Faith That Works

    What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

   If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

   And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

   Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

   Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

   Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

   But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

   Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

   Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

   And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

   Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

   Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

   For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

JAMES 2:14-26

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   Many people in this world think that God keeps a big scale on which He weighs our behavior here on earth. If the good which we do in this life outweighs the bad, then God will one day welcome us to heaven.

   Because of this false idea, millions of people are busy trying to work their way into heaven.

   On the other hand, there are many true believers in Christ who look upon good works as something that the Christian should avoid.

   What is the answer? Is it "faith" or "works" that determines our eternal destiny?

   Faith means many things to many people. To some, like the agnostic Voltaire, faith "consists of believing things only because they are impossible." H. L. Mencken expressed the same sentiment when he mockingly said, "Faith is an illogical belief in the occurrence of the impossible."

   But to millions of people faith is not only possible, it is also as John Wesley declared, "the divine evidence whereby the spiritual man discerneth God and the things of God."

   The epistle of James is often referred to as "the epistle of faith in action." James' entire letter is devoted to a discussion of how the believer can show his faith. It is really a blueprint for "faith that works."

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   James 2:14-26 presents us with one of the most controversial portions in this entire epistle. It is because of this section that Martin Luther referred to the book of James as "a veritable epistle of straw." Why did Luther say this? Well, Luther, at one point in his life, believed that James' words regarding "works" were a contradiction of the teachings of apostle Paul.

   What is the reason for all this controversy? Does James actually prescribe works as a necessity for salvation? Is eternal life something that has to be earned? In chapter 2 of this epistle, James declares, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him" (2:14)? "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works and I will show thee my faith by my works" (2:17-18).

   If we compare these words with Paul's writing in the book of Romans, we discover some of the cause of Luther's criticism. Because in Romans 3:28 we read, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." To the German reformer, the words of James appeared to be a contradiction to Paul. He looked upon this epistle as a defense of the legalism which he had earlier experienced in the Medieval church.

   Martin Luther had for years been an Augustinian monk. Prior to the Reformation he had spent his entire life in the church. From his youth he had been indoctrinated with the teachings of indulgence, penance, and good deeds.

   Then through his reading of Paul's epistles to the Romans and Galatians, Luther understood that salvation does not come through good works or deeds of the body—but by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone. It was this discovery that led to his salvation experience.

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   "When," said Luther, "by the Spirit of God I understood these words, 'The just shall live by faith,' I felt born again like a new man; I entered through the open doors into the very paradise of God!"

   Before his conversion Luther's life had largely consisted of rules, works, and tradition. Like Paul, he turned from this life, and declared salvation to be by faith alone! Undoubtedly Luther's criticism of James was influenced by his background. But the question remains—is there really a conflict between the writings of James and Paul? Did these two leaders preach different doctrines?

   In my estimation the answer is no! Although Paul's teaching may outwardly appear to contradict James, there are several things that must be considered.

   First, when Paul uses the word works he is referring to a legalistic observance of the Jewish law. Many Jewish converts in the early church were still "working" at the tradition and ritual of Judaism. Paul stresses that salvation is a gift and not a result of legalistic works.

   On the other hand, James uses the word works to refer to fruit. The fruit of real salvation is obedience. Jesus Himself proclaimed that, "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Mt 7:20). Works or fruits are the outward example, the proof of a true inward experience.

   James says that faith by itself is dead. It is nothing more than an intellectual assent to the fact of God. He condemns an idle faith as being nothing but barren orthodoxy.

   Do you have real faith? asks James. Then show it! Give some tangible proof of that which you profess.

   Someone has said that true, genuine faith involves verification by the heart, confession by the tongue, and action by the limbs. This is the theme of James' epistle.

   On the other hand one of Paul's purposes in writing to the churches at Rome and Galatia was to stop the Jewish Christians

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from subjecting Gentile believers to Jewish rituals and law. To the church at Ephesus Paul wrote, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:8-9). The supposed conflict or contradiction between James and Paul was really a difference of perspective and background. Each man emphasizes a different point, but they both come to the same conclusions.

   James preached faith demonstrated by works. His aim was to wake up the self-complacent people who claimed to believe but did little about it. The combination of faith and works as seen in this epistle can be illustrated by the positive and negative particles that are found in an atom. Both are absolutely indispensable for electricity.

   An atom contains both negative electron particles and positive proton particles. In a normal atom the charges of the electrons and protons are balanced, so that when an electron leaves an atom, the atom becomes negatively charged. If an electron is added, the atom becomes negatively charged. The electrons cannot say to the protons, "You are not needed," nor can the protons say the same to the electrons.

   Faith and works in the life of the Christian unite in much the same way. And although the Scripture clearly indicates that we cannot work our way to heaven, both a vital faith and expression of that faith are extremely important. James says it is ridiculous to say you have faith and then turn your back on every opportunity to demonstrate that faith. If that is how you act, then your faith is not real. It is not genuine. It is false!

A MAKE-BELIEVE FAITH

   Verses 15 and 16 of chapter 2 present an example of a make-believe faith. James writes "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto

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them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?"

   These people whom James mentions are not professional beggars. They are brothers and sisters who are in a particular time of deep need. How do we react when this type of need confronts us? Do we say, "God bless you my brother, we'll pray for you. Go in peace and be comfortable?" That is not how Jesus reacted when He saw those in need. The Scriptures tell us that when He saw the multitudes, "he was moved with compassion" (Mt 9:36). He healed the sick, He gave sight to the blind, He gave food to the hungry. He was concerned with the needs all around Him.

   James says that if we say we are concerned but do nothing to help our neighbor, our faith is nothing but cheap words. He says, "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (Ja 2:17). It is one thing to talk about faith, but it is something else entirely to demonstrate it. A man may profess to be an expert swimmer, but if he never goes near the water, his claim means very little. James is simply saying that if you say that you have faith, prove it. To use the vernacular of today, "Put your money where your mouth is."

   The Bible tells us that on one occasion a rich, young man came to Jesus and asked Him what he must do in order to gain eternal life. He was a good man and very religious. He had kept all the commandments from his youth. But when Jesus responded by telling him that he should sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor—his countenance fell. His faith was really nothing more than make-believe.

   Every once in a while someone will come to me and complain about the condition of our youth today. Now I know that some have deep problems, but many of our young people are earnestly seeking for answers to life. Here at the

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Moody Bible Institute we have some of the finest young men and women in the world.

   But as I talk to young people from time to time I find that one of their biggest criticisms of the church is the false faith they see all around them—friends, teachers, sometimes even parents who profess one thing but live another.

   Oftentimes an individual suffering from schizophrenia will experience hallucinations. He will become withdrawn into his own little make-believe world and pretend that he is something or someone he is not. To the individual it is all very real, but to others it is obvious that the poor man is suffering from some mental disorder.

   Too many Christians today seem to suffer from spiritual schizophrenia. They profess to have faith, but in reality their faith is only make-believe.

   May God deliver us from a ho-hum attitude. Young people can read their parents. They can see right through their teachers, and they turn away in disgust from a make-believe faith.

AN INTELLECTUAL FAITH

   James not only preaches against a make-believe faith, he also condemns that which is merely an intellectual faith.

   It's very easy to sing or say "I believe." That's head faith. But true heart faith—saving faith—produces fruit. Faith without fruit is false!

   To simply say "I believe," is of no special merit or value. James tells us that even the demons "believe" in God. According to chapter 2, verse 19 there are no atheists among the demons. They know too much to succumb to unbelief. They have all the head knowledge of God but no heart trust. Theirs is merely a mental assent.

   Intellectual faith, my friend, is of no greater value than is

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make-believe. Each one is lacking the "fruit" which must be demonstrated in the life of a true Christian.

AN OBEDIENT FAITH

   Obedient faith, says James, is the only faith that works. Do you have that kind of faith?

   In the last few verses of this chapter we are told about Abraham who was asked by God to do a very difficult thing—to offer his son Isaac upon an altar of sacrifice. The Bible tells us that Abraham believed God. He did not understand why God was asking him to do this, but he believed God. He obeyed God's command, and, just as he was about to offer his son's life, God provided a ram to take Isaac's place on the altar.

   In verse 22 James says, "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" Abraham trusted God so completely that he was willing to obey Him in even the most trying of circumstances. His faith operating in him is that which led him to obey God. As Moffatt suggests, "faith cooperated with deeds." Abraham's obedient faith and resulting works fitted together like hand and glove. His faith was "made perfect"; it was made complete by his works.

   Abraham obeyed God completely. His faith was alive. His faith was fruitful. Yes, and obedient faith is saving faith. Paul said, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Ro 10:13).

   Today some people are afraid of that word, saved. Actually it is a great word used numerous times throughout the New Testament. In Acts 4:12 we read, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

   In Acts 16 the Philippian jailer asked of Paul, "What must

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I do to be saved?" Paul replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Ac 16:30-31).

   There are two ingredients in saving faith—repenting and believing. To repent is more than just being sorry for your sins. It involves a change of direction. D. L. Moody used to say, "Man is born with his back toward God. When he repents of his sin, he turns around and starts walking to meet God." Saving faith is not possible unless a man also repents of his sin. True belief, genuine faith, does not come unless we are willing to make a personal surrender of our whole life to Christ.

   Once when the great tightrope walker, Blondin, was performing on a cable across Niagara Falls, he asked his audience, "How many of you believe I can walk across that wire pushing a wheelbarrow?" The people all cheered and he then asked, "How many think I can do it with a man in the wheelbarrow?" As his audience cheered again, Blondin pointed to one enthusiastic gentleman and said, "You're my man." Needless to say the man made a rapid escape. He believed all about Blondin's ability, but he was not ready personally to commit himself.

   Millions of people in our world today believe about Jesus Christ. Some have a make-believe faith. Others hope they can work their way into God's favor. There are some people who have an intellectual faith. They believe Jesus lived and that He was a great teacher, but that is as far as they are willing to go.

   The Word of God tells us that true faith is not a vague, mystical thing. It is not merely a mental attitude. It involves a personal and total commitment of oneself to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

   If you, my friend, have never experienced this kind of faith, why not make this the day you totally yield yourself to

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Jesus Christ. Put your life into His hands, repent of your sin, and He will give you a faith that works.

* "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (Ja 2:26).

* James says that faith by itself is dead. It is nothing more than an intellectual assent to the fact of God.

* It's very easy to sing or say "I believe." That's head faith. But true heart faith—saving faith—produces fruit. Faith without fruit is false!

* Obedient faith, says James, is the only faith that works.

* May God deliver us from a ho-hum attitude. Young people can read their parents. They can see right through their teachers, and they turn away in disgust from a make-believe faith.

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