Click here to open the Video Devotional
James 2:14-18
This passage of James 2:14-18, I believe, is one of the most misinterpreted and misunderstood passages in the Bible. James asks the question in James 2:14-16 (NKJV) of, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” James goes on to proclaim that faith by itself, without works, is dead (James 2:17). The separation of verse 17 and verse 18 shows that James has made his statement as verse 17 ends a paragraph and verse 18 begins a new paragraph with an example of his proclamation in the preceding verses. In James 2:18 is the example of the objection to his proclamation that one may say, “You have faith, and I have works.” The reply of James in verse 18 is, “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
This is a command that faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
This is an example that one’s faith in Christ Jesus will result in active works.
The big misunderstanding in this passage is that some believe there is a choice to be made by this section of biblical instruction by James, the brother of Jesus. This is the passage of which many people try to incorrectly contrast with Paul’s instruction in Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV) which states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The truth is that both James and Paul are professing salvation in Christ Jesus through faith, but James goes on to speak more directly of the works that is, as Paul says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” This message by both James and Paul is very important that we understand in its proper context. We, as Christians, do not have a choice of faith or works as a means to gaining salvation, but through our faith in Christ Jesus and the changed sincerely repentant life that we now live in Christ Jesus is a product or outflowing of the works that show our changed sincerely repentant life that we now live – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
Thank You for inspiring James to give us this teaching that shows us we are to be active in our relationship with You through Your Son, our Savior, Christ Jesus. We are Your hands and feet in this physical world, and the calling You give each of us – in Christ – is unique to each of us but is the action of the works that is the product of our salvation and changed lives – in Christ. Thank You Jesus for this privilege of serving You to show my faith in You. In Jesus name I pray, amen.