James 2 | Faith Without Works Is Dead

James 2 is a powerful chapter that challenges believers to live out their faith authentically. It begins with a warning against showing favoritism, emphasizing that partiality, especially based on wealth or social status, contradicts God's call to love others equally. This lesson resonates with modern audiences, reminding us that God values character and faith over external appearances. The passage illustrates how believers should treat one another as equals, recognizing the unique gifts and worth of every person in the body of Christ.

The latter half of the chapter tackles the relationship between faith and works, a subject often debated in Christian theology. James declares that faith without works is dead, emphasizing that genuine faith produces visible evidence through actions. This isn’t a contradiction of salvation by faith but a complement, illustrating that true belief transforms a person’s life. Using examples like Abraham and Rahab, James shows how their faith was proven through obedience and bold actions, urging readers to reflect on the authenticity of their own faith.

For today’s church, this chapter is a call to both humility and accountability. We are warned against elevating individuals based on worldly standards like wealth, charisma, or fame, and instead are called to seek unity and mutual respect within the community of believers. The principles here challenge us to examine our actions and ensure they align with our professed faith, shining as evidence of God’s work in our lives.

James also emphasizes mercy, declaring that judgment without mercy is a sin, while mercy triumphs over judgment. This balance of truth and grace calls believers to a life marked by compassion, service, and a steadfast commitment to God’s commands. Such a life glorifies God and stands as a testimony to the transformative power of faith.

Ultimately, James 2 serves as both a mirror and a compass—helping believers evaluate their spiritual health and chart a course that reflects a living, active faith. By embracing these truths, Christians can impact the world around them with genuine love and purposeful living.

#FaithWithoutWorks #James2Study #LoveYourNeighbor #ChristianUnity #FaithInAction #BibleDaily #NTChapterADay #DailyBibleStudy #ScriptureApplication #LivingFaith

Transcript

 James 2

James 2

[00:00:00] Hey everyone, welcome to God's Plan, your part, year two, where this year we're reading through and studying the entire New Testament one chapter at a time. Thanks again for joining us in discovering God's plan and your part in it. Today we are looking at James chapter two. I think we're going to be talking a little bit about how to handle money in church, and then maybe we'll dive into.

Maybe a little bit of controversy on if we are justified by faith or if we're justified by works. Uh, certainly that's a tension point when it comes to the book of James. So as we read over James 2, Jenny, what sticks out to you? I definitely was more drawn towards the faith without works, uh, section, if you will.

Uh, you really, We're clinging to the first part more so than the others and I might be too strong of a word, whatever you were more interested in that one. Then how about that? So I think I think this is a pretty important passage because I think all of us can be subject to this and we can fall into it on either side of the spectrum.

So James to. Um, is talking about how there is [00:01:00] no partiality among God's people. And this was a very real problem in first century church, our first century Christianity, I think continues to be a real problem, um, in a, in a lot of ways. Uh, when Christianity hit the scene in culture, it caused, like, a significant disruption because what the people were teaching, what Jesus was teaching, is that we are all equal in God's eyes, and it does not matter, uh, where you come from.

And so you had this issue, this is just one of the issues, where very wealthy people were starting to worship together with very not wealthy people, uh, and they didn't quite know how to act around each other. And so this is what James is doing. That comes out really clearly. I think for today, obviously we still run into this issue because money is like this weird idol that we chase.

Um, but I think it can also be even more than that. So like, I oftentimes think of just like circles we've been in. I don't know that I would say that there have been like exorbitantly rich people, but there were definitely some that's like [00:02:00] dressed a certain way, you know, acted a certain way that were definitely put on like strange pedestals of like, Better person should be given more X, Y, Z, whatever.

So I think we can put people in those, in those positions of you're better than this one based on a lot of different things. Um, not just money. So I've seen it a lot of different ways. Same concept, but I've seen it in well different ways. So one of the things that's interesting here is it, I think, would be easy to read over these passages and want to take a side.

Like, okay, well, it's, it's clear that God's, God's in favor of poor people. Because I read over this passage and it talks about like you don't want to show partiality to rich people That's not what the passage is teaching. It's it's not teaching that you should be on one side or the other It's teaching that regardless of your financial circumstances We should be working together with other believers to move the kingdom forward so this is not a passage about if God loves wealthy people or And doesn't love poor people, [00:03:00] or if God loves poor people and doesn't love wealthy people, the point of the passages, let's not show partiality amongst ourselves.

Let's not favor one man over another man, um, simply because of the wealth that is available to him. And obviously this is still an issue. It's very tempting, uh, particularly, particularly if you're in a church during a building campaign or in a church during a major capital campaign, it's very tempting to treat people of wealthy means in a different.

way. And what James is teaching is that is not appropriate. And so we want to be sure that there's not impropriety among ourselves. And we're not showing favor to someone because of how they look or how they dress or what their checkbook says. We are to treat each other as equals. We are equal in God's eyes.

And we all bring unique gifts and talents to the table regardless of financial appearance. So I think this is a good, uh, cautionary tale, uh, for [00:04:00] all of us, regardless of where you sit, um, be sure that you are showing honor to other people and other circumstances. Well, and it kind of wraps up that thought that you were just talking about the end, like the tail end of that section.

In verse 8, it says if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. You're doing well. Uh, verse nine, I really appreciate says if you show partiality, you're committing sin, like. And I do it. I do it all the time. Um, and are convicted by the law of transgressors for, this is verse 10 now, for whoever keeps the whole law but fails on this one point has become guilty of all of it.

So I think that it's like, it's trying to hit home. Like even if you're doing great on all the other things. And you treat someone less than yourself, or treat someone, um, poorly based on these like really silly things. Um, you're guilty of all of it. And like I said, it can be, like it can be money, it can be status, it can be things that are like flashy, that's like, oh well you're [00:05:00] definitely better.

Like, you're not nearly as weird as that one, so you're better. Think of, think of how often like, um, I feel like it's a somewhat common story where a fairly famous person comes to faith. Think about how quickly they get put on every platform in every city around the country. Um, and it's usually plays out that it's not a great idea because they're not actually that solid in their faith.

That's partiality. We're not supposed to do that. Um. Um. I'm sure you can make any number of examples. That's the one that popped into my head. Um, we just really need to be careful about elevating someone because of their. Anything. Appearance. Circumstance. Nothing. We, we are equal before God and we all have unique gifts and talents to bring to the table and we want to support each other and move the kingdom forward together without partiality.

Crazy thing too, kind of wrapping that part up, verse 13, I think it just keeps like hitting home over and over and over again, but for judgment is [00:06:00] without mercy to one who has shown no mercy, mercy triumphs over judgment. Um, so like if you are showing partiality and no mercy to someone who clearly in God's eyes is equal to the person that you're super excited about or showing partiality to, it's pretty explicit here.

Judgment is without mercy, or excuse me, without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. So like, oh, yikes, don't want to be in that boat for sure. So it's a pretty clear and directive warning. Um, and then that, I guess that kind of leaves, leads us then into the next. Part of the chapter because it's talking about faith and works and how they go one hand in hand if you claim to have faith and your works better show it to you said there was a little bit of controversy there can be because we are we are so in favor of this idea that All you have to do is believe, and that's not wrong.

Like it really is like for right relationship with God, you have to believe that Jesus died for your sins and he paid the penalty that you owe. [00:07:00] And now you have right relationship with God because of that. Um, the problem is sometimes. We completely disconnect that from how you live your life. And a lot of times people will even be very cautious about even examining someone's life to see if they are actually making decisions that reflect Christ.

And James here is saying, hey, uh, faith without works is dead. So it is not actually even possible to have faith in Christ and not live a life that looks like Uh, it is striving to honor him. And so, um, I think sometimes we can fall into this where it's like, Hey, um, I know that guy, he, he prayed that prayer and he raised his hand during the invitation and he's a Christian.

It's like, well, I don't know if that's true. Um, because when we, when we truly believe something, our actions reflect that we believe it to be true. Uh, one of the, one of the sort of cheesy things I like to use is that if I hear it's going to [00:08:00] snow, I will go out and put salt on the driveway. If I don't put salt on the driveway, I don't actually believe it's going to snow.

And so, here, I think James is saying, Hey, if you truly believe that Christ gave his life for your sin, and you have real faith in Christ, your life will look like you have faith in Christ. And if your life doesn't look like you have faith in Christ, we have reason to be concerned about where you're at. So it's kind of like Like I'm trying to process all this like faith on its own faith without works is dead, right?

But it can't be the other way around our actions do not earn right relationship with God only Christ's sacrifice does that aren't the works that you? Do a reflection of your faith though. I would say the works that you do are evidence of your faith They do not they do not prove that you have right relationship with God.

They prove that you have faith So like I can't God is not counting how many times I was nice to someone today, which is probably like the most extreme version of that. [00:09:00] And obviously he knows the thoughts and convictions as to why you did it. Yes. And so you'll find situations where it's like, well, I, I give 10 percent of my money to the poor.

It's like, well, that doesn't. earn you anything, or I'm a good person that doesn't earn you anything. The only thing that accomplishes your salvation is faith in Christ. And if you have faith in Christ, your life will reflect that and people will be able to see that that is true. What about so then let's jump down because I guess it's a little bit.

It's confusing to me. If you look at verse, uh, I guess 24 and 25, or 24 and 25, uh, it starts with, you see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Okay. So first that seems a little muddled. And then it says, and in the same way also was not. Sorry, and in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way.

Well, you're actually picking up his thought in the middle. Right, because he's talking about Abraham and Isaac [00:10:00] beforehand. Yeah, I would start, you see that faith was active, or no, actually it would start in what, verse 21? He says that his, yeah, it's, um. So, let's do it. Uh, Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

You see that faith was active along with works and faith was completed by his works. That was kind of what I was, sorry. The scripture was fulfilled that says Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. So. So that was kind of my, like my thought process earlier where it's like your works are a reflection of your faith.

That's why I was saying that. But then I don't understand here. Why it says, like, in the same way, was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works. Because Rahab was not an Israelite. And so Ra, it would have been natural for Rahab to live as the people of Jericho lived. They were against God, they were against the people of God, they were against the Israelites.

But Rahab came to a place of faith in God, and because she believed God, and, and she does talk about that, because she believed [00:11:00] God. that, like, documented? Because I, I know the story, but it's like so loose because she believed God, she hid the spies and not only hid the spies, led them out of the city safely.

And because she believed God, she was protected by God. Like her house in the wall stood when the battle was over. So she had faith in God and because she had faith in God, she rejected her former way of life. and protected God's people. So essentially, faith comes first and actions reflect the faith.

They're not using her as an example of only having works because that's how it felt when I read it. Okay, that's good to clarify because it's definitely how it felt. Um, I guess just kind of to round this out, unless you have something else to say for this section anyway, and for the chapter, uh, verse 26 for as the body apart from the spirit is dead.

So also faith apart from works is dead. I like that, that visual for me, when your spirit leaves your body, your body is dead. Like there's nothing there just like your faith without works is [00:12:00] also dead. So it's really clear picture. So listen, I don't want to be misunderstood. Like I totally believe that you are saved by faith.

I believe that when you are saved by faith, your actions will reflect the fact that you are in relationship with Jesus, in relationship with God. So those two things do go hand in hand. And if you're in any kind of situation where you're too far to one side, it's usually pretty obvious. Like there are definitely places that just say, well, just believe in it doesn't matter what you do.

That definitely happens. There are also places that say, well, just make sure you do the right things and they don't put any emphasis on what you believe. And that's. also a problem. So we need these two things to work hand in hand, work together. Um, and I think a lot of times people want to, they don't want to appear legalistic.

So they just talk about faith alone. Um, and then other times they, they are very legalistic. So they talk about works alone and, and the two of them go hand in hand. And I think also going along with just the theme of the chapter, our works. Should be [00:13:00] like obvious to the world that it is made that those things are like those actions, those things that we do were done out of the faith that we have.

So we should look different from the world. We should look separate from what the rest of the world expects or is doing because of our faith. So works do not earn our salvation, but they are evidence of our salvation. And so if you don't see things you have faith. a right reason to at least call into question.

Sometimes people are like carnal Christians or baby Christians. They just need more direction and discipleship. Um, other times people really are not in relationship with God and their life does show that that is the case. So, uh, we invite you to examine your works, like think about, think about the kind of life you're living.

Think about the kind of decisions you're making. Uh, are there ways that you could just get a little bit better today at how you honor Christ with your life? And if you can think of those ways. I encourage you to put them into practice, not because [00:14:00] you're earning your salvation, but because you are showing the world what you believe by how you live and how you act.

So we invite you to do that. We'll be back again tomorrow with James chapter three. We'll see you then. Thanks for joining today's episode of God's plan. Your part, as always, please consider partnering with us as we are a listener supported podcast that we hope to continue to grow with. Support from listeners just like you.

We've made it super easy to partner with us and you can support us by following the link in our show notes or our description. You can support us with as little as 3 a month. Every little bit of this helps so much and we're so thankful for your support. With that in mind, here's today's reading. James chapter two, my brothers show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, you sit here in a good place, while you say to the poor man, you stand over there, [00:15:00] or sit down at my feet, Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my beloved brothers. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin, and you are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For the judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. [00:16:00] Mercy triumphs over judgment.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed, and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe in shudder. Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by his works and the scripture was fulfilled that says Abram believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness and he was called a friend of [00:17:00] God You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone and in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of God's Plan, Your Part. Don't forget, you can find us on just about every social media platform and YouTube. Let us know what you thought of today's episode. And if you have any questions, go ahead and post them there.

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[00:18:00] Um,