Living Faith

Recently a church in my city took a Biblical stand against a decision their denomination made. They believed what Scripture said on this particular issue, and they acted on that belief at a great cost. In this denomination, the local church’s building and funds belong to the denomination. When this church spoke out against the decision of the denomination, they lost the church bank account and had one week to vacate the church building.

It is easy to say we have faith, but as we have begun to see in James 2:14-19, there is a difference between a living faith evidenced by works and a dead faith without works. It is easy to say we have faith, that we believe in God (vs 19), or that we adhere to certain doctrines, but is that faith evident? Is it a living faith? Trials and suffering are often the arena where genuine, living faith is evidenced (1:2-18), but it is also evident in day-to-day life.

We’ve looked at dead faith in relation to others (vs 2:15-17) and dead faith in relation to God (vs 18-19).  As we continue in James 2, James gives us two specific examples of living faith evidenced in costly works. First, in relation to God (vs 20-24), and second, in relation to others (vs 25-26).

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.[1]

James 2:20-26

Verse 20 provides a bridge between concluding thoughts on dead faith and introducing living faith. James addresses “you foolish person.” We don’t know if this was an actual individual debating James, or James anticipating an objection. Whether or not the person is real, they are foolish. The Greek word can mean empty, deceptive, or fraudulent. This is a person with dead faith. Their faith is not genuine.

James prepares to demonstrate to this foolish person that faith apart from works is useless. Useless means that it is not working or it is idle. James uses a play on words in the Greek to make his point: faith that has no works does not work (or save)! James is pointing to the nature of the faith. Faith alone saves if it is a living faith, a faith evidenced by works. Dead faith (apart from the evidence in works) does not save.

Before we jump into James’ first illustration, I found a helpful quote by Erasmus.

“Erasmus said, unproductive faith is faith in name only: ‘People think they are being mocked when you say to them, ‘Keep warm and well fed,’ and give them neither food nor clothing. Just so the person who offers no tangible proofs of his faith but repeats every day, ‘I believe in God, I believe in God,’ seems to be mocking God.’”[2]

I have read from several commentators, “We are saved by faith alone, but faith is never alone” meaning that genuine, living faith always bears fruit, always produces works.

Now, let’s look at James first example of a living faith: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?” Abraham was a hero in the Jewish faith. James’ Jewish readers would all know who Abraham was and would agree that Abraham was a shining example of faith. Abraham was literally the Father of the Jewish people, but he was also a father in the spiritual sense, being a model of faith to both Jew and Gentile believers (Romans 3:7).

James’ words here might be alarming to us. Justified by works? Aren’t we justified by faith? “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28). We need to understand justified, the Greek word dikaoo. It can be used as an acquittal, as in we are declared righteous before God based on Jesus’ righteousness. We are acquitted of our sin because Jesus’ paid the penalty for it. We are declared righteous. We are justified. This is how Paul uses justified – our righteous standing before God.

But there is a second way dikaoo can be understood. It can mean vindicated as in proved, substantiated, or upheld. This is how James uses it here. Our good works vindicate, prove, and substantiate the acquittal God has already gifted to us. James is complementing what Paul taught (Ephesians 2:8-10). Faith alone saves, but the natural result of living faith is good works. Remember that he has already affirmed that salvation is a gift from God (1:17-18).

You might not be convinced by how James uses the Greek word, but James makes his meaning clear in another way. He quotes Genesis 15:6 in verse 23. “And he [Abraham] believed the Lord, and he [God] counted it [faith] to him as righteousness.” Why does this quote matter? It is actually crucial. This statement is made years before Isaac was born. Abraham was still waiting for God’s promise of an heir. He and Sarah were only getting older. God told Abraham that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars. Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Abraham was counted righteous or justified based on his faith. This was long before Abraham’s action of offering his son Isaac on the altar. Abraham’s obedience years later in offering up Isaac was the evidence of his faith.

From the writer of Hebrews, we also know that even the offering of Isaac on the altar was evidence of Abraham’s faith: “He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (Hebrews 11:19). Abraham had faith that God would still keep His promise of numerous offspring even though God had asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham’s faith was evident even in the most difficult situation a parent can face – sacrificing a child, an only child conceived by nothing short of a miracle. Even though God spared Isaac and provided a substitute sacrifice, Abraham obeyed in faith at great cost.

Jesus emphasized this connection between faith and works when the paralytic man was lowered through the roof by his friends so that Jesus could heal him. “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5, emphasis added). The paralytic’s faith and the faith of his friends was evidenced (visibly seen) in their action of doing what was necessary to come to Jesus.

James summarizes by stating: “You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works” (vs 22). James explains the relationship between faith and works by stating that the works complete faith. To complete is to bring to its end or fullness. We have a pair of peach trees in our front yard. They are peach trees all year long even when their leaves have fallen off, and the branches are bare. Come July, we see the beginnings of peaches, and in August we reap the full-grown fruit. The peach has reached its end – producing peaches, displaying evidence of the type of tree. In the same way, good works display living faith. Living faith will naturally produce good works.

An additional note, the phrase “active along with” is in the imperfect tense. It is a repeated action. There is continual cooperation between faith and works. Living faith isn’t evidenced in a one-time action. It is a lifestyle.

We already noted James’ quote from Genesis 15:6 in verse 23, but let’s examine the rest of the verse: “and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’ – and he was called a friend of God.” What does “Scripture was fulfilled” mean? The statement from Genesis wasn’t a prophecy. It was a present declaration, but when Abraham offered Isaac on the altar, it was the “completion” (vs 22) of Abraham’s life of obedience born out of his justifying faith in Genesis 15:6.

Abraham was called a friend of God (also documented in Isaiah 41:5 and 2 Chronicles 20:7). This description was given to Abraham because his faith was proven by his obedience. In Abraham, we see the example of living faith that is evidenced in obedience to God.

Next, James restates his theme: “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (vs 24). We need to keep the context. “Faith alone” refers back to verse 20 to the faith that is described as useless or dead faith. So, useless, dead faith alone will not justify. Useless faith that only verbally believes as the demons do (vs 19) does not justify. Living faith that is evidenced in works is the kind of faith that justifies.

“As Charles Spurgeon is reported to have said: ‘The grace that does not change my life will not save my soul.’”[3]

Next, we will consider James’ second example, Rahab who evidenced living faith by serving others: “And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way” (vs 25)?

Abraham was a great example for James to use but think of what James’ Jewish readers would have been thinking when James followed with Rahab as an illustration of faith evidenced in works. She was a Gentile, a woman, and a prostitute. In a stark contrast, she definitely did not fit in the hero category of Abraham. Yet, she is commended for her faith (Hebrews 11:31). She believed in the God of the Israelites, saying, “for the Lordyour God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11). Her faith was evidenced by helping the two Israelite spies escape even though her own life and the lives of her family were at risk if she was caught.

Luther said, “He who wants to be a true Christian … must be truly a believer. But he does not truly believe if works of love do not follow his faith.”[4]

Again, the way James phrases his questions may be disturbing to us – “was not Rahab the prostitute justified by works” (same question regarding Abraham in verse 21). James’ Jewish readers in general would have been taught prior to saving faith to take pride in and even trust in their heritage, their knowledge, and works. The way James phrases his questions sends a wakeup call. We need this too. We trust in our verbal affirmations of faith or doctrines. We take pride in our church attendance or baptism. It’s like James is saying, “Stop! Use your brain. You can’t have a verbal faith alone and be saved. You can’t have works alone and be saved. Living faith is active. Living faith is evidenced by works.”

I like the simple chart Doriani made to show the different views relating to salvation.

“To put it schematically, there are four ways to view the relationship between salvation and works. The arrow means “produces” or “results in.

1.   Works → Salvation

2.   Faith + Works → Salvation

3.   Faith → Salvation

4.   Faith → Salvation + Works”[5]

James has told us in multiple ways that #4 is the only Biblical relationship between salvation, faith and works. Faith alone by grace alone in Christ alone is saving faith, living faith, and that kind of faith will always result in works.

James concludes this section: “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” I have a stove and oven range in my kitchen. I know how to use it. I even know specific things I can cook with it. I know that it functions and can cook food, but it is useless if I don’t actually cook with it. Those in Christ are called to live in light of the saving faith they have been given by grace. God has prepared good works for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10). If we have a living faith, we will produce fruit. Our faith will be evident in obedience to God and serving others even if it costs us.

Jesus took on flesh and lived every day of His earthly life in obedience to the Father and serving others. He perfectly obeyed the Father even to the point of death on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin. All our righteousness and good works are as filthy rags. Only Jesus’ was perfectly righteous. Every one of His works was good, perfect, and acceptable to the Father. It is faith in His atoning work not our own works that saves us, but when we truly know the gift of grace in salvation by faith, we will imitate Jesus by obeying God and serving others.

Reflection

1.     How has your understanding of the relationship between faith and works been challenged or clarified? How would you explain the relationship between faith and works to someone who is struggling with understanding it?

2.     Describe a time when your faith led you to obey God? I know there are numerous instances when we obey God, but think of a specific time when you see the connection between your faith and your obedience?

3.     Describe a time when your faith led you to serve another? Again, there are likely many instances when you have served others, but think of a specific time when you see the connection between your faith and serving another?

4.     When has your faith resulted in you obeying God or serving someone even though you knew there could be a significant cost?

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 2:20–26.

[2] Daniel M. Doriani, James, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2007), 94.

[3] David Guzik, James, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2013), Jas 2:20–24.

[4] Daniel M. Doriani, James, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2007), 97.

[5] Daniel M. Doriani, James, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2007), 95.