Since Jesus and James agree about faith and works, shouldn’t we?

By Dean Collins

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you read your Bible daily, memorize all of the teachings of Jesus, and then live as if you have never heard of him?  

That isn’t exactly the point of James 2:14, but it is pretty close. Many Bible scholars have written vast arguments over what they believe are differences in what the apostle Paul said about faith and James said about works. I am not sure that James wrote this verse to lay out an argument or to debate with Paul about his views on salvation.

In the context of this short letter from James, there are a lot of simple yet profound quips of wisdom and practical advice for those who follow Jesus. There are also many verses that contain strong and direct teachings, including how we handle wealth, how we treat other people who have less than we do, how we get through difficult times, and how to nurture godly speech and refrain from gossip. There are at least 10 different topics in this five-chapter letter.  

James raises a fair point: what good is it to believe all the right things about Jesus and declare obedience to him, then act completely opposite of the one you put your faith in?

An example from James

James quickly follows his question with an example. If someone is freezing in the cold and hasn’t had a bite to eat, and you simply say, “Have a blessed day,” assuming someone else will come along and help, then can you really claim to know Jesus? Our actions must be consistent with those of our Savior.

James asks his question in verse 14 and answers it in verse 17: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” He wasn’t adding extra steps to salvation; he was simply showing us that people who are saved demonstrate a changed life. Where did James get such an idea? I am quite confident it was from listening to and watching Jesus!

The teaching of Jesus

Jesus, of course, came to make everything new. His life, death, and resurrection brought and continue to bring renewal to all things, and one day, when he returns in glory, we will see perfection and witness all things as God intended them to be. Until then, we are called to show forth his glory by the way we love and the way we live. Our faith must lead to productivity. It is never idle, but always loves.

All the way back to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that faith leads to actions and demonstrations of love. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus said we are to let our light shine. The evidence of living for Jesus is producing good fruit: “so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” 

Several times in that sermon, and in many other teachings from Jesus, we learn that the evidence of following Jesus and placing our faith in him leads to action (works):

• “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). Giving to the needy is the action, and verse 4 says our Father in Heaven rewards the action.
• “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:18-20).
• “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:2).
• “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:5,8).
• “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (Matthew 25:40). This verse comes after many examples of actions (works) of faith and love offered to others, which, according to Jesus, are actions toward him.

It is pretty clear, if you read the words of Jesus, that his intention wasn't that we would just put our faith in him, but that our faith would be lived out in such a way that the world would see Jesus through our actions, works, and behaviors. Apparently, Jesus didn’t separate our faith from our works.

Trust and transformation

It has become common in our culture to fight and disagree about most everything. We could take that approach and have a doctrinal debate arguing Paul’s words about faith against James’s words about works. Or we could spend our time trusting Jesus to continue to shape us into his image. The evidence of this glorious transformation is how we love each other. We do not love simply with words. Just as Jesus demonstrated his love by laying down his life for us, we demonstrate our love for him by laying down our lives for others.  

What good is it, indeed!

 Your time with God’s Word
James 2:14 (ESV)

Photo by Nick Fewings at unsplash.com

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