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    James 2:14-26
    Lesson 440

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    Faith saves, then leads to good works.
    Is your faith living or dead?

    Rahab helps Israelite spies escape Jericho.
     
    By an unknown artist. ​​
    Who was -
     
    Abraham -
    Abraham is the founder of Judaism, the father of all Jews (Romans 4:11-16; Galatians 3:7), the spiritual forefather of Christians (Galatians 3:29), a man of faith (Galatians 3:9; Hebrews 11:8-9), and a "friend" of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23).  Abraham was also called the "Father of a multitude," "exalted Father," and Abram (Genesis 15:1; 17:4-5).  Born in Ur (present-day Iraq), Abraham is perhaps the greatest of the Old Testament personalities.  His story is part of almost every Eastern religion, including Islam, where he is called the father of all Arab peoples through his son Ishmael.  Abraham left his home and family for a strange country, because God asked him to (Genesis 12:1; Acts 7:2-4).  Later, God asked Abraham to go to "the land of Moriah" and sacrifice his son Isaac to test his faith (Genesis 22:1-2).  Abraham trusted God (Genesis 15:6) and believed He would resurrect Isaac (Hebrews 11:19).  So, he set off for Mount Moriah, * a hill near Jerusalem, to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22:1-10; Hebrews 11:17).  When Abraham proved his faith and prepared to knife his son, an angel intervened and saved Isaac (Genesis 22:11-13).  Because he passed this test, God promised Abraham that his descendants (Jews) would be a great and populous people (Genesis 17:2-7; 22:16-18; 26:4; 24) and to bless all Gentiles through him (Genesis 12:2-3; 15:1-21; 18:18; 22:18; 28:14; Exodus 32:13).  This is called the Abrahamic Covenant (agreement).  Abraham's deeds sometimes disappointed God, but he never lost his righteousness because it is never deeds that earn righteousness; it is faith (Genesis 15:6).  Abraham died at 175 (Genesis 25:7) and was buried alongside his wife Sarah in a cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:9; 25:7-10) on the western slope of Mt. Hebron.  Centuries later, a Christian church was built over the cave.  Later, the church was converted into an Islamic Mosque.  Jesus' roots date back to Abraham (Matthew 1:1-16), proving that His lineage goes back to the beginning of the Jewish nation.  You can read more about Abraham in Genesis 11:26-25:34.
     
    * Some Bible scholars believe Mount Moriah is the same hill Jesus was crucified on centuries later.  However, most Jews believe the Temple's sacrificial altar in Jerusalem was built over the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son.
     
    Isaac -
    Isaac is Hebrew for "he laughs."  Isaac was the son God promised the aging Abraham and Sarah.  He was miraculously conceived when Abraham was one hundred years old (Genesis 21:5), and Sarah ninety (Genesis 17:17).  Abraham, Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob are three of the most influential figures in the Old Testament.  When Isaac was a youngster, God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice the boy.  Abraham proved his unyielding devotion to God by preparing to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice when he was stopped by an "angel of the Lord" (Genesis 22:1-13; Hebrews 11:17; James 2:21).  Abraham's willingness to obey God earned him God's promise to make his descendants (the Israelites) a great people.  God repeated the promise to Isaac (Genesis 26:24) and eventually to Isaac's son, Jacob.  Isaac trusted God and became an example of faith (Hebrews 11:20).  Through Isaac and his son Jacob, God fulfilled His promise to make the Israelites a great and populous people.  Isaac died in Hebron at one hundred and eighty years old (Genesis 35:28).  You can read more about him in Genesis 17:15-28:22.
     
    Rahab -
    Sometimes called Rachab, Rehab was a Canaanite prostitute from Jericho in Old Testament times.  Out of faith in a God she knew little about, Rahab helped two Hebrew spies sent to inspect Jericho's defenses.  When discovered, Rahab hid, then lowered them over the city wall to make their escape (Joshua 2:1-15).  Due to her faith, she and her family were spared (Joshua 6:17) when the Israelites (under Joshua) captured the city (Joshua 6:22-23; Hebrews 11:31).  She is considered a hero of faith and is listed as one of Jesus' ancestors in Matthew 1:5.  
     
    Additional note: "Under the Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem, there is a room in which, it is said, Jesus was born.  An old tradition says that this same room was part of the ancestral home of David, and before David, Boaz (Rehab's son) and Ruth.  Thus, according to this tradition, Boaz took Ruth to be his bride, and started the family that was to bring Christ into the world, in the very same room in which, 1100 years later, Christ himself was born." 

    ("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 176).
    Study Tip:
      
    Read each Bible passage a second time. 
    You may catch essential points you missed with the first read.

    The General Epistle of James

    The King James Bible    ​



    James 2:14-26
    Faith and action

    14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
     
    15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
     
    16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
     
    17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
     
    18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
     
    19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
     
    20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
     
    21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
     
    22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
     
    23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
     
    24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
     
    25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
     
    26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

    ​
    Margin notes:
     
    "Can faith save him?" (2:14) - "Can that kind of faith save him?"
     
    "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead." (2:17) - We can't earn our way into heaven by performing good deeds.  If we could, we wouldn't need a Savior.  It is faith that saves us.  And after it does, it leads us to perform good works. Good works confirm our belief and provide an example for others.  Without good works, faith is dead.  Our goal is to believe and then live our faith.  See also Galatians 5:6 and 1 John 3:18.
     
    "I will shew thee my faith by my works." (2:18) - "I will show you my faith through my good deeds."
     
    "Devils also believe" (2:19) - Matthew 8:29 and Mark 1:24 teach us that even demons know Jesus is the Son of God.  However, it takes more than knowing there is a God.  It takes faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.
     
    "O vain man." (2:20) - "Oh foolish person."
     
    "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works." (2:22) - "Do you see how faith worked together with his deeds."
     
    "By works was faith made perfect." (2:22) - "Good works make faith complete."

    "And the scripture was fulfilled." (2:23) - Another prophesy came true. 
     
    "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness..." (2:23) - Abraham's faith was credited to his righteousness.  Paraphrased from Genesis 15:6.  See also Romans 4:3 and Galatians 3:6.
     
    "He was called the Friend of God." (2:23) - Thanks to Abraham's faith, God called him his friend (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8).
     
    "Justified." (2:24) - To be justified is to be made right, forgiven, redeemed, pardoned, and set free from the bondage of sin.  We are justified, not by our good deeds or by obeying the Mosaic Law (Philippians 3:9), but by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 1:17; 3:23-29; 5:1; 8:3; Galatians 2:16).  Being justified means we are spared the punishment for our sins and ​"have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1), who was crucified and suffered the penalty for our sins (Isaiah 53:11; Ephesians 1:7).  Once justified, we are entitled to all the heavenly rewards that come with total obedience to the Mosaic Law (Romans 5:1-10).  Our good deeds do not justify us.  They are the results of our justification.
    To learn what Jesus said about loving and helping others, see Matthew 7:17-23 and 25:31-46.​


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    James 2:14-26
    Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
     
    14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?

    15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing,

    16 and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"-but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
     
    17 So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
     
    18 Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds."
     
    19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

    20 How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
     
    21 Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

    22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.

    23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." He was even called the friend of God.

    24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.
     
    25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road.

    ​26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     

    1. Does this passage contradict Paul, who said it is faith that saves us (Romans 3:28)? 
    ​

                             
    "Faith must be tested, because it can be turned into a personal possession only through conflict."
     
    Oswald Chambers, Scottish teacher, and evangelist (1874-1917
    Answer: (Do you agree?)
     
    1. No, Paul and James don't contradict each other.  They worked together spreading the Gospel (Acts 15:12-13; 21:17:18).  Paul taught that faith saves sinners.  He also believed that faith must lead to a God-centered life.  But good works cannot save us.  They are a product of faith.
     
    James was writing to those who had accepted Christ.  They had faith, but many weren't living it.  They weren't applying their faith to their lives.  James believed there are two types of faith.  True faith that leads to proper behavior, and misbegotten faith that even demons have (2:19).  In this passage, James is teaching us to put our faith to work.



    Application thought for the day:
     
    There is a vital application in this passage.
    What is it, and how can you apply it to your life? ​   
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke.  Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
    © 2024 evolke