your Father in heaven

In another place Jesus said, By their fruit you will know them Matthew 7:12 

Let’s take a look at other statements Paul made

Romans 2:6  God will judge according to everyone’s works

2 Corinthians 5:10  We will receive good or evil according to our deeds

Romans 14:12 Everyone will give an account for their deeds

So there is a clear teaching from the NT.  Christianity must be ethically demonstrated.  Your faith cannot exist in a vacuum.  Rather, faith if it is real will produce action or works.  This is clearly the message of James that is evidenced by John the Baptist, Jesus and the Apostle Paul.

II  James is confronting those with a false understanding of faith

Two Kinds of Faith

1. Intellectual Belief often called “Mental Assent”

 (James 2:19)  Even the demons believe and tremble

2. Belief in the “heart”

Romans 10:9  If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart you will be saved.

III James is confronting those who are already professing Christians

Paul is looking at the root of salvation.  James is looking at the fruit of salvation.

Barclay:  No man will ever be moved to great salvation without faith and no faith is genuine unless it moves him to action.

Faith essentially precedes and produces good works.

IV  Examples from James: Abraham and Rahab

Abraham offered his son Isaac

Rahab assisted the spies that allowed Hebrews to come into the Promised Land.

How is Rahab placed as an example with Abraham?   She is even in the Hall of Fame of Faith in Hebrews 11:31 and in Jesus’s genealogy in Matthew’s gospel.   What is happening here?

My thought is that no matter who you are salvation is available to all.  Faith is available to all.  God desires everyone to be saved.  No matter if your famous or infamous, high status or low status, man, woman or child.  Salvation encompasses everyone…. for God so loved the world.

Secondly, faith will bring action or deeds. And it is not always the size or scope of the action.   It is like putting a seed in the ground that will produce a harvest.  Even the smallest seed.

We are in the Prodisee…which exist to carry out the mission of Jesus teaching…I was hungry and you gave me something to eat… Matthew 25.

Closing with Ephesians 2:8-10″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” 

Our good works do not save us…but we are saved to do good works.  Get this…it reads that God has already prepared the works we are to perform.  Even the smallest actions like hiding spies or giving a cup of cold water or feeding the hungry.

I believe that God has uniquely gifted each of us to perform the good works He has already planned for us.  This is like the teacher in the classroom with the lesson plan for the students.   God has a work for us to do.  More personally, what is the work He is calling you to do now?