James 2:17-21

James 2:17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

There is much misunderstanding and needless debate over the meaning of James chapter two. Albeit, if we rightly divide the Word of Truth it is not difficult to interpret (2nd Timothy 2:15).

The Apostle Paul in the Epistle of Romans speaks about the root of the believer's salvation, which is faith. Faith is the only righteous thing that I can do to be saved. Paul writes about being justified in the sight of God by faith alone.

Contrariwise, the Apostle James in the Epistle of James speaks about the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which is works (Galatians 5:22-25). But a Christian must choose to Walk in the Spirit or else by default we will fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” It is natural to be carnal. Living a holy life is a supernatural life lived in obedience to the inspired Word of God and yielding to the Holy Spirit (2nd Corinthians 10:5-6). As God's children, Jesus lives the Christian life through us by faith (Galatians 2:20). James writes about being justified in the sight of men by our works. Man cannot see into our heart.

Granted, some unsaved people do “many wonderful works” (Matthew 7:22-23), and some born-again Christians commit horrible sins (2nd Samuel chapter 11 - David and Bathsheba). So we cannot know if someone is saved just because they do good works, nor can we know if someone is lost just because they commit horrible sins or crimes. However, as a general rule people will assume that you are likely a Christian if they see Christlikeness in you (Matthew 5:16).

The born-again man in 1st Corinthians 3:15 lived a worthless, selfish, wasted life for God. He did his own thing, lived for his own plans and never shared the Gospel with anyone. His faith was “dead” as James said in James 2:17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Carefully notice that a dead faith is still faith. That is, the person is still saved. If you are saved but living a life of unrepentant sin by choice, then your faith is dead. For all effective purposes, your testimony is dead to the world around you and ineffective as a light to the lost world.

This is exactly what the Bible means in Hebrews 10:14-16, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”

Lot is a good example of a believer who didn't live a holy life. He chose to move to “Sin City” Sodom (the Las Vegas of their generation). When Lot tried to warn his son in laws of the coming destruction of Sodom, they laughed at him, thinking that he was joking. Dear reader, is your testimony so poor that people take your Christian faith as a joke? I sincerely hope not. You may be the only Jesus someone knows and their only chance for eternal life (Matthew 5:16).

James chapter two has nothing to do with salvation, and everything to do with our testimony as believers. Abram (later renamed to Abraham) was saved in Genesis 15:6 when he believed God and his faith was counted for righteousness (cf. Romans 4:1-7). But James says Abraham was justified by works in James 2:21, when he offered up his son Isaac. James 2;21, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” That event didn't happen until Genesis 22:9-11, many years after Abram was saved. So, we see clearly that these were two very different events, which happened many years apart from each other. Justification has and always will be by faith alone.

Roman Catholics and many false teachers today wrest James chapter two to their own destruction (2nd Peter 3:16-17). Also, carefully notice that James says to “shew me” and “I will shew thee” our works. It doesn't say to shew God. Again, James speaks of being justified in the eyes of men, not the Lord. This is plain to see from the text.