Lesson 4975

 (Lesson 4975) (09-14-25) 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 lesson can be confusing to some and should be studied, in depth, to clear away any such confusion and to reconcile it with the rest of the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the other apostles. Sadly, there are those today, who claim to be believers in Jesus Christ, who will tell us that, because of this quote, if we don’t do certain things to their standards, we don’t have the faith that will get us into heaven. If that is true, which it most certainly is not, then there is a gross contradiction in the teachings of the bible. For example, Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans chapter 4 verses 4-5, “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. Then again in 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.” In the quote, James used Abraham’s faith as an example; However, I don’t think he was clear enough as to what Abraham’s faith should teach us. His faith was present before he attempted to sacrifice Isaac, it is what caused him to do it, and even if he had died before attempting to sacrifice Isaac, he, no doubt would have gone to be with God because of his faith without ever having demonstrated it. The fact is, that if we have faith enough to confess our sin before God, wholly believing that Jesus Christ is a sufficient sacrifice for our sins, and thereby take on His undisputed righteousness, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are, by the power of God, guaranteed eternal salvation and a place in heaven.~