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.
James 2:14-17
This passage is the birthplace of much debate. Unfortunately, some take away from this verse a faith vs. works argument in regard to salvation.*
Here, works refers not to works of the law such as circumcision, but it refers to the works of love, such as caring for those who are in need, not showing favoritism, being humble, or being slow to speak.* While Paul is very clear in his writings that pre-conversion works are not necessary, James emphasizes the necessity of post-conversion works.*
George Guthrie tells us,
The works James requires are not done apart from faith but done in faith, not done instead of faith but done because of faith. Faith is the underlying stance of Christian life; deeds are the way of life; becoming mature and complete is the goal of Christian life. James cannot be charged with opposing deeds to faith, since he does not say, “I will show you deeds instead of faith.” Rather, he contends for a showing of both faith and deeds: I will show you my faith by what I do. He does not object to faith; he objects only to faith not accompanied by action. Simply stated, he wants Christians to have faith that works.
James suggests that faith that does not express authenticating actions is not a true faith at all.* Meaning, those who put their faith in Christ see fruit in their lives that look like good deeds. James rejects a “faith” that is not accompanied by deeds.* James is contrasting an ingenuine faith that consequently produces no action to a genuine faith that results in action to those in need.*
Some have asked, “how do I know if I am saved?” James would tell us that a genuine faith in Christ Jesus (which is solely necessary for salvation) is evidenced by an expression of that faith that does something for others.
If we say that we believe in Jesus, our lives should begin to look more and more like His: serving others through compassion.
The foundation of Jewish piety included providing the necessities of life to the poor (Isaiah 58:7).* Furthermore, the wicked cause the poor to go around naked and take their food (Job 24:10).* Therefore, while those who claim to have faith but do nothing lack true faith, those who claim to have faith but bring harm to those in need or in positions of weakness not only lack faith but are wicked.
None of us is perfect, all of us are in process; even faith as small as a mustard seed can do something for the Kingdom of God.
So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. - Jesus (Matthew 7:17-18)
…For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. - Jesus (Matthew 17:20b)
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to recognize the call to do something out of faith. Perhaps today God is asking you to step out and to serve others as He has been whispering to you. Maybe today God wants you to look at the fruit in your life.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 129–132). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 239). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 2:14–17). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 155–160). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 147–150). Zondervan Publishing House.