Faith and Works

Journey through James: 2:14-19

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 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? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  

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. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe⁠—and shudder! — James 2:14-19

This next section of James has been the source of much debate. Some will come to this passage to prove that salvation is not by faith but by works. I would argue that James is not stating that salvation comes through works but that he is building on what he has been writing to this point. It is not enough to merely hear the Word of God; we must also be doers of the Word. Just as genuine hearing of God’s Word leads to obedience, so genuine faith leads to good works. 

James is not arguing for a works-based salvation. He is warning us against false faith. He asks us what good it would be for someone to claim to have faith yet have no good works. James gives us the picture of someone who is genuinely in need of food and clothing. If you look at that person and tell them to be blessed and have a good time, yet do not help them with their physical needs, what good is that? A few verses before, James challenged us about showing favoritism and how we are prone to neglect those who look needy. It is not good enough to just verbally encourage those who are in need when we can help them with their physical needs. 

It does not do any good to say we have faith if our works are not consistent with our claims. Telling someone to be warm and filled does not help them gain warmth or sustenance. To help them we have to follow those words with action. Some claimed to believe in Christ, yet their lives were unchanged. Faith without works is not real faith.

James is arguing against those who try and completely separate faith from works. Works follow true faith. To say we believe in God and yet live without evidence of faith is incongruent. To live this way is to live the same way as demons. They believe that God is real and shudder. Yet this belief has no bearing on their actions. If we have faith in God, our actions will change. Works do not save us. Good works are merely evidence of a changed heart. Genuine faith will result in good works.

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. — Ephesians 2:8-10