Belief and deeds are divine companions that mark the life of a Christian. James labors to show the correlation and necessity of the two if a person truly possesses genuine faith. He uses an illustration of a needy person who lacked food and was poorly clothed. Then he describes a person of worthless faith who responded in this way, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled.” James expresses dismay by such reaction and offers the right conclusion. How can a person who claims to have faith respond to a brother or sister in need, “…without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (v16). Such person is like dark clouds that approach a region in drought, only to pass over without dropping any rain.
At the same time, James expands his exhortation, by addressing people who believe that their deeds alone are of equal weight as one who has faith, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works” (v18). They are implying that deeds makes faith unnecessary. Such a person to their own error endeavors separate faith from works. There are those who advocate…
- A Intellectual faith that is sufficient? Such person can know all the scriptures. Additionally, they may be able to recite the apostle creed, and teach from memory the Westminster Confession. If the quality of someone’s faith is rooted only in their ability to recall creeds and doctrines (all while placing little priority on living them out) what good is their faith according to James.
- Philanthropist deeds alone that are adequate? There are many in the world who give of their resources and time to “good causes,” but do not place their faith in Jesus. Is this way of belief equivalent Biblical faith? No, it is as dead and unsightly in the eyes of God as road kill. It is mere filthy rags in the presence of our Lord (Isa 64:6). The true value of faith is rooted in the source by which it draws strength from and imitates. Whatever I follow gets the glory for my life (cf., Mt 6:1-4). That is either me or Jesus. It cannot be both.
These are the central reasons why James rejects wholesale a division between faith and works. One Bible commentator explains it this way, “True faith cannot exist separately from works and works acceptable in the sight of God cannot performed without true faith” (Kistemaker). Faith models what it follows. For the Christian, faith is the main ingredient in everything we do. Any faith aside from Christ is belief in self which is equivalent to the faith of Satan and his demons. Remember, he boasts of great things, but cannot possess saving faith because he is already dead (unredeemable). Satan is who we imitate when we can only recite creeds but cannot live out the deeds of God. James warns, to have a faith of demons (head knowledge of Jesus only) is worthless, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder!” (v19). Even they declared that Jesus was the “Son of God,” while he was casting them out of people they afflicted and possessed. Mere words and knowledge did not save them. It does not save us either. Genuine faith in Jesus leads us to live (out of love) for him towards others (Gal 5:6, Rom 13:8). Let us have living faith that is followed by deeds that models Christ.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D.
www.springoflivingwaters.com