20 You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless?
21 How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar.
22 Can't you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions.;
23 And the scripture came true that said, “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.” And so Abraham was called God's friend.
24 You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone.
25 It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road?
26 So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead. (GNB)
James returns to the premise stated in verse 17, above.
V. 20 - “You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless?” -
His response to those who say good works will get them to heaven is blunt, even harsh! It is not that you have a slight misunderstanding of how salvation comes about. He is accusing this 'believer' of being deliberately uninformed. Bear in mind James is writing to a church. They should know better. It might be understandable for someone who has not heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ to think that if they are 'good' God will allow them into heaven. For James, good works are a product of God working within you through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. James gives a couple of real life examples to contrast living and dead faith.
V. 21 - “How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar.” -
Abraham is used by both Paul (See: Rom. 4:16-23) and James as a good example of faith. James and Paul approach faith and works differently. James’ approach is mainly pastoral, Paul’s is mainly missionary. James is discussing what God requires of people who already are Christians. Paul is referencing what God requires for a person to become a Christian. - What is the basis for Abraham to be 'declared' righteous? Paul indicates that it is Abraham’s faith (or, belief) that God will do what He said He will do. James uses a different event for his emphasis of Abraham's righteousness. He use the example of Abraham showing his faith by offering Isaac as a sacrifice as commanded by God. (See Gen. 22:1-18). Many years earlier, Abraham had been 'declared' righteous; his obedience was the proof of the declaration. (See: Gen. 15:6).
For our discussion, Rom 3:21-29 looks at the 'root' of righteousness, and James 2:14-26 looks at the fruit.
V. 22-23 - “Can't you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions. And the scripture came true that said, ‘Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.’ And so Abraham was called God's friend.”
“His faith and his actions worked together;”- (a quote from Gen 15:6). Why does James stress 'actions', or 'works'? His actions demonstrated the genuineness of his faith. 'Actions' - not an isolated incident, but an accumulation. Paul and James use Gen 15:6 differently. Paul declares Abraham faithful before the circumcision; James says offering Isaac demonstrates his faith. That is why James says, “Scripture was fulfilled…” (cf.: Gen. 15:6, and 22:1-18). James quotes Gen 15:6, but God's command to sacrifice Isaac is in Gen 22.
“his faith was made perfect through his actions.” - What is James focusing on? The implication of 'perfected' is that faith is not a change from ‘imperfect’ to 'perfect' - but grows into maturity. The Greek word for 'perfected' has a meaning of "to bring to completion, maturity, to perfect, consummate", e.g., a tree is ‘perfected’ by its fruits; works do not animate faith; faith produces works, and works completes faith.
V. 24 - “You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone. “ -The teachings of James and Paul do not disagree. It is a matter of 'focus'. Abraham was called a “friend of God” because he believed and obeyed. As we read through Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy we find a repeated command - Listen and Obey.
How are we called "a friend of God"? When we obey His commands.
V. 25 - “It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road?” -
What a contrast - righteous Abraham and Rahab the harlot (who obviously was not ‘righteous’)! It seems a stretch to place Abraham and Rahab on the same pedestal. But she is remembered - she is in the ‘hall of heroes of the faith’ - see Heb. 11:31. Prostitutes were considered the lowest class of the lower classes (along with tax collectors). Yet, she is used to underscore vital, useful faith. She saw God's work, and recognized the truth, and demonstrated her faith. That is what led her to hid the Israelite spies. By-the-way: Rahab's last name seems to be "the harlot". Whenever she is mentioned in Scripture, or our conversation, it is as “Rahab the harlot”.
We now see how Abraham (Gen 22), and Rahab (Josh 2) proves James 2:24. Both demonstrated their belief in God by their obedience.
V. 26 - “So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.” (GNB) - James repeats verse 17. A living faith cannot be separated from the deeds which are the evidence of that faith. Put your faith to work. Faith and works are two sides of the same grace provided by God.
For some perspective: Paul is discussing the beginning of the Christian life; James is discussing its continuance and consummation. Look at this table to see how Paul and James handle the same concepts. This is not saying either is wrong, but their emphasis is different.
*** .| Faith | Intellectual assent to the facts, and barren of good works is therefore useless. | Saving faith in Jesus, which naturally leads to works of righteousness. |
| Works | Acts of ministry, mercy love done in obedience | Acts performed legalistically in obedience in order to earn salvation. |
| Justification | Final acceptance by God at the last judgment. | Immediate acceptance of any sinner who repents and believes. |
For Paul, works that precede faith are renounced and are dead.
For James, faith apart from works is dead.
***
end of chapter.
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