James 2:14

FAITH AND WORKS

‘Can faith save him?… Faith without works is dead.’

James 2:14; James 2:26

Salvation through faith is one of the most prominent truths of the Christian religion, and, in spite of some evidence to the contrary, there is nothing in the Epistle of St. James which is contrary to that great teaching.

I. Saving faith.—The answer to the question, ‘Can faith save?’ is assuredly in the affirmative. Faith can and does save men; indeed, there is no salvation without faith. But what is this faith—this saving faith? It is more than mere historical belief. Saving faith is the means by which we become united to a Person—even Jesus Christ; it is the channel through which Divine grace flows into our souls; by it we become one with Christ, and Christ with us. St. James is not referring in this Epistle to those who are thus possessed of a living faith, but rather to those—of whom there are so many in our congregations to-day—who are content with a mere intellectual assent to the Christian faith, and upon whose lives the claims of Christ have no power. This is clear from James 2:19.

II. Saving faith compels love.—Saving faith is that which realises the great truth enshrined in the words of the Apostle—‘Who loved me and gave Himself for me.’ Faith, realising the love of Christ, replies joyfully and gratefully, ‘We love Him, because He first loved us.’

III. If we love Christ we must love Christ’s people.—‘By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, that ye love one another.’ It is faith in and love for Christ that prompt to good works—works of charity, works of love, works of mercy. The man who has a living faith cannot help doing good; it is the fruit of his faith. ‘Faith without works is dead.’ The strength of the impulse to do good is the test of our faith. If you have no care for the poor, the weak, and the suffering, look within, and you will find that while you have a name to live, you are spiritually dead.

Illustration

‘A ferryman in the Highlands, of pious mind and life, had his oars inscribed respectively “Faith” and “Works.” A passenger one day, observing the quaint words, asked what they meant. He then took up the oar “Faith” and attempted to row with it; but the boat merely described a circle and made no progress. He next took up that marked “Works” and attempted to row with it—the same result. He then took up both, and plying them together the boat immediately shot ahead across the lake!’