James: Wisdom for Practical LifeSýnishorn

Faith And Works 

How do we know if we are being transformed by the gospel? What can be the evidence for our genuine walk with Christ? How do we know our faith is real? 

This passage deals with true faith and counterfeit faith. 

Counterfeit faith is dead (v.17). Why is it dead? It does not have works. And the works James is talking about is works of love (v.15-16). Jesus talks about such faith in Matthew 25 in the parable of sheep and goats. People who enter God’s kingdom don’t just claim to have faith, but demonstrate this faith by compassion and love. True faith results in good works and bears fruit (John 15:5-6). 

Counterfeit faith is deceptive (v.18). True faith is not just intellectual, theoretical or some kind of feeling. It is accompanied by a transformed life. Even demons believe and fear God. Our pious life, good intentions, religious duty, and church attendance can be deceptive if not accompanied by a transformed heart and life. Jesus says we have to be born again. 

True faith is illustrated by Abraham and Rahab. In v.21, Abraham was justified by works and in v.24 Rahab was also justified by works. Does this contradict Ephesians 2:8 and Romans 3:20 which says no one will be justified by works? 

Paul and James are not contradicting each other. Paul is talking about justification and James is talking about demonstration. You cannot be justified by works, rather we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone. However, this justified faith is never alone, but accompanied, validated and demonstrated by works of love. 

Abraham believed in the promise of God, and it resulted in his act of offering Isaac on the altar. Rahab believed in the promise of God, and it resulted in providing refuge for the spies and risking her own life. 

True faith is trusting God’s means to save us through Christ. True faith results in putting our life, hopes, dreams and decisions on the line and choosing to trust and obey God, even when it does not make sense or it's inconvenient to us. 

How can our good works ever justify us? The Bible says we were conceived in sin and even our best intentions and acts are filthy before God, unless the works of another who is perfect justifies us, unless the perfect record of another is transferred to us. This is precisely what Jesus did through His life and His sacrificial death on the cross for us. His lived a perfect life as our substitute, and He died a perfect death in our place so we can be justified and forgiven before God. Just as Abraham represents a wealthy and powerful man and Rahab represents an ostracised prostitute, the grace of God is available to each one of us.