James 2:14-19

A Faith That Does Not Work Is Useless

Those who claimed to have faith but failed to be fair in their treatment of the poor, as well as rich, had a faith that would not save them. James does not say they are faithless, just without a faith that saves. In a similar manner, it is clear the works he speaks of are not works of merit which will save. Instead, they are the fruits of a faith that does save (Compare Luke 3:7-14; Matthew 7:15-20; 2 Peter 1:1-10; 1 John 1:6-7; 1 John 2:9-11). We can recognize a true man of faith by the things he does (James 2:14).

To show how worthless faith without works is, James uses the illustration of a brother, or sister, without adequate food or clothes. What would come from telling them to be warmed and filled. Obviously, they would not have a full stomach just because someone told themto be filled. Neither would they be warm because someone told them to be. Instead, it would take food and clothes coupled with the words to achieve the desired end. Just so, faith without works is "dead in itself." It is without any power because it has no works (James 2:15-17).

An objector might answer by saying one has faith and another works. They might say it is just as well since they are both good and useful in the Lord's service. The only problem is that faith cannot be seen except through the works it causes one to do (compare Hebrews 11:4, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22,23, 24-25, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31). To the one who said faith was a good thing, James would say to test it by thinking about belief in God. If they mentally acknowledged that there was one God, they did something which was good. In fact, it is absolutely necessary, but it is not enough. Even Satan's workers tremble at the thought of the God who will one day punish them (James 2:18-19).