This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on November 2nd 2025, by Lasya. For the audio & video, please click here. For the worship, please click here. Faith - Dead or
Alive
We are in the book of James, and the only way to approach
this book is with humility. Many have approached it with intellectual
curiosity, skepticism and even disdain and failed to see the value of this
book. Martin Luther, the father of the protestant reformation, himself called
this book an “epistle of straw” meaning, doesn’t hold much weight, because of
this passage which we will examine today.
Have you ever looked at someone and said to yourself, “How
do they even call themselves a Christian?” Usually, this question is not
sparked by something they believe but something they did. Today, let's turn
that question back on ourselves. Let's use this scripture, not to point fingers
but to look into it like a mirror - resolving not just to hear but to be doers
of the word of God.
Passage for today’s sermon is James 2: 14-26
Why did Luther have such disdain for this book and this
passage in particular? Because of a seeming contradiction between Pauline
epistles and this one. You might be saying, “Wait, I thought it was Peter and Paul
who had a disagreement; did James and Paul not get along as well?” Not at all. Gal
2:9 “when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the
grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas
and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised” So what
seems to be the problem?
- The
paradox of faith:
Romans 3:28 “For we hold that one is justified by
faith apart from works of the law.”
Galatians 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified
by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.
Luke 7:50 “And he said to the woman (to the sinful
woman washing his feet), “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.””
Eph 2:8 “For by grace you are saved, through
faith: and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not by works, that no
one may boast”
This seems to be in stark contrast to James 2: 24 “You
see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
The story of Abraham - the patriarch. Both Paul and James
use this story to prove their point. Gen 15 is the covenant between God
and Abraham where he receives the promise. 20 years and 7 chapters later in Gen
22 God asks him to sacrifice Isaac.
The issue is further exacerbated by the fact that both Paul
and James use the same word for justification.
So, this is the paradox. How do we resolve it? Do we believe
the one and discard the others?
We need to ask 2 questions for biblical contextual
interpretation - Who is being addressed and what problem were they trying to
solve? If we don’t understand this, we could end up with the exact opposite of the original intention.
Who is Paul addressing in Romans, Galatians and Ephesians?
Gentile believers. What problem was he trying to resolve? Jewish false teachers
who were trying to get the new gentile converts to obey Mosaic law to
be saved.
Who is James addressing in the book of James? What problem
was he trying to resolve? Hypocrisy. The difference between what we SAY and
what we DO.
Israel history of Faith without works:
Isaiah 58:6-7 ““Is not this the fast that I choose: to
loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the
oppressed[a]
go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover
him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”
Amos 5:23-24 “Take away from me the noise of your
songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down
like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
The pharisees in Jesus' time - Matt 23:23-24 "Woe
to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your
spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters
of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the
latter, without neglecting the former"
So, the audience for Paul and James are different and so are
the issues. And hence they need to be read and understood with that in
mind.
2.
The Proof of Faith:
While Paul and James use the same Greek word for
justification, they use it in a different sense. Justification is a legal term
meaning cleared of accusation, acquitted. Paul uses it as justification before
a holy God! All our works are like filthy rags before a holy God. There is
nothing we can do to earn salvation; it is a free gift! Today, if you have
not yet put your faith in Jesus as your Lord and saviour, hear this - we are
saved by grace through faith, not by works that no one might boast!! He has
done it! It is finished!! Hallelujah!
James, however, is using the term justification as means of
proof or evidence of the work of salvation in our lives. Faith and salvation
are an internal work, God sees it, but we cannot see it. Illustration of
grafting a branch. When was the branch grafted? Gen 15. How do you know it was
a successful grafting? Gen 22. Abraham’s faith was demonstrated in that he said
before leaving, we’ll be back… he trusted that God who promised him this child,
would be able to even raise him up from the dead! And so his obedience was
proof that he really believed.
If you’ve been a “Christian” for a minute, the question we
must ask ourselves is… what is the proof? We are saved by faith alone, but
the faith that saves is never alone.
One of the most daunting passages of scripture is in Matthew
7: 22-23 “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy
in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in
your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you;
depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
If our gifts are not the assurance that we are saved, what
is??
2 Peter 1:5- 10 “For this very reason, make every
effort to supplement your faith with virtue,[e]
and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and
self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and
godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For
if these qualities[f]
are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever
lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that
he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,[g]
be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you
practice these qualities you will never fall.”
3.
The Practice of faith -
While the book of James has a lot of theological
complexities, historical references and seemingly oxymoronic concepts (joy and
trials, hearing and doing, faith and works) the real difficulty with the book
is obeying it. We are all smart enough to wrap our minds around these
complexities, but can it effect change in our lives?
James’ illustration: If a brother or sister is poorly
clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 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?
The works of salvation referred in James so far:
- To
have joy in tribulation (1:2)
- Pray
without doubting (1:6)
- Steadfast
in resisting temptation (1:12)
- Quick
to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger (1:19)
- Hearing
and doing (1:22)
- Putting
away filthiness and rampant wickedness (1:21)
- Bridle
your tongue (1:26,
- Visit
orphans and widows in their affliction
- Keep
oneself unstained from the world
- Mercy
without partiality
Where does our faith not line up with our works? What do we need to do to confirm our calling and election?
