Faith Alone

The letter from James (most likely Jesus' brother) is really a practical living plan for the Christian. He tells us how to deal with oppression and temptation. He gives very clear instruction on what a Christian life looks like in respect to our conduct as we live our lives in view of others. He deals with prejudice, obedience to God, our conversation and materialism. He ends his letter with encouragement for the suffering Christian. All in all, a great letter with very simple, yet challenging teachings that deals with our daily lives.

James, very straightforwardly takes on the idea that we are justified by faith alone. (Please read the second chapter) For many, this is a very difficult section of scripture to deal with as they have accepted the "faith only" doctrine. James makes it very clear that this concept is without Biblical support. He demonstrates it through the examples of Abraham and Rahab. Both of which demonstrated their faith by their works. He begins the discussion with two questions; "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" (ch2, v 14) And then proceeds to demonstrate the absurdity of the idea that someone can have faith and not produce works. He uses the illustration of the demons believing in God (v 19) to make it clear that belief alone is not adequate; faith must be accompanied by works. "You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" (V 20)

"You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." (V 24)  I know for some that is a difficult verse to read; but read it we must. James is driving the point home, leaving no room for doubt; a saving faith is a faith that is accompanied by works. This is the only verse in the Bible that has the words faith and alone together! He tells us that it is impossible for us to have the kind of faith that saves without it causing us to do good things, to work. The evidence of faith is a changed life, and a changed life in Christ is busy meeting the needs of others. Our deeds demonstrate our faith and without that demonstration, our faith is useless.

James does not want us to go away with any misconceptions on this matter, so he closes the discussion on faith and works with a verse that should remove all doubt about the issue. "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." (V 26) Without works our faith is dead and a dead faith is no faith at all. Abraham offered his son Isaac on the alter and it was credited to him as righteousness. (V 21-23) "In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?" (V 25) He frames the discussion with two examples of God's people who demonstrated their faith by their works and they were considered righteous because of what they did.

I do not want to be misunderstood. I am not advocating the idea that we work our way to heaven. I understand that we are saved by the blood of Christ, but what James is saying is that real faith, a saving faith is clearly seen through the actions of the person. No action.... no real faith. Faith only, I don't think so. James tells us that we must connect faith and works to be pleasing to God. If not, why not? If you believe the Bible to be the word of God and the book of James to be a part of that word, then you must accept that God is calling on all His people to get to work with a faith that justifies. Think about it.