James 2:18

"But someone may well say, "You have faith, and. have works; show me your faith without the works, and. will show you my faith by my works."But someone may well say" -The expression "someone may well say" is used in other places as introducing. speaker who is objecting to what is being presented (Romans 9:19; Romans 11:19; 1 Corinthians 15:35). The problem with this is that the objector seems to be arguing that he has works and that James has the faith only.

Points To Note:

1. Woods takes this passage as meaning, "It is as if James should say, 'Suppose some one comes forth with the objection that one's piety and devotion to God are not always exhibited in the same fashion; one may show his loyalty to God by faith, another by works; yet, both be equally pious and devout in God's sight'" (p. 137).

1. The challenger introduced in this passage may be. third party, someone who sees the discussion that James is having with an advocate of "faith alone" and who challenges the faith only person to demonstrate their professed faith without obedience.

James 2:18 "You have faith, and. have works" -The person making this statement might be trying (as Woods contends above), to argue that one man will be saved by his "faith in itself" and another man by the result of his faith. James will have none of this. And to this day many people try to make. distinction between what. person believes and what. person does. So many people, who do bad things, will argue, "But. have. good heart".

Kent notes: " The …..church has provided sanctuary for some whose connections with it are merely external. To them the church differs little from. service club…On the other hand, some people let works take the place of faith. They may become so deeply involved in charitable works and social service that little attention is given to the development of. growing trust in God. In many cases, such works are not the demonstration of faith at all but are merely humanitarian impulses" (p. 99).

James 2:18 "show me your faith without the works" -Some view this and the rest of verse 18 as the words of James and not the "someone" that he has mentioned. At this point in the conversation James jumps in and demonstrates that. distinction cannot be made between. faith that saves and obedience to God. Woods notes, "It follows, therefore, that one who disparages works must resort to them to prove that he has any faith at all!" (p. 137).

Point To Note:

The above point needs to be taken seriously. Today, those who advocate salvation by faith-only, still find themselves pointing to something which "proves" that they have accepted the Lord. Whether such alleged proof is the "sinners prayer", "coming forward at some rally" or. feeling. In the end, no one really believes in salvation by faith alone or. salvation at the point of mental assent."and. will show you my faith by my works" -Just as repentance has deeds which naturally follow it (Acts 26:20; 2 Corinthians 7:10), so faith has works, deeds or natural fruits (Luke 6:46; Matthew 21:25; Luke 7:30). What this is saying is that if you really believe, then the lifestyle, the obedience will naturally follow.

Points To Note:

1. Too many Christians complain about lacking the motivation to talk to others about the gospel and live the Christian life. The question isn't one of motivation, rather, it is one of whether or not one is truly. believer!. real trust in God and love for Him will naturally result in obedience to His will (Romans 13:10). 2. The disciples at one point complained to Jesus that they needed more faith, Jesus disagreed. Jesus stated that they just needed some of the real stuff (Luke 17:5).

James isn't done yet, he continues to press the issue, "But James wants to close even more avenues of escape" (Davids p. 125).