James 2:14-26, A verse by verse study

For several reasons: (1). James is talking about the kind of works that “save”, justify a man. That is totally different than works that are just “evidence” of salvation.

Verse 14: “If some one says he has faith but does not have works, can faith save him?” It’s a rhetorical question; and the answer is “no.” This is his premise and the rest of the verses in this chapter support and prove this premise.
Note: the “works” talked about here are works that “save” , works of salvation. “Can works SAVE him?” These are soul saving works, necessary for salvation.

Verses 15-16 - are used as an EXAMPLE. If someone is hungry and cold, you have not helped him if all you do is say be filled and warmed. That doesn’t accomplish anything. That will not suffice,, that is not enough. Thus, therefore, also, in the same way, (verse 17) just having faith alone, without works, will not accomplish salvation. He puts it this way “Faith by itself, if it does not have works , is dead.” Faith without works does not meet the requirements of salvation.

Verse 18: you cannot “see” faith without works; but you can see my faith by the works that accompany my faith.

Verse 19- now he shows the foolishness of having faith apart from works. “Even the DEVILS believe! Demons are BELIEVERS! If just believing “alone” will save you, then the demons will be saved!! They believe so strongly that they tremble! If you believe all you have to do to be saved is believe, how are you any better than the demons? This is his point. You can’t be saved by “faith alone.”

Verse 20- do you not know “oh, foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

Verse 21- He uses another example—Abraham—to prove his point. Abraham had faith but was justified by his work of obedience when he offered his son as a sacrifice like God told him. That’s when he was saved—not before, when he only had faith and had not offered that sacrifice. “Abraham was justified (saved) by works when he offered Isaac. ..”

Verse 22- HERE IS THE ANSWER TO THIS DEBATE ABOUT FAITH AND WORKS—“ you see that faith was working TOGETHER with his works and by works his faith was made PERFECT!” The answer is it takes BOTH—faith and works Both are necessary for salvation. It’s not one or the other—it’s BOTH!

Verse 23 says Abraham’s faith was accounted to him for righteousness (BECAUSE it was accompanied by works).

Verse 24-He confirms that a man is saved (justified) by WORKS—not works alone—and NOT BY FAITH ALONE. Or faith only. The works he is talking about are ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION; and while they are “proof” of salvation their purpose is not for “evidence” but for the saving of the soul.

Verse 25- another example: Rahab. Rehab did not just believe; she was saved ( justified) by her work when she helped the spies. Another example to show how salvation is NOT by faith alone.

Verse 26- the last example of body and spirit. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” This is the message and premise of James 2:14-26. It teaches one thing: The only way to be saved is to have “faith and works together” but faith only will not save anyone.

The “works” that save are the works that God has commanded us to do—like “repentance”. Acts 17:30- it originated with God not man. It is commanded by God. It is a “work of God” John 6:28-29. But if you believe in “faith only” you have eliminated Repentance as being necessary to salvation. You can’t have it both ways! Faith only means only faith and nothing else. It means nothing but faith is necessary to be saved. And you have eliminated “repentance.” Same for “confession”. Romans 10:10 Confession is necessary for salvation but “the doctrine of “faith only “ removes confession as being necessary. Salvation by faith alone makes repentance and confession unnecessary. So you can just forget them because you are already saved by faith alone. The problem is that you are denying what God says and calling Him a liar. Because if we are saved by faith alone then we will NOT be lost if we don’t repent. And if faith alone saves us then we won’t be lost if we don’t confess Christ and God just lied when He said it was for salvation. Romans 10:10.

The only way to harmonize Acts 17:30, Roman’s 10:10 and James 2:14-26 is to reject salvation by faith alone and accept what James 2:22 says— it takes BOTH, faith and works, working together to produce salvation of our souls.

Hebrews 12:15- Be careful lest anyone FALL SHORT of the grace of God.

James talks about neglecting to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, which are not 'repentance'

No it doesn't. It comes from within when a person hears the word/spirit, is persuaded it is the truth and believes

Faith
G4102 πίστις pistis (piy'-stis) n.
1. a trust.
2. a firm persuasion, a confidence

@Pilgrimshope I think that makes or 6 or 7, on CC that I know of who have the correct scriptural understanding of faith.
We are making ground. Yay!

spreading seeds in soil

James talks about neglecting to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, which are not 'repentance'

spreading seeds in soil

if they do not grow, it may be the soil, it may be the lack of water, it may be the birds that eat it - it's not necessarily that the seed was not good

Amen, hard work, lol!!!

if they do not grow, it may be the soil, it may be the lack of water, it may be the birds that eat it - it's not necessarily that the seed was not good

Yes, and Paul calls it a “work of faith” in 1 Thess. 1:3 and also 2 Thess. 1:11.

Yes, and God also said this that no one seems to want to remember..

John 6:29 "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom he sent"

My question to a lot of Christians along my journey who stumble on faith and works;

*People who have no arms or legs and cannot talk, can they still be saved?

Nice spin. In John 6:29, Jesus said - "This is the work (singular) of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent," when He answered the Jews (who were taking a legalistic approach) when they asked, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works (plural) of God?" So, by Jesus' play on words here, He was not implying that believing is just "another" work in a series of works in a quest to receive salvation by works. Also, through believing, we are completely trusting in "Another's work," (Christ's finished work of redemption - Romans 3:24-28). There is a difference between faith AND works. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

Repentance is a change of mind (Matthew 21:32; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21) and not a work for salvation.
Confession is an expression of faith (Romans 10:8-11) and not a work for salvation.

NOWHERE does the Bible teach we are saved by grace through faith "plus" works of any kind. Also, the apostle Paul does not merely limit "works" only to specific works, as you imply, but includes works in general. In Titus 3:5, we read that it is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.. and in 2 Timothy 1:9, we read that God saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works.. So your saved by "these" works and just not "those" works argument is bogus.

Abraham was justified before God by his faith, and before men by his actions.

James is talking about being justified before men. all his examples are about their witness in front of others: feeding the poor, clothing the naked, receiving the messengers - and the sin he accuses of them of, neglecting to do these things and instead showing partiality to the rich, is not a salvific work. all those are carnal things, not spiritual things.
it is the good they ought to do because of the grace they received, not the price they buy their souls with. the flesh profits nothing, the Spirit is lfe.

our lives were bought by Christ shedding His blood for us - while we were sinners and did none of these things.

your ceaseless campaign to prove you save yourself by your own merits and to damn those whose works you consider less than your own is not good. you only look at your hands, instead of your heart.[/QUOTE



I do not read anywhere in James 2:14-26 that says “Abraham was justified by faith and before men by his actions.”

My Bible says that “Abraham was JUSTIFIED BY WORKS.” Verse 21. What does yours say?

It also says that “Rahab was justified by WORKS” verse 25. In Fact it doesn’t even mention faith, so there is no mis-understanding this unless you just want to.

This whole passage is showing the necessity of works for salvation. Why do you think he kept saying “faith without works is dead”? He repeated that sentence 3 times in verses 17,20 and 26. Verse 22 explains what is acceptable to God—faith + works, together. Not faith alone, ( verse 17 and 24) and not works alone; but faith and works TOGETHER.

No matter how much you rationalize, twist, or pervert, the scripture here still teaches that faith WITHOUT works is dead—that means it will not save you. It still says—and still means— you cannot be saved by “faith only”. Verse 24.

a word of faith from God to a man

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

( a man of faith who acts upon it )

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭10:21-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

to have faith we need to hear what he said then if we believe we’re going to act in faith .[/QUOTE



What you have said, here is very true. And the example you used from Exidus is exactly like the examples James used in 2:21. Faith is definitely the first requirement and requires us to respond by acting on our faith. But there are other requirements God has given that MUST be done or else our faith is dead” and will not save us. That is the point of this passage in James.

Most people who hold on to “faith only” do not believe that not acting on your faith will cause you to be lost. The teach salvation at the point if faith—without works, and then you SHOULD do works, but if you don’t that is o.k. You will be saved anyway. That is not what James 2 is teaching.

The apostle Paul calls Faith a work, also, in 1 Thess1:3 and 2 Thess 1:11.

Jesus plainly calls Faith a WORK of God.

If you won’t believe the words of Jesus, then nothing I say will convince you.

I also know you do not believe the words of Jesus in Mark 16:16.

Jesus talks about people who reject Him and His words in John 12:48. But, then, I suppose you don’t believe that, either.

My Bible says that “Abraham was JUSTIFIED BY WORKS.” Verse 21. What does yours say?

It also says that “Rahab was justified by WORKS” verse 25. In Fact it doesn’t even mention faith, so there is no mis-understanding this unless you just want to.

This whole passage is showing the necessity of works for salvation. Why do you think he kept saying “faith without works is dead”? He repeated that sentence 3 times in verses 17,20 and 26. Verse 22 explains what is acceptable to God—faith + works, together. Not faith alone, ( verse 17 and 24) and not works alone; but faith and works TOGETHER.

No matter how much you rationalize, twist, or pervert, the scripture here still teaches that faith WITHOUT works is dead—that means it will not save you. It still says—and still means— you cannot be saved by “faith only”. Verse 24.

Be sure to go back and read post #68 and post #70. Your false teaching that the whole passage is showing the necessity of works for salvation is thoroughly refuted there.

For the umpteenth time, James is not using the word "justified" to mean "accounted as righteous" but is shown to be righteous. James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3) This remains your Achilles heel.

Man is saved through faith and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (James 2:14-26).

*Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works.* (Romans 3:24-28)

It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 4:5-6; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone (unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (James 2:14-26) *Perfect Harmony*