James 2 - Saving Faith and Dead Faith

By Bro David Petersen

The Sin of Snobbery

2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Then in typical fashion, James illustrates his lesson with an example. There is a lesson here for Bible teachers as well: we need to teach with both principles and examples.

2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Admonition Against Favoritism

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not to show favoritism. How can you claim that you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, if you show partiality to rich people and look down on poor people?

We who profess to believe the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the poorest Christian share in equally with the rich, and to which all worldly glory is but vanity, we should not make men's worldly accomplishments the measure of our respect. In professing the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, we should not show respect to men, so as to cloud or lessen the glory of our glorious Lord.

Anyone who shows partiality has in effect set themselves up as judge. They are saying "I am taking it upon myself to determine which of you deserves favorable treatment." Practicing favoritism then is a violation of Matthew 7:1 "Judge not that ye be not judged."

How God sees humans and how people see each other are 2 different things. God sees the heart. We see clothing. God sees treasures in heaven, we see bank accounts. Jesus was not discriminatory in his ministry. He reached out to the despised lower classes such as harlots, beggars, lepers and tax collectors. And he died for all and would have all to be saved.

Visitors Welcome In Lord’s The Assembly

Now you probably were thinking: “Is there any verse anywhere in the New Testament that shows that the early churches welcomed non-members into their meetings.” Verse 2 shows that the early churches did welcome visitors into their meetings. Notice that it seemed to be open to the public as nothing is mentioned about any member actually bringing these people to the meetings. Apparently, they allowed walk-ins as we do today.

2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

The Poor Are Rich In Faith: A Spiritual Principle

One of the major themes in the Bible is that those who are poor in this world are often rich in faith. Jesus taught that the poor will inherit the kingdom of God. “And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.” Luke 6:20.

Rich people often become self-sufficient in their own minds. Since they think that they have everything, they don't see the need for God or a Savior. This attitude of self-sufficiency be in saved people as well as the lost. Even members of the Lord's church can be blinded by materiality.

Jesus told the church at Laodecia "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Rev 3:17-18

2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Rich vs. poor was the dominant class stuggle of James' day. He says that the rich were oppressing Christians and dragging them into court. Today we have a new class struggle going on in America. Today we have the worldly Philosophy of Despair against the Hope of The Gospel. It is a class struggle of ideas more than of economics. Today it is the anti-theists who are dragging Christians into court. Notice that I said "anti-theists", not "atheists". Paul said that there is no such thing as an atheist in Romans chapter 1:18-20.

2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

The law is royal because the King endorsed it (Matt 22:39, Luke 10:29).

2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

In everything we are to speak and act in accordance with the scriptures.

2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

There is another spiritual principle described here, the principle of mercy. This principle was taught by Jesus in the sermon on th mount (Matt 5:7, 6:14) and in the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matt 18:21-35).

Saving Faith And Dead Faith

2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

James question should be interpreted as "Can SUCH faith save him?"

James then employs another example to illustrate his point.

2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

These verses by James are complimentary, not contradictory to Paul’s writings on justification by faith. Paul and James are in complete harmony on the subject of salvation. Paul taught that salvation comes by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9). James supports that statement by showing that once a person is saved by faith, their faith will lead to good works.

Real saving faith will result in good works. The works do not produce salvation. Instead, the salvation produces works. Good works do not help one to become saved, nor to keep their salvation. Good works are the proof of salvation.

If someone claims to be saved yet there is no change in his or her life, then I might wonder about that person’s salvation. I don’t know who is really saved and who isn’t but God does. We can’t see the condition of the heart but God can.

I know that I’m saved because I know that I was sincere in receiving Jesus and in professing my faith. I am trusting in the promises in God’s word that tell me that if I have faith in Jesus, then I am saved. I can also see the change in my life in my love for the things of God.

But if someone claims to be saved, and then after a long time, they never come forward for baptism, then something is wrong. Can such faith that doesn’t drive them to action save them? That is what James is asking.

How could a saved person not have compassion for someone who is in need, especially a brother or sister in Christ? We may talk a good Jesus, but if we don’t back those pious words up with action, then we are just blowing hot air.

2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

The point of the illustration in verse 18 is that if 2 men both claim to have faith, the one who also has works is the more credible witness.

Earlier I cited Matthew 7:1 where the Lord said "Judge not that ye be not judged." I read somewhere recently that this is the most frequently quoted verse in the Bible in our time. What that should really say is that it is the most frequently MISAPPLIED verse of our day. In a society that is morally bankrupt, tolerance becomes the final virtue. So we are not to be judges, but we are to be fruit inspectors.

The Lord may have said "judge not that ye be not judged", but just a few verses later he also said "Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:16).

2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

It's good for people to believe that God exisits. But faith the brings eternal life implies more than just an intellectual belief in the existence of God. It implies trusting in his word to the point that you are willing to turn your life over to him. Saving faith changes what you do.

The Lord's church is not like a beehive where there are some worker bees that do all the work and some drones who stay idle. Every member of the Lord's church is called to be a worker bee. Everyone is called to a personal ministry of some sort.

The Lord's church is also not like a little league baseball team where there are some 1st stringers who play all the time and some bench warmers. The Lord didn't call anyone to be a bench warmer.

Sometimew I will hear people pray "Lord please send workers into the field." Remember that whenever you point at someone else and pray "Lord send HIM into the field", there are 3 fingers pointing back at you!

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Justification comes at the point in which we are saved by trusting in Christ. At that very moment we receive the righteousness of Christ applied to our account and are justified before God. Both Abraham and Rahab proved their faith before men by what they did. They both took great risks. Justification in the eyes of men is important because it lends credibility to our witness to others as we try to lead them to Christ.

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

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