Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.                                                                                                                

                                                                             James 2:17 

Every now and then we run across passages of scripture that seem to rub up against each other in such a way as to create a dilemma. Are these passages problematic? They shouldn’t be. Do they contradict each other? Absolutely not! The quandary that these passages often create can be avoided. Our job is to discover the context of each passage and seek to harmonize the two together so that they compliment each other. The Bible is a whole and we should treat it as such, avoiding the extreme positions that come from an unhealthy fixation of one passage over another. Today’s passage is a great example of how two seemingly competing thoughts can actually compliment each other. Consider the following:

…nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

                                                                                                                 Galatians 2:16 

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 

                                                                                       James 2:24 

So which is it? Are we justified by faith apart from works as Paul suggests or are we justified by faith and works as James mentions? The answer is found in harmonizing both passages. In order to accomplish that, let’s look at the extreme positions that come from emphasizing one passage while ignoring the other.

First, some would suggest that we are saved by faith and works and they use the James passage as a means of establishing that belief. There are two problems with this. The first issue is that to do so, one would have to completely dismiss the statement made by Paul in Galatians. The second problem is that we would have to not only ignore Paul’s statement but we would have to throw out a plethora of biblical truth regarding salvation. The abundance of scripture dealing with salvation by faith alone is impossible to miss (John 3:16, Acts 16:30-31, Romans 10:9-10). If we take the extreme position that our salvation is dependent on our own performance, we miss the simplicity and power of the gospel (Romans 1:16).

Secondly though, we can focus on faith and forget the importance that works plays in our lives as believers. To dismiss the statement made by James would be to attempt to paint a picture of the Christian faith void of any significant life change. These would be the people who verbally acknowledge God and Christ but whose lifestyles do not reflect behavior consistent with the spiritual transformation that comes from being “born again” (John 3:3). James makes the valid point that this kind of faith would be mere talk and he does so by asking the rhetorical question, “Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14b). Faith without any demonstration of any life change whatsoever would probably indicate that the individual has most likely not come to faith at all. “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” (James 2:19-20). Merely believing that God exists is not the same thing as giving our lives to Christ and trusting in His power to transform us as a means of being justified.

So if we are to avoid these two extreme positions, how do we then reconcile these two statements together? Having looked at the extremes, it should now be coming into focus. Mankind is justified when we place our faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus paid the price necessary for us to be made right with God and this is done entirely apart from any works (John 3:18, Romans 3:28, Romans 4:4-5). However, this transformation, moving us from spiritual death to spiritual life, should be accompanied with a heart, mind, and attitude change consistent with the power of the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:15, 17). In other words, as believers, we should stand out as those who are different than the rest of the world (1 John 2:15-17). Because of our love and devotion to our Savior, we now desire to treat people differently, as we would want them to treat us (Matthew 7:12). James says:

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and 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? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

                                                                                                                 James 2:14-17 

Now we see the context of James’ statement. He is emphasizing the indispensable role of believers taking care of the needs of others. To merely “wish them well” but doing nothing about their needs is to merely profess our faith rather than qualifying our faith through actions. Compare this to Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-46.

When we are inwardly different, we will be outwardly different as well. Salvation is by faith but this faith will generate good works as a result of the influence of the Spirit within us.

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 

                                                                                                               1 John 3:18