14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
18But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." 19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
COMMENTARY
14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
It is easy to say, "I believe," but only saying it means nothing. We must ask ourselves: "Is my faith real or not?" [1] Because we are saved only through authentic faith, not through false faith. How can we tell if our faith is true or not? We can tell by our deeds. Our deeds – that is, our acts of love – our deeds of love, our deeds of obedience – are the proofs of our faith. If no deeds are accompanying our faith, then such a faith will not save us (see Mat. 7:21)[3]
James asks a symbolic question, "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?" The question has an implied admonition (caution), which is probably given to us in James 2:1 and 3:1.
"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality." (James 2:1)
"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." (James 3:1)
These verses state the theme of this section. Now notice the "if" of James 2:2: "For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes." James supposes an example, no doubt, drawing on his own experience. The careful wording suggests a claim to faith, a comment, and a question. A man says, "I have faith." But James claims that he is without works. The claim and the comment constitute a hypothesis. If this is the situation, says James, nothing can be gained from it. Faith of that kind cannot save him, can it? (The implied answer is 'No.') The claim of faith is unsupported by evidence of its reality, for there is no discernable evidence: he has not works. For James, salvation depends on the Word received and obeyed (1:21).
15If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
This is not an actual event: James still says, 'if,' and he still thinks of a brother or sister. An actual event would require a specific person. James is using his imagination and is making a comparison from what we should call social work. His point is that goodwill or a friendly attitude is not enough. He, therefore, repeats his question, "What is the good?" -- Sociologically, in the realm of human welfare, not that of eternal salvation.
Here James says that false faith is like the love expressed in words but not in action. We can easily say to our poor brother or sister that we love them, but if we do nothing to help them, our love is false, worthless – "17But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." (1 John 3:17-18). This kind of love benefits no one. In the same way, unless deeds manifest our faith, it is worthless.
17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
This is one of the most important verses in the New Testament because it keeps us from misinterpreting some of Paul's teaching. In Eph. 2:8-9, Paul wrote, "man is saved not by works, but through faith." Many people misunderstand Paul and begin to think that they no longer have to do any good works. They suppose that because man is saved through faith, good works are no longer necessary. They forget that Paul taught in other verses that good works are indeed necessary. Paul wrote in Eph. 2:10 that we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. He also wrote: "the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Gal. 5:6).
As in social work, goodwill without works IS DEAD, so faith without works is DEAD in religion. The dead do not do anything! Faith by itself corresponds to 'faith alone' in v.24 and' faith apart from works' in v. 26. It is instructive here to consider Luke 23:43[1]. The penitent thief had no time left for works, and faith had no time in which to die. James would not have dissented from this. He sees faith as having had time for expression in works, but the opportunity was not taken. Now James attempts to correct the mistaken idea that Christians don't have to do good works. Yes, we are indeed saved through faith, not through works. No one can be saved by doing good works, no matter how many or how good the works are. This is true. But we must ask: What is faith? True faith is faith that is expressed by works. Works must always accompany faith; works are included in true faith. There is no such thing as faith without works; true faith always gives rise to good works.
What good works? The works of obedience. The work that God wants us to do is to obey Jesus' commands (John 14:15). And Jesus' main command is: "Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12)
Therefore, true faith always manifests itself by love (Gal. 5:6). If a man shows enough love for his neighbor as he does himself, we can be sure his faith is genuine.
First (before deeds) comes faith. Then, when we have believed, we become new people. True faith then causes a change in our behavior. God fills our life with His love through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). We receive new power to love our neighbor and to believe all of Christ's other commands. And this new love and new obedience is the proof that our faith is indeed true. Therefore, in summary, the New Testament teaches that we cannot obtain salvation by our work and effort; instead, we receive salvation through true faith. But true faith is consistently demonstrated by our love and obedience; if there is no love and obedience, there is no faith. Deeds – that is, love and obedience[2] – are the proof of our faith. Without love and obedience, our love will not save us; it is dead.
One of the criminals crucified with Jesus believed just before he died (Luke 23:39-43). After believing, he had no chance to do any good works. From this, we know he was saved through faith and not through any works. But for those who do not die immediately after believing, their faith must be manifested by works of love and obedience, as long as they live.
18But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Who is speaking? There are two possibilities.
(1) It may be the same man who asked the question in v. 14 or his representative: "What use is it, my brethren if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?" He merely says You (James) have faith. He means: "You (James) are in the same position as we are; you are one of us." James sharply replies, "and I (with emphasis) have works, and continues with his attack, Show me. . . .
(2) On the other hand, James may be keeping himself in the background, and the same one may be speaking on his behalf and answering the question asked in v. 14. He begins by saying, You have faith (as you say, v. 14), and I have works. He continues his offensive. Knowing that faith is an inner attitude and that the man claims to have it, he says, 'Show it.' At the back of his mind is the thought, 'If you can, I doubt it.' For it is impossible to show it without works, which the man does not have. He finishes the round with a hard punch, 'I will show you my faith by my works.' This is possible because the works express faith.
Here James speaks of an imaginary conversation between two people. The first person says that only faith is necessary, not works. The second person says that both faith and works together are required. The second person (James) speaks to the first: "You have faith, you say? Please show me your faith. You can't show it because your faith is without works. But I will show you my faith by what I do. My works are the proof of my faith."
19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
Here, the imaginary conversation continues. The attack is resumed and pressed home. Perhaps the man will try to show his faith by referring to its contents. Are you a monotheist in belief? Good! This is a sincere comment (Deut. 6:4), for the doctrine is basic, but it becomes ironical. You have not demonstrated your Christian faith; indeed, you keep strange company: the demons believe just as you do and shudder at the exorcistic formula, 'one God,' in fear of losing His power. Your faith is merely the popular, intellectual (though not necessarily learned) idea, and it can be combined with evil. Just as the demons believe and continue their wickedness, so you too can believe and go on sinning. The point is not that the content of faith was wrong but that it was inadequate. We might appropriately compare Tit. 1:16 with Heb. 11:6
20But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
James speaks in his own name here. As the imaginary conversation continues, the second person (James) reminds the first person about Abraham. God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac on the altar (see Gen. 22:1-13; Heb. 11:17-19).
Abraham had true faith in God; therefore, he obeyed God. Is proof desired? He adds Scripture (v. 21) to reason to show that faith apart from works is useless.
Why was Abraham considered righteous (v. 21)? Because he believed? Or because he obeyed? The answer is both. Abraham was deemed to be righteous because he believed and also because he obeyed.
General Notes
[1] "And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." These are Jesus' words to the one thief on the cross who repented. Is proof desired? He adds Scripture (v. 21) to reason to show that faith apart from works is useless. And Paul said, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph 2:8-9).
[2] Love and obedience always go together; to obey is to love, and to love is to obey (see John 14:15). In the same way, faith and deeds always go together; you can't have one without the other.
[3] "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Mat. 7:21).
