• A coin has 2 sides to it…
• What kind of faith really saves a person?
• Is it necessary to perform good works in order to be saved?
• How can a person tell whether or not he is exercising true saving faith?
• Demonstrating the authenticity of faith is the primary focus of this section.
• James’s deeds of faith are not at all what Paul meant by “works of the law.”
• The question James placed before his hearers is very different from the issues before Paul.
• James was concerned with the demonstration of faith in Jesus through works of mercy.
• Paul was concerned with justification through Christ alone and not by ritual works of the law, such as circumcision, apart from faith in Christ.[1]
• James answers these questions by explaining to us that there are three kinds of faith, only one of which is true saving faith.[2]

 
FAITH AND WORKS
James 2
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him?

• It is a rhetorical question? No answer is expected.
• “works” – ergon – any kind action or deed.
• This is where you get into the question of judging one another.
• The emphasis is not on the true nature of faith but on the false claim of faith.[3]
• The first faith James speaks about is a “dead” faith.
• People with dead faith substitute words for deeds.
• Merely claiming to have faith is not enough.
• They know the correct vocabulary for prayer and testimony, and can even quote the right verses from the Bible; but their walk does not measure up to their talk.
• They think that their words are as good as works, and they are wrong.[4]
• I can’t tell by their actions if they are truly saved.
• Faith that does not affect behavior is superficial and cannot save.[5]
• Genuine faith is evidenced by works.[6]
• Faith is a key doctrine in the Christian life:
• The sinner is saved by faith (Eph. 2:8–9)
• The believer must walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7).
• Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).
• Whatever we do apart from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).[7]

15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.

• The rhetorical question is followed by a hypothetical but realistic illustration.
• James may describe internal strife within the Church due to selfishness.[8]
• Elvis is alive… but there is no evidence that Elvis is alive.
• Workless faith is worthless faith; it is unproductive, sterile, barren, dead![9]
• A word of blessing without an act of blessing is like the promise of salvation without the saving act of God in Christ[10]
• A poor believer came into a fellowship, without proper clothing and in need of food. The person with dead faith noticed the visitor and saw his needs, but he did not do anything to meet the needs. All he did was say a few pious words! “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed”.
• But the visitor went away just as hungry and naked as he came in!
• Food and clothing are basic needs of every human being, whether he is saved or unsaved.
• 1 Timothy 6:8 - If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.[11]
• Matthew 6:31–32 - So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.[12]
• Jacob included these basic needs in his prayer to God: Genesis 28:20-21 - Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and if I return safely to my father’s family, then the Lord will be my God.[13]
• As believers, we have an obligation to help meet the needs of people, no matter who they may be.
• Galatians 6:10 - Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.[14]
• Matthew 25:40 - “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ [15]
• To help a person in need is an expression of love, and faith works by love (Gal. 5:6). The Apostle John emphasized this aspect of good works.
• 1 John 3:17-18 - If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.[16]
• The priest and Levite in the Parable of the Good Samaritan each had religious training, but neither of them paused to assist the dying man at the side of the road (Luke 10:25–37). Each of them would defend his faith, yet neither demonstrated that faith in loving works.
• The person with dead faith has only an intellectual experience.
• In his mind, he knows the doctrines of salvation, but he has never submitted himself to God and trusted Christ for salvation.
• He knows the right words, but he does not back up his words with his works.
• Faith in Christ brings life (John 3:16), and where there is life there must be growth and fruit.
• Three times in this paragraph, James warns us that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17, 20, 26).
• Beware of a mere intellectual faith.
• Warren Wiersbe said: “No man can come to Christ by faith and remain the same any more than he can come into contact with a 220-volt wire and remain the same.”[17]

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.

• “someone” - an imaginary person is introduced.
• The Message: “I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.” Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.”[18]
• In other words the respondent is saying, “Faith is not the key; what counts is works.”
• Thus the respondent has gone too far.
• James did not say that works are essential to faith, or that faith is unimportant.
• His argument was that works are evidence of faith.[19]

19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.

• Demonic faith – 2nd kind of faith
• Deuteronomy 6:4 -  “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[20]
• This was the daily affirmation of faith of the godly Jew. “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder”
• The man with dead faith was touched only in his intellect.
• But the demons are touched also in their emotions. They believe and tremble.
• But it is not a saving experience to believe and tremble.
• A person can be enlightened in his mind and even stirred in his heart and be lost forever.
• True saving faith involves something more, something that can be seen and recognized: a changed life.
• How could a person show his faith without works? Can a dead sinner perform good works?
• Impossible! When you trust Christ, you are Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. [21]
• James has introduced us to two kinds of faith that can never save the sinner:

1) Dead faith (the intellect alone)
2) Demonic faith (the intellect and the emotions).[22]
20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?

• The adjective “foolish” is usually translated “vain,” “empty,” or “hollow”
• You may be intellectual but you lack understanding.
• “useless” - The Greek word translated “dead, barren or idle,” like money drawing no interest.
• Faith that is barren is not saving faith.
• Spiritual works are the evidence, not the energizer, of sincere faith.[23]

21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.

• This question is often held to be directly opposed to Paul’s statement that Abraham’s faith, not his works, caused God to declare him righteous (Rom. 4:1–5).
• Paul, however, was arguing for the priority of faith.
• James argued for the proof of faith.
• Paul declared that Abraham had faith, and was therefore justified, or declared righteous (Gen. 15:6), prior to circumcision (Gen. 17:11; cf. Rom. 4:9).
• James explained that Abraham’s faith was evident in his practice of Isaac’s sacrifice (Gen. 22:12), and he was therefore justified, or declared righteous.
• James looked to the Abraham story to show how genuine faith operates; Paul looked to the Abraham story to show how God forgives sinners.[24]
• Works serve as the barometer of justification, while faith is the basis for justification.[25]
• The mind understands the truth; the heart desires the truth; and the will acts upon the truth.[26]
• Dynamic faith is not intellectual contemplation or an emotional experience; it leads to obedience on the part of the will.
• And this obedience is not an isolated event: it continues throughout the whole life.
• It leads to works.[27]

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route?

• Rahab (Joshua 2 &6) was the harlot in Jericho when Joshua sent spies into the land to take their promise land.
• She believed God and helped the Israelites overtake her own people.
• Abraham and Rahab. You could not find two more different persons!
• Abraham was a Jew; Rahab was a Gentile.
• Abraham was a godly man, but Rahab was a sinful woman, a harlot.
• Abraham was the friend of God, while Rahab belonged to the enemies of God.
• What did they have in common? Both exercised saving faith in God.[28]
• Rahab had skin in the game… Abraham had skin in the game.

26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. [29]

• James 2 emphasized that the mature Christian practices the truth.
• He does not merely hold to ancient doctrines; he practices those doctrines in his everyday life.
• His faith is not the dead faith of the intellectuals, or the demonic faith of the fallen spirits.
• It is the dynamic faith of men like Abraham and women like Rahab, faith that changes a life and goes to work for God.[30]

 
Welcome to the New…
Got to live right just stay in line
You've heard it all at least a million times
And like me you believed it
They said it wasn't works
But trying harder wouldn't hurt
It sounds so crazy now
But back then you couldn't see it
 
But now here you are
Eyes open wide
It's like you're seeing grace
In a brand new light
For the first time
 
Let us be the first to welcome you
Welcome to the
Life you thought was too good to be true
Welcome to the new
Welcome to the
Welcome to the new
 
You broke your back kept all the rules
Jumped through the hoops
To make God approve of you
Oh tell me was it worth it
The whole time you were spinning plates
Did you stop to think that
Maybe He is okay with just you
There's no need to join the circus

[1] Richardson, K. A. (1997). James (Vol. 36, pp. 128–129). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 354). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 825). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 354). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Jas 2:14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[6] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 825). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 353). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Jas 2:15). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[9] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 825). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] Richardson, K. A. (1997). James (Vol. 36, pp. 130–131). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Ti 6:8). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 6:31–32). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ge 28:19–21). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[14] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 6:10). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[15] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 25:40). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[16] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Jn 3:17–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[17] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 354). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[18] Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Jas 2:18). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
[19] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 826). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[20] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 6:4). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[21] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Eph 2:10). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[22] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 355). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[23] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 826). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[24] Richardson, K. A. (1997). James (Vol. 36, p. 140). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[25] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 826). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[26] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 355). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[27] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 355). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[28] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 356). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[29] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jas 2:14–26). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[30] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 357). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

I hope you get this right:
 - In the Gospels, what did Jesus teach?
 - Did Jesus obey God’s Law?
 - How many times did Jesus die on the cross?
 - What did His blood do?

• Hebrews 10:14 – For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. [1].
• Hebrews 10:4 – For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. [2]
   - What were Jesus’ last words?
   - As believers, what do you have to do now?
   - Are you now a “child of God”?

JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH
Galatians 3
 - (1) Paul’s Personal argument (v 1-5)
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
- It would be like asking our country, “Have you gone mad?”
 - Is it mental incompetence or just lack of wisdom?
 - “Foolish” here means “spiritually dull” whereas being called actual fools in the Gospel meant “godless person”.
 - But I focus on the part of the question, “Who has hypnotized you?”
 - “Who told you that you were naked?” – Genesis 3:11
 - The scheme of the evil one is to confuse the truth. To make it seem like something it is not.
- Paul did not say that the Galatians had had less than a fully genuine experience of the Holy Spirit.
- Indeed, he argued from precisely the opposite premise: since they had certainly received the Holy Spirit and witnessed his mighty works, why were they now retrogressing back from the Spirit to the flesh, that is, from faith back to works and from grace back to law?
- The answer is implied in Paul’s critical word of address: somehow the balance between sound doctrine and Spirit-filled living had gotten out of kilter among the churches of Galatia.[3]
2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?
- Did we not teach you that as Jews, you are no longer subject to circumcision, food restrictions and calendar observances? As a Gentile, you never were?
 - Gentiles didn’t even start with the Law. Why would you bring that into your beliefs?
 - What saved you? Your works or your faith?
3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 4 Did you experience so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing?
- Did you not learn your lesson enough in the flesh that you want to give up on the Spirit already?
 - “flesh” being things done in your own strength… whether bad or good.
5 So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard--
- This is what the Spirit does:
 - John 16:8-11 – The Spirit convicts the world of its unbelief.
 - Acts 7:51 - “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also.[4]
- Ephesians 1:13-14 - 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. [5]
 - (2) Paul’s Scriptural argument (v 6-14)
 - In verses 1-5 Paul asked 6 questions
 - In verses 6-14 Paul uses 6 OT quotes
6 just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness?

• Genesis 15:6 - Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.[6]
• Genesis 17:9-12 - God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep my covenant. 10 This is my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, which you are to keep: Every one of your males must be circumcised. 11 You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 Throughout your generations, every male among you is to be circumcised at eight days old—every male born in your household or purchased from any foreigner and not your offspring.[7]
• Exodus 20 – The Ten Commandments.

7 You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.
- Genesis 18:18 - Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.[8].
9 Consequently those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.
- The logic here is evident: if God promised to save the Gentiles by faith, then the Judaizers are wrong in wanting to take the Gentile believers back into Law.
 - The true “children of Abraham” are not the Jews by physical descent, but Jews and Gentiles who have believed in Jesus Christ. All those who are “of faith” (believers) are blessed with “believing Abraham.”[9]
- Serve carrots… then a donut… back to carrots!
LAW AND PROMISE
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.
- Paul uses contrasts/antithesis:
        - Crucified with Christ - Alive to God
        - The hearing of faith - The doing of works
        - Beginning in the Spirit - Ending in the flesh
        - Promise – Fulfillment
        - Blessed - Cursed[10]
        - Vs. 9 – Blessed – Vs. 10 – Cursed
- Deuteronomy 27:26 -  ‘Anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ [11]

 -Deuteronomy 28:58 - “If you are not careful to obey all the words of this law, which are written in this scroll, by fearing this glorious and awe-inspiring name—the Lord, your God[12]
 - James 2:10 -  For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.[13]
11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.
- It is obvious…
 - Habakkuk 2:4 -
        - The Righteous – Romans 1:17
        - Will live – Galatians 3:11
        - By faith - Hebrews 10:37
 - It doesn’t say “those who live by faith are righteous.”
 - Nor is it a command.
 - It is a simple statement of fact.
 - Those who have been made righteous will naturally live by faith.
 - If these are words by Habakkuk… they were still under the law… This was about the future.
 - If Daniel was here today… could he see the righteous.
 - Paul saw and experienced living under the Law vs living by faith because of his righteousness.
12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.
- Leviticus 18:5 - Keep my statutes and ordinances; a person will live if he does them. I am the Lord. [14]
 - The Law is based on doing… not trusting!
 - God never intended the Law to make people righteous.
 - God intended to send a Savior to save us from our own works.
 - God intended to send a Helper to live our life for us.
 - “How in the world am I going to get through this?”
 - You’re not in your own strength.
 - You will by trusting Him to do it in your own life!

 - Eating carrots vs eating a donut
 - Why go back to carrots!?!
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.
  - Deuteronomy 21:22 -  “If anyone is found guilty of an offense deserving the death penalty and is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, 23 you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.[15]
 - Jews were stoned first and then hung on a tree for display.
 - They are not talking about crucifixion here.
 - This was major since the Jews were careful with treatment of a dead body.
 - The word redeemed means to purchase a slave for the purpose of setting him free.
 - It is possible to purchase a slave and keep him as a slave, but this is not what Christ did.
 - By shedding His blood on the cross, He purchased us that we might be set free.
 - The Judaizers wanted to lead the Christians into slavery, but Christ died to set them free.
 - Salvation is not exchanging one form of bondage for another.
 - Salvation is being set free from the bondage of sin and the Law into the liberty of God’s grace through Christ.[16]
 - God’s provision through Christ’s death on the cross enables believers to no longer live under the threat of condemnation.[17]
 - You… my friend… have been released from the curse.
 - There is no one who can condemn you for what you have done or going to do.
 - There will be logical negative consequences.
 - But you can never be condemned.
 - Judgment Day will be a good day.
 - To the Jew – “Do you want the blessing of Abraham? It comes through Jesus.”
 - To the Gentile – “Do you want to be included in the blessing?” It comes through Jesus.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Heb 10:14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Heb 10:4). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 206). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 7:51). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Eph 1:13–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ge 15:6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ge 17:9–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ge 18:18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 699). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 229). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 27:26). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 28:58). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jas 2:10). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[14] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Le 18:5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[15] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 21:22–23). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[16] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 700). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[17] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 3:13). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.