James 2
When you realize that James nowhere appeals to God's need to see works, but appeals to men to see them, then you know that this chapter has been badly misinterpreted and abused to overthrow Paul's doctrine of Sola Fide.
Here, James makes a contrast between a vain, spoken faith and a faith that produces good works.14 What use is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself.
Since there are many who like to take the ending of James 2 and pit it against Paul in Romans 4 and Ephesians 2, these earlier verses are vital for context. Whereas Paul is not concerned about justification or vindication before men in his chapters, but Justification before God, here James is talking about justification before men: "I will show you my faith by my works."18 But someone will say, “You have faith; and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
Apparently, there are some who are so blasphemous that they equate faith in Christ to the "faith of demons" in order to thrust forward works, all in a bad misreading of these verses. When we agree with Paul that faith alone is sufficient to save you, we are not saying, "merely assent to the fact that God exists and is one." Which, as James says, the demons also believe and it avails them nothing. What we are saying is that, "Jesus Christ's death atones for sinners, and thus it atones for me" which the demons could never believe since Christ did not die for them, as they are not members of His New Covenant. Like Hebrews says, He certainly does not give help to angels but He helps the seed of Abraham.19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
Here, James gives commentary on Genesis 15 and 22. He commentates on the same passage that Paul does in Romans 4. If you read Genesis, which we did, then you recall that Abraham was declared righteous, Justified, as soon as He believed in God's Word concerning His Son: "count the stars if you can, so shall Your Seed be." That is, Abraham was accounted as righteous as soon as he believed in the Gospel promise, even in it's seed form. Then in Genesis 22, many years later, Abraham did not hesitate to offer Isaac upon the altar when God commanded him. How was it that Abraham accomplished this? Through faith in Christ. When did Abraham place his faith in Christ? Genesis 15. So when was he Justified? In God's eyes, Genesis 15. How do we as men, who cannot see the true nature of a tree without seeing it's fruits, know that Abraham was justified? By looking at his work in Genesis 22.20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected. 23And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. 24You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
When you realize that James nowhere appeals to God's need to see works, but appeals to men to see them, then you know that this chapter has been badly misinterpreted and abused to overthrow Paul's doctrine of Sola Fide.