Lesson 592

(Lesson 592)(03-31-13) James 2:13-26, "For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
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. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

The text of Today's lesson is erroneously relied upon by many as a foundation for their belief that salvation of one's eternal soul does not come by faith alone. In truth, it most assuredly does. Any teaching to the contrary stands in direct contradiction with all other New Testament teaching, for example, Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST." I could list many, many other examples providing that FAITH ALONE is what saves us.
This text is NOT in contradiction with the rest of the gospel when it is applied in its proper context. The author was making the point that faith must be demonstrated, a saved person must actually achieve something with the exercise of his/her faith. However it is still the faith that saves us, NOT the work.

A constant state of prayer is an exercise of faith. Seeking God first for the answers to life's problems is an exercise and demonstration of ones faith. There are many other ways one can demonstrate the faith that saves them without physically doing anything that others might see.

There is also a very wrong perception among many that doing nothing more that going to "church" every time the doors swing, and refraining from the obvious "sins" are to be considered "works". That is another point that is made by the author of this text, one must actually rely on God for everything, including his/her salvation in order to demonstrate a saving faith.~