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Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd.   P.O. Box #3762   Gillette, WY  82717   (307) 686-1516

 

- Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 -

 

 

 

 

ILLUSTRATIONS THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD

 (James 2:21-26)    11-14-12

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

 

I.     EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM (21-24)

 

A.    Abraham’s Faith was Evidenced in Offering Isaac (21)

 

1.     James now illustrates his proposition that faith without works is not genuine and dead by looking at the example of Abraham (21-24), Rahab (25), and the body (26).

2.     Abraham is the father of the national lineage of the Jews (“our,” Ge 17:5; Ac 7:2, 8) but also the father of those who have faith in Christ (Ro 4:12, 16).

3.     Paul used Abraham as an example of faith alone for justification (Ro 4:1-5). Is James contradicting Paul by saying that Abraham was “declared righteous” (dikaio,ō - God’s judicial declaration of righteousness) by works? No. Rather James was arguing that real saving faith will indeed have action and evidence, which could be coined as “faith-works.” It is not works such as circumcision that saves (“works-works”), but it is works that follows the saving faith that justifies (“faith-works”). Paul argued the priority of faith (without works) while James argued the proof of faith (with works)

4.     Abraham evidenced “faith-works,” that is, genuine faith that evidences genuine fruit of genuine salvation, when he offered (aorist participle - anaphe, - bring up, take up, or offer up) his son Isaac on the altar. However, Abraham’s saving faith took place in Ge 15:6 while his evidence of saving faith took place in Ge 22:9, 12; perhaps some thirty years later.

 

B.    Abraham’s Faith was Completed Faith by His Works (22)

 

1.     James explains his concept of “faith-works” by saying that faith was “joined together” (sunê,rgei - with & work, work together, joined together) literally “to his works.” In other words saving faith will be joined together with the works and fruit of salvation that follow.

2.     Faith then was “fulfilled” (aorist passive - teleio,ō - perfected, completed, fulfilled, carry to an end) by works or proven as saving faith because it was accompanied by works.

3.     Works serve as a barometer of justification while faith is the basis for justification.

 

C.    Abraham’s Faith was Reckoned as Righteousness (23)

 

1.     James quotes the same passage that Paul has quoted in Ro 4:3 and Ga 3:6, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Again, when understanding James’ point, there is no contradiction between James and Paul.

2.     Both understood that the Scriptures teach that when Abraham put his trust in God’s promises, it was his faith that was reckoned as righteousness. The word “reckoned” or “credited” comes from the Greek word logi,zomai. It was a word used in commercial dealings to “put to someone’s account.” It is a word that refers to the concept of Imputation. Man’s sins were imputed to Christ on the cross (2Co 5:21) and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to all those who believe (Ro 4:23-24). Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the believer at the moment of faith.

3.     God’s act of crediting Abraham with righteousness because of his faith was vindicated by Abraham’s act of obedience in offering his son. In this way Genesis 22:1–14 fulfilled Genesis 15:6. (Expositor’s Bible Commentary in loc.)

4.     Both also understood that Abraham was the “friend of God” based on his obedience that sprang from his faith (2Ch 20:7; Is 41:8, Jm 2:23; cp. Jn 15:14-15). Abraham had a right relationship with God by faith, which fostered a right behavior of obedience (works); therefore, he could be referred to as the “friend of God.”

 

D.    Abraham’s Faith was Revealed by His Actions (24)

1.     James then was able to conclude his point that a person is justified by genuine faith that results in works or by “faith-works.”

2.     Therefore, when James stated that “by works a man is declared righteous,” (ex ergōn dikaiou,tai a,nthrōpos) he was not supporting the doctrine of faith plus works for salavtion. Rather, genuine works that accompany genuine faith give proof of a person’s justification.

3.     In addition, when James stated “and not by faith alone” (ouk ek pi,steōs mo,non) he is not advocating that faith alone does not save, rather he is advocating that saving faith is not alone or void of works of salvation that follow. Or, as the Reformers put it, “Sola fides justificat; sed fides non est sola” (faith alone justifies, yet faith is not alone).

 

II.    EXAMPLE OF RAHAB (25)

 

A.    Rahab Evidenced Her Faith by Her Actions (25)

 

1.     James gives another example of “faith-works,” this time through Rahab the harlot. James states that Rahab was “declared righteous” by the same kind of “faith-works.”

2.     Rahab is mentioned in the faith chapter in He 11:31 and therefore had faith in God and His promises (Jos 2:9-11). This faith was no doubt the source of her justification.

3.     However, James stated that it was because of her works. In other words, Rahab exercised genuine faith and it was manifested by genuine works. This took place when she received, hid, and sent away Joshua’s men (Jos 2:3-4, 15-16).

4.     James’ readers could not argue with the situation of their patriarch Abraham. However, neither could they argue that God justifies the ungodly by faith (Ro 4:5) with the example of Rahab. Both examples demonstrate genuine works evidence genuine faith.

 

III.  EXAMPLE OF THE BODY (26)

 

A.    Like a Dead Body, Faith is Dead Without Works (26)

 

1.     James gives a simple but third illustration to prove that without works, faith is dead. This is the example of the human body without the spirit.

2.     Death is theologically defined as separation. Spiritual death is eternal separation from the presence of God and His salvation. Physical death is the separation of the spirit from the body. When a person dies, their spirit separates from their body whether a believer or not. The body is considered dead (nekro,s - no longer alive literally or figuratively).

3.     It is the same principle between faith and works. James makes the strong argument that a workless faith is a dead (nekro,s) faith. Genuine saving faith is never totally or permanently “without works” (chōri,s e,rgōn).

4.     James’s conclusion to the contemporary false teaching is the same: A lifeless body and a lifeless faith have the same thing in common; i.e. death. However, a lifeless body of a believer has sent the spirit to heaven in the presence of God, whereas a lifeless faith (totally and permanently) has yet to come to Christ and receive His salvation.

 

IV.  OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

 

A.    Easy Believism insists that there is no necessary connection between saving faith and works. In fact, to insist on good works as the evidence of salvation introduces obedience into the plan of salvation, compromising seriously, if not fatally, the freeness of the gospel offer.

B.    Biblical and theological understanding of works portrays that they have nothing to do with the mode of salvation but have everything to do with the measurement of salvation (Ro 6:22; Gal 5:6; Ep 2:10).

C.    Wherever you are in your Christian life, your mandate is to give evidence of genuine faith by genuine works. Believers must also be careful not to rely upon past works any more than a body can rely upon the spirit that previously indwelled it.