Trailblazin Ministries

A Dead Faith: Part 1 - James 2:14

Written by LaRosa Johnson
Wednesday, 24 October 2007

After spending a significant amount of time writing to his readers about the perils of display favoritism within the fellowship of believers, James appears to be shifting the focus of the letter towards a different subject. This next area that James takes the time to delve into is the issue of faith and works, which is where he spends the remainder of the second chapter. Upon first reading of this epistle, it would be likely for someone to assume that verses 1 through 13 and 14 through 26 are speaking on two different subjects, but a closer investigation of the text shows that these two passages are very closely related to one another. Our study of James 2:14-26, which I have titled "A Dead Faith," will seek to tackle the familiar and bring out the not so familiar Biblical truth that is found in this passage, as well as show you just how intertwined these two seemingly distinct passages are. Let us begin our study by looking at verse 14 and see how James begins this section of his writing.

James 2:14 (NASB) - What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

The first thing that I want to point out in this passage is James' use of "brethren." Again, we see James using this phrase, and again it is at an integral point in his letter. As a point of emphasis, it is important to note that James uses this term a total of fifteen times throughout his epistle (chp 1, 3x; chp 2, 3x; chp 3, 3x; chp 4, 1x; chp 5, 5x). Upon further investigation, you will also find that he uses "brethren" when he is making an important point that he really wants them to pay attention to. James 2:14 is one of those instances, as James has something important to say, as he begins his discourse on a faith that is truly alive versus one that is in word only.

Recognizing that this is important, what is he bringing attention to? James is bringing the focus to this question: what good is it if someone says he has faith but doesn't have works? This question is the key to the whole section and it is necessary for us to understand this question before we can even attempt to move any further in our study. The first thing that we need to take a look at is the word "if," as it is the driving force behind this question. By using the word "if," James is saying that this is a person who claims to have true faith, but does nothing whatsoever to prove that he does. In the Greek, the wording of "says" is constructed to actually be rendered in the English as a continuous and repetitive action, as opposed to something that only occurs from time to time; in other words, this is a person who continually says that they have faith, but don't show it. Tying this in with our study of partiality, we find that James also spoke of that action as one that was habitual and continuous, which is the same concept here.

The next question would then be, can this kind of faith really save someone? Now, when speaking of faith, James appears to be speaking of it in general terms, for example the basic concepts and principles behind the gospel and salvation. If someone says they have faith but don't show it in any kind of way, are they really saved? The implied answer to this question is a definite no! There is no way that a person can say they are of the faith and then not show any outward apperance of what they profess to be on the inside. You see, Christianity requires action and it demands that we change; there is no way in the world that we can remain the same after receiving salvation because of the work of the Holy Spirit within us and our newfound desire to want to please our Father. Even Jesus took time to speak on this during his earthly ministry, and it was one of the things that His ministry was characterized by, especially when it concerned His dealings with the people and the religious leaders. Jesus makes this clear to us in Matthew 7:21-23, 26 as He tells us that not everyone who professes the name of Christ will enter into the Kingdom; He also continues this same thought pattern in Matthew 21:28-32 as He offers the parable of the two sons, which depicts one who didn't originally obey but eventually did and the other son who said he obey but never did. Both of these instances with Jesus show a clear indication that we have a faith that requires actions of obedience towards the Father, which includes how we treat others, as we will see later on in our study.

The point to be made here is that there are two kinds of faith: 1) a faith that is in word only, with no actions behind it, and 2) a faith that is lived out daily and acted upon. The first is "a dead faith" and the second is "a living faith." The kind of faith that should be characterized of followers of Christ is that faith that leads us to obedience to the Father. As we saw in James 2:8-13, we are to be fulfilling the royal law and showing mercy and equality towards all. Genuine faith involves walking in holiness and obeying the Laws of God, and that is the only faith that saves! Next time, we will continue to develop our study of "a dead faith" and see what more James has to say on this issue and in what other ways one can exhibit a dead faith.