The Reply Comes, ‘But Surely If We Have Faith That Is Enough. Will We Not Be Seen To Be Righteous Because We Have Faith In Christ? Then Surely It Does Not Really Matter How We Behave Towards Others'. The Reply Is That Faith Will Certainly Enable Us To Become Acceptable To God, But That The Only Way In Which It Will Be Seen That We have Been Made Acceptable To God Is By Our Subsequent Lives Which Demonstrate Godlikeness (James 2:14-26).
James is aware that some who have been reading his words will now be saying, ‘what is all this talk about our being found guilty because we have shown partiality to the rich. Are we not saved by faith? How then can we be found guilty? Will not God just look at our faith and declare us righteous?' James reply is, ‘No He will look at your works to show whether they reveal the evidence that you really do have faith'. He might have added, ‘If you died the moment that you believed then God would look only to your faith, but if you lived, after believing, for more than a few minutes, God would look for the beginnings of the change within your life. For if you have really believed the changes will begin at once because you have become new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). You will have been begotten by the word of truth (James 1:18).'
Now James was perfectly well aware that not everyone who ever showed partiality would be condemned, otherwise where would any of us be? What he is seeking to bring home is that if we justify such partiality then the idea that we have been born again of the Spirit must be suspect. For no one who was truly seeking to follow Christ would deny that he must love his neighbour as himself.
It is important to recognise that James is not saying here that we can be made acceptable before God by our works. He is rather pointing out that the works which result from our believing in Christ will be the final evidence that God has truly begotten us (James 1:18). He is asking, ‘How can men be begotten by God in accordance with His will and not become gradually God-like?' (2 Corinthians 3:18 - Paul would have cried out here, ‘God forbid that such a thing should happen' - Romans 6:1-2; Romans 6:15). It is parallel to the words of Jesus when He declares to His forgiven disciples, ‘by your words you will be accounted righteous, and by your words you will be condemned' (Matthew 12:37). There Jesus was not saying that they would be saved by observing carefully the words that came from their mouths, but that those words would be evidence of whether God was at work within them or not.
Analysis.
a What does it profit, my brothers (and sisters), if a man say he has faith, but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14).
b If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you say to them, “Go in peace, be you warmed and filled”, you do not give them the things needful to the body, what does it profit (‘what is the benefit of that')?' (James 2:15-16).
c Even so faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself (James 2:17).
d Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith” (James 2:18).
e You believe that God is one? You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder, but will you know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? (James 2:19-20).
f Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? (James 2:21).
e You see that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect (brought to completeness) (James 2:22).
d And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness”, and he was called the friend of God (James 2:23).
c You see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith (James 2:24).
b And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? (James 2:25).
a For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead (James 2:26).
Note that in ‘a' faith without works cannot save, and in the parallel faith without works is dead. In ‘b' the one who fails to help the needy is profitless, while in the parallel Rahab revealed her faith, and was justified because she helped the messengers and fed and protected them, and sent them to safety. In ‘c' faith without works is dead, and in the parallel a man is therefore justified by works and not only by faith. In ‘d' we have what a man will say, “I will show you my faith by my works”, and in the parallel the Scripture says, “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness” and he was called ‘the friend of God', that is the one who did His will. In ‘e' we have the central point that a man is finally justified by his works as well as by his faith.