Faith Absent of Works

Thought:  It is useless for others who are in need of our works of charity and service, It is useless to ourselves because our eternal reward is based on works done in faith. If we arrive at the judgment moment without works, we will come through the judgment moment empty handed. Most importantly, a faith absent works is useless to God.

As Jesus said:

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

 The light is a symbol for our faith in the Gospel, and Jesus told us to let our faith shine in such a way that the world sees our good works and glorify God.

Paul, for example, describes the judgment seat of Christ this way:

2nd Corinthians. 5:9- Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 5:10- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 5:11- Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

Note:  Paul says we should have as our ambition to be pleasing to Christ, knowing we will be judged by Him and rewarded accordingly, and Paul adds, whether good or bad. There can be a bad outcome to that judgment. A bad judgment is the result of a Christian who lives a life without striving to please His Master, that’s a life lived without a fear of the Lord. Look how Paul begins his next thought, knowing the fear of the Lord. Have you wondered why Paul was so tireless in his efforts to spread the Gospel?

Why did Paul place himself in harm’s way and endure such misery at times? Why did he do it willingly? He says he did it because he knew the fear of the Lord and he let his fear, respect, awe, and desire to please His Lord drive him to a life of good works. In Chapter 2 up to verse 17, James has made this simple argument. We must pay attention to how we respond to the tests of our faith. We must take these tests seriously and set our minds to passing them; and “passing a test” is an opportunity to do good deeds or good works. In fact, we must set our minds on the goal of living a Christian life that produces good works of faith; by serving in our gift, seeking ways to spread the Gospel and in all we do, glorifying God.

James then argues we must be dedicated to this path, because we are to be judged according to the Law of Liberty. This judgment is one of works, not a judgment for sin, but it still brings the possibility of a bad outcome and if we haven’t shown works of mercy, then why should we expect our judge to show mercy to us at that moment? Instead, we will see a harsh judgment because that will be the outcome for a believer who lives a life absent good works. They will have a faith, but it is a dead, useless faith.

James anticipated that some might try to counter his argument and claim that Christians do not need to worry about such things, and he offers that argument in v.18.

 James 2:18- But someone may well say, “You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Arguing that faith without works is a perfectly acceptable option for a Christian doesn’t make sense, so this wasn’t an argument that James was worried about. Instead, James worried about the opposite argument. He is worried that someone might argue that there is no such thing as a believer who has faith without works. Said another way, James worried that someone might argue that every true believer must produce works, and therefore, a faith that produces no work would not be true faith. We have certainly heard many teachers making that claim. James poses that same argument himself in v.18. An objector might say, “You say that a man may have faith by itself, but can that man show me his faith without works? No.” How can you show faith without works? You can’t since faith itself is invisible. A believer can only show faith by works. Therefore, a true faith must have works, and if a faith has no works, then it is not a true faith. So, the objector is suggesting that James is worried about something that he doesn’t need to worry about. True faith will always produce works, so why spend time worrying about people who lack works…they aren’t believers in the first place. James wanted to raise this question because he knew it was a thought in the church, both then and now, and then James makes the counter-argument to dispel it, to challenge it.

 James 2:19- You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

“Faith and works are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God trusts God; and he that trusts God obeys God. He that is without faith is without works; and he that is without works is without faith.”