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 Not
all faith is saving faith, as the Bible clearly illustrates. John writes
of certain Pharisees who believed on Jesus but would not confess it, “lest
they should be put out of the synagogue” (Jn. 12:42). Through James,
God informs us of a faith that is without works (2:14-26) and calls it a
“dead faith”. Dead, not in the sense of being non-existent, but in
the sense of being non-productive. In v.19 this kind of faith is likened
to the faith of demons: “Thou believest that God is one; thou doest
well, the demons also believe, and shudder.” The demons do believe—
even to the point of trembling— but not to the point of obedience. So,
no matter who owns it or why, God teaches that this faith without works
is a demon-like faith.
In
addition to being “dead”, this demon faith is without profit because
it is nothing more than words without ‘deeds. Its worthlessness is
illustrated in v. .15, 16 where it offers mere words to those who
desperately need food and clothing. Words of comfort and encouragement
are appropriate at times, but not when offered as a substitute for
deeds. Like, for instance, when the ladies visitation committee came
calling on a sick sister. Marching right through her unkempt house, past
the dirty dishes and unmade beds, past the piles of dirty clothes they
came to her bedside where all chatted for a few minutes (mostly with
each other), then excused themselves with these comforting words: “We
do hope you get better— be sure and call if there’s anything we can
do for you!”. With that they marched out to “minister” elsewhere.
What doth it profit??
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What
is the profit in a faith that is not functional and that cannot be
demonstrated? “. .show me thy faith apart from works, and I by my
works will show thee faith.” (v.18). Works show faith; what one does
(or fails to do) is a reflection on what he believes. This is clearly
demonstrated in the case of the Thessalonians who became ensamples to
all believers in sounding forth the word of the Lord. Of them Paul says,
“in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth...” (1
Thess. 1:8). They showed their faith! So did Abraham: “Thou seest that
faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect.”
(Jas. 2:22). The faith that was reckoned for righteousness in Abraham
(Rom. 4) was made perfect (i.e. complete) by works. If Abraham’s
faith was incomplete without works, how much more the faith of others?
No, Paul and James do not contradict. When James teaches justification
by works he speaks of works that proceed from faith. When Paul teaches
justification by faith he speaks of faith that is accompanied by good
works. This is the faith that worketh by love, Gal. 5:6.
In
view of this, it should be remembered that the demon-like faith of Jas.
2 can never be saving faith. The faith that blesses, saves and justifies
is always Abrahamic faith; the kind that is made complete by
works. Such is the faith to be rewarded with eternal life in Jn. 3:16
and through which salvation comes by the grace of God in Eph. 2:8.
Saving faith and good works are interdependent and inseparably bound by
Divine truth. God bids, “show me thy faith”. Dan S. Shipley
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