Work Out Your Faith

GETTING STARTED

In today’s passage, we dive into a text that has received much scrutiny throughout the years. It is a passage that some feel is a contradiction to what Jesus taught. But after spending time in this great book, investigating its context, and meditating on the substance, one finds this passage greatly supports the ministry and teaching of Christ. In fact, Christ is perhaps the greatest example of what James teaches in these verses. No one in history ever demonstrated such great works to support his faith and claims. 

  • What evidence is there of your faith?

READ THE WORD: JAMES 2:14-26 (ESV)

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Who did James address (vs. 14)? Based on James 1:1, what was the nationality of this group of Christians? Keep these things in mind as you study James’ words.
  2. When James addressed a theoretical objector in verse 18, what did he give as evidence of his faith?
  3. (Note that justified in verse 21 means “to declare someone righteous in the sight of the law, not to make someone righteous in his or her conduct.”) What was the progression of Abraham’s faith? Did his works make him righteous or declare him righteous? Why would this example of Abraham’s works giving evidence of his faith have been impactful for an audience of Jewish Christians?
  4. What words did James use to describe faith without works (vss. 20, 26)?  How can faith be present but useless?
  5. Take some time to evaluate the outward evidence of your belief in Christ. What does your faith demonstrate?

RESPOND TO GOD

James urged his audience—made up of Jewish believers who could impact their community effectively through acts—to demonstrate their faith in Christ through works. James stressed that faith without works is useless, not absent. Many that read these verses too quickly come to the conclusion that James claimed faith, plus works, leads to salvation. Quite the opposite, he did not claim that salvation comes through faith and works, but that the evidence of faith comes through works. Works are an outward expression of an internal belief. They are a testimony to onlookers of an active and living faith.

  • Pray for God to give you an opportunity to take your faith into action.
  • Praise God the Father that, in Christ, he actively sought you and demonstrated his love for you.