James 2:14

CAN FAITH-ONLY SAVE?

Text 2:14

James 2:14. What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? Can that faith save him?

Queries

129.

What is the difference between profitable and non-profitable? i.e., What would make a thing have profit?

130.

Is there any profit whatsoever in a faith that would not be strong enough to prompt a man to action? (Think carefully, and consider the claims of modern psychologists.)

131.

Does James 2:14 suggest that the person with such a faith does absolutely nothing? What kind of works is it then that is not accomplished by this person?

132.

What profit does this verse say should be expected?

133.

What answer does James expect to the question?

Paraphrases

A. James 2:14.

Of what use is it, my brothers, for a man to have a faith that is not strong enough to prompt him to action? Would such a faith bring him salvation?

B.*James 2:14.

Dear brothers, what's the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren-'t proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone?

Summary

Faith without works does no good and will save no one.

Comment

The man who says he has faith, yet does not conform his action, may be sincere in his belief. We should not imply from the say he hath of James 2:14 that the man is claiming something he does not have and he knows he does not have. There is no indication that the man does not believe, any more than James 2:19 indicates the devil does not believe. In fact, it would seem that the man is sincere in his conviction, but for some reason is not prompted to action. The point is that the faith is not to be blamed for the man's lack of action, but the man himself is to be blamed. Evidently the will of the man has a flaw, or his love for Christ is faulty, or he wavers between two opinions, or he has too much affection for things of this world. Whatever his reason, it is the man himself that is condemned for his lack of action, (James 2:24). His conviction that Jesus is the Christ can be absolute, yet, because of other loves or other flaws he does not surrender himself to Christ.

The profitless state of the man who has faith without works is the emphasis of the verse. Modern psychologists will argue some tentative and emotional profit from a conviction that does not prompt action. A conviction that there is some one up there is supposed to give us a measure of assurance we need in moments when we revert to our childhood dependence upon our parents. Or a conviction that someone knows the answers to the problems that we find beyond us leaves us assurance that the world is not left in complete chaos and in aimless meandering. These profits (?) are so nebulous as to be worthless, especially in comparison with the grand profit that should be expected through faith in Christ.
James question, can that faith save him? expects the obvious answer no! This is obvious not only because of the thought-logic of the sentence itself, but because of the illustration and explanation that follows. The obvious answer no is reinforced so that we can see the fruitlessness of clinging to a faith that is not accompanied by a life surrendered to Jesus.

What James means by works in James 2:14 is often questioned. Did he mean the fruits of the spirit, the good deeds of the Christian, the conduct of one who has long since surrendered to Jesus? (see Matthew 5:16; Matthew 23:3; Romans 2:6; John 3:20). Did he mean any obedience to the plain commandments of Christ? Did he mean what the world usually terms good deeds, i.e., visiting the widows and orphans? (James 1:21; James 1:25-26). Does he mean by works the same as Paul's use of the term in Romans 3:28; Romans 4:2?

Quite obviously James is speaking of an entirely different concept of works than that of Paul in Romans 3:4. Paul was speaking of works of merit, of works that earn the right to heaven, of works that are complete and perfect and will not require a Savior. James is speaking of works as obedience to Christ, the surrendered life that goes far beyond a mere conviction that Jesus is the Christ, Although James makes it clear the works of which he speaks are necessary (James 2:24), it is clear that these works earn nothing. The faith that works and prays is essential, but the salvation and healing come from the Lord, not from that faith. (see James 5:15). God has ordained to work through a faith that obeys. God works the salvation, which is a free gift, a grace. He gives this salvation to those who choose to surrender their life by faith. To have faith yet not to surrender the life in action, is to fail to meet the requirements for the free gift of salvation.

Paul, too, uses the word works in the way that James uses it. To keep the readers from misunderstanding the Roman letter, Paul began and ended the epistle with necessity for obedience to be coupled with faith. (see Romans 1:5; Romans 16:26). The obedience of faith of which Paul speaks is evidently very similar to the works of faith of which James speaks. In Philippians 2:12 Paul says the Christian must work out his salvation. In Ephesians 2:9 the Christian is created unto good works, In Romans 6:13 the Christian is admonished to present his members as instruments of righteousness. The kind of life lived by the Christian was very important in Paul's teaching. If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die, Romans 8:13. Paul also has much to say about the fruit of the Spirit and bringing forth fruit unto God. To say that Paul and James did not agree in their doctrine is to completely misunderstand one of them, or both.

The salvation which faith without works does not bring, can mean nothing but the salvation from hell and eternal separation from God. This salvation that Christ gives through His death is not obtained except through a faith that works, or the obedience of faith.

In James 1:22 James warns to Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only. He, also, makes it clear that the purpose is to save your souls, and that the person who hears and does not do has deluded himself.

Much in the same way he makes a contrast in James 2:14 that is developed in the rest of the chapter. A confession of Christ, coming from a real conviction, does nothing for the person who does not do the word. James is saying that the man who is saved and who has the promise of heaven must live a real Christian life, and not merely have faith without the life that goes with it.