Lesson 2199

(Lesson 2199)(12-16-17)  James 2:14-26
    “ 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.”

    Today’s quote would seem to endorse the contentions of some that one is not eternally saved by faith alone. If that were true, which it most certainly is not, then all the teachings of Paul and many of the other disciples would be rendered false. The truth of what I’m saying here is clearly demonstrated in Romans 4:4-5 and Ephesians 2:8-9 etc. Romans 4:4-5 reads; “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that WORKETH NOT, but BELIEVETH on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” That quote clearly tells us that it is NOT the things (the works) that we do here on earth that saves us, but rather it is our faith in Jesus Christ that provides the necessary righteouness to enter Christ’s kingdom  heaven. Ephesians 2:8-9 again verifies that is our faith that saves us, NOT WORKS; “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.
    Having said the above, James makes a very good point in the quote. Faith, without being demonstrated or exercised, is indeed a dead faith. However, even a “dead” faith is nonetheless still faith. And as we most assuredly know, faith in the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ is all that is required to receive eternal salvation.
    It would do us well to also remember that James, the author of this text, was a devout Jew and as our earlier study indicated he, and some of the other apostles, continually tried to impose elements of the old Hebrew Law onto Christian doctrine, If we reflect back to those earlier lessons, we can see that even Peter struggled to keep the gospel of Jesus Christ to its purest form. He and Paul had open and contentious arguments about it. James was, more than likely, one of the hardliners who tried to get Paul killed. I have found no scriptural evidence for the charge other than that the efforts to kill Paul originated with the Jews in Jerusalem where James was prominant among the leaders.~