SAVED BY WORKS?
James 2:14-26
These verses here in James 2:14-26 are some of the most controversial verses in all of scripture.
- We have been commissioned by Christ “to go and make disciples of all nations’…and in doing so we are to “teach them to observe all that He has commanded us.”
Now, to do that, one of the first things we must do is convince people that this is the word of God and to trust what the Bible says.
- One of the things that makes it so trustworthy and dependable is that it never contradicts itself.
- It doesn’t say one thing in one place…and then in another place say just the opposite.
Well, that is what makes this passage so controversial.
- What James says here seems to be a contradiction to what is taught else where in the Bible.
In fact, this passage seems so contradictory to other passages that some of the early religious reformers were not sure that James should even be a part of the Bible…
- And if it was to be a part of the Bible it should be considered an inferior book.
What is it about this passage that is so controversial…so seemingly contradictory?
- Well, let me show you.
- Look with me at Romans 4:1-5.
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God.3 For what does the Scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due.5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,
In this passage the Apostle Paul says that “Abraham was justified by faith“…and likewise for us, “the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, to him it is reckoned as righteousness.”
- So here, Paul says that you are “justified by faith and not by works.”
Look with me at Galatians 2:15-16.
15 “We {are} Jews by nature, and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of law; since by the works of law shall no flesh be justified.
Once again, Paul says that “no man is justified by works…but by faith in Jesus Christ.”
Now, turn back to James 2 and notice verse 24.
24 You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
So, what you have is Paul saying that a man is justified by faith…and not by his works.
- But James says that a man is justified by his works…and not faith alone.
- So, which is right?
Is James contradicting what Paul has said?
- If so, if the Bible contradicts itself right here, you can discard it as a book that is confusing and can’t be trusted.
Which one is right….Paul or James?
Well, the answer is both.
- Both are right…they are simply talking to two different groups of people about two different situations.
Let’s go back to Romans and lets look at the context to understand what Paul is saying.
First, let’s go all the way back to chapter 3 and notice verse 1.
- What Paul says here in chapter 3 and 4…he says in reference to the Jews.
Now notice verse 21 and following.
- From what Paul says here you can get a pretty accurate idea of the way these Jews were thinking.
- Notice what he says.
- Now, Paul is going to talk to these Jews about “how you can be declared as righteous”…which is essential to being right with God.
“Now, apart from law”….completely and separate from law.
- “the righteousness of God has been manifested”…He has revealed it.
- “being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets“…the law and the prophets both testified to God righteousness.
Now, verse 22:
…even {the} righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
That is the problem here.
- These Jews were refusing to believe in Christ.
- They were trying to save themselves…trying to obtain righteousness…by keeping the law….by their own human performance…or by their own works.
Basically, what they were saying is, “We can be good enough on our own to be saved.”
- “We can do enough works so that we can save ourselves…we don’t need Christ.”
Look with me at Romans 10 and notice what Paul says. Now here Paul is speaking about these Jews.
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them (Jews) is for {their} salvation. (the Jews are lost).
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God (they are very religious), but not in accordance with knowledge. (Paul says that their knowledge is faulty.)
3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness (justification by faith in Christ) and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. (They did not accept the principle of faith in Jesus.)
4 For Christ is the end (goal) of the law…(“end” here means “the point aimed at”…Christ is what the law was trying to achieve. The law showed that no one can be justified by their human performance. No one can be good enough. But Christ was. The law manifested the need for Christ)… for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. (Law keeping demands flawless obedience to every command which is impossible.)
6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down),
7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” (Righteousness based on faith does not demand the impossible! Redemption is not based on human performance.)
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”– that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, (Righteousness by faith says, “Just accept what God has already done in Christ. Not what you can do. It is impossible for anyone to earn salvation. It is God who initiated the coming of Christ. God makes salvation available. All we have to do is trust in what God has done.)
9 that if you confess (homolegeo – “one word” – to say the same thing about Christ that God says – this is my beloved Son..He is Lord)with your mouth Jesus {as} Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;
10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, (verbalizes his faith in Jesus) resulting in salvation.
And look at vs. 11: For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
These Jews were not believing in Christ…they were trying to save themselves by their works…and Paul’s point is…they couldn’t do it.
- With out Christ…they are lost.
Side note: Many will take this passage and say, “Paul says you can be saved without being baptized.” That is not what this passage is about. Paul has already dealt with baptism back in chapter 6. This passage is about Jews who were trying to save themselves by human performance…which is impossible…and their need to put their faith in Jesus and His performance on the cross.
Now, Galatians 2: 14 and 15. What is the context.? Well, let’s start in verse 11:
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he {began} to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how {is it that} you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
15 “We {are} Jews by nature, and not sinners from among the Gentiles;
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.
These men from James had come to Antioch (this does not mean that these men held the same views that James held. Acts 15 indicates that James did not agree with what these men did)…and what they were doing is they were saying, “Jesus isn’t enough to save you. ”
- “If you are going to be saved…you must combine the Jewish practice of circumcision with Christ.”
- In other words, “you must combine works of the flesh with faith.”
And in verse 16 Paul says, “works of the flesh has nothing to do with it…you are saved by faith in Christ.
Paul is talking to some Jewish converts who were trying to deny that salvation is in Christ and Christ only.
- They were saying, “Christ is good, but you need more. You must also keep the Law of Moses.”
Now, let’s go back to James 2:14 and see what James talking about?
14 What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
Notice who James is talking to here? He is speaking to His brethren.
And notice what the situation is.
“If a man says he has faith…”
- This is someone who “sincerely claims to believe in Christ.”
- This is someone who has confessed Jesus as Lord…has repented of His sins…and has been baptized into Christ.
But look what he is doing!
- “But he has no works…”
- In other words…he is not going to the assemblies….he is not praying…or studying…or giving…or teaching…or visiting the sick…or the widows…or the orphans….or encouraging…or supporting…or helping…
- He is not bearing any fruit in his own life.
- He is not maturing as a Christian because he is not allowing the word to shape him.
- He is still prejudiced against the poor…or against the Gentile.
Here is a guy who is just a Christian in word and not in deed.
- He is a “hearer of the word and not a doer.”
- And James says…that kind of faith…a faith that does not work… cannot and will not save him.
James is saying that a non-working, saved Christian is a contradiction in terms.
- You cannot claim to be a Christian…and still live like the world…
- You cannot claim to be a Christian…and not be an active servant busy doing the Lords will…and be saved.
So, what is the difference between what Paul says in Romans and Galatians…and what James says here.
- Very simply put, “You cannot be saved by your works…but once you are saved…you cannot be saved with out them.”
Look at how Paul says it in Eph. 2:8. And remember, this is Paul.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God;9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
There is no contradiction between what Paul says here and what James says in James 2.
- The only difference is, James seems to be more bold in how he says it than Paul is.
You cannot be saved by your works…you can only be saved by faith in Christ.
- But once you are saved…you cannot be saved with out them.