Letter to Martin Luther

Dear Dr. Luther,

You are to be commended for your example of deep conviction regarding your willingness to speak truth to power. Your conviction that one is justified by faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone according to the Scripture alone is to be seen as the correct position, and this view is foundational for one to understand the Christian message of salvation. Knowing this, it is understandable that upon reading the passage of James 2:14-26, you might have concern for how this text is to be understood in light of what we know from other passages such as in Ephesians (Eph. 2:8-10) and Romans (Rom. 3:24, 3:28, 4:3-5, 5:1). It is to this concern that I would seek to address this issue to make a compelling case as to why the text in James does not undermine other important texts regarding the relationship between faith, grace, and works.

In this letter, I seek to do two things. First, to walk through the text of James 2:14-26 to see what the text actually is conveying regarding the semantics of the understanding of faith and works. Second, I seek to look at other texts to see how the passage within James does not contradict what is known to be true from the consensus of passages supporting that justification is not by works but through faith.

James 2:14-26

Upon first perusing the text, it is easy to see how one can misunderstand this passage regarding faith and works. It seems that James is using “works” in a way that maybe at odds with the rest of Scripture. James, in the text, is asking the question about faith itself regarding its identity. When he asks, “What good is it, my brother and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works?

Can this kind of faith save him?” (James 2:14 New English Translation), James is questioning the authentic identity of a person’s faith when there seems to be no evidence of faith based on the lack of fruit it produces when passing by a need. A faith that produces no evidence of itself is counter intuitive of biblical faith, and as James puts it, is in fact, dead (James 2:17). According to Hebrews, faith is rooted in the idea of an evidence-based understanding (Hebrews 11:1).

The only way the evidence of faith can be seen is through the works it produces such as new behaviors, respect, responses, and responsibilities. The question that is coming up for James, concerning his audience, seems to be their understanding of what faith is. James is not concerned that their salvation is based on a works-based righteousness understanding of salvation, but rather from an authentic faith producing fruit. It seems that he believes they have a misunderstanding of faith to begin with.

For example, many today believe in an understanding of faith that seems to separate faith from action and fall into what might be understood as a “faith of acknowledgement,” which is not a saving faith. This seems to be the concern that James’ audience maybe drifting towards regarding an understanding of faith rooted in mere acknowledgement versus an understanding of “faith in action” corresponding to surrender, repentance, and obedience. I would say this would be the correct concern James is having for his audience based on his statement that even the demons acknowledge God’s existence (James 2:19).

To simply acknowledge God is not an act of faith in action, only acknowledgement, because it is not producing fruit in accordance with the Spirit. James, in the previous chapter, concerns himself with encouraging his audience to not be mere “hearers” of the word but “doers” (James 1:22). Within the passage, James asks the question regarding a person’s faith that sees a need but does nothing to address the need. He is not saying the works of helping others is the act of salvation, but rather proof saving faith exists already within the person.

The most troubling verse within this pericope seems to be James 2:24. This, upon a surface reading, appears to say that justification is by works, but within the context, the works are coming from a faith that is active within the life of the believer. This is why James states that one is shown to be in right standing with God by what he does because what he does comes from active faith. If James’ audience is working from an understanding of faith rooted in acknowledgement, not action, then that type of faith will not reveal one is in right standing with God.

On the other hand, a faith that is authentically rooted in action because of the grace received by faith will reveal itself in right standing with God based on what it does, or fruit it bears. James gives two examples: Abraham and Rahab. They both believed, and by their faith, or trust in the living God, their actions revealed such faith. Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, and Rahab risked her life to protect the spies. They exercised a faith in action, not merely a faith of acknowledgement. True biblical faith is one of action, and the works produced by it is not to gain favor, or justification, from God but rather is a response to the grace already received.

After examining the text of concern within James, I would like to look at a few other passages in order to see the consistency of understanding in what James is saying, and in comparison, to what is understood elsewhere, such as in Paul and even Jesus himself.

Romans 3:21-28

In this passage, Paul seems to be concerned with how some may perceive that justification comes through the works of the law. In this context, Paul is revealing that justification is not from the paradigm of the law, but rather from the paradigm of grace given in and through Jesus Christ. The “works” that Paul is pushing back on are those coming from the paradigm of the law, which is not an agent of salvation to begin with, otherwise there would not have been any reason for Christ to come and fulfill the law.

So, here there seem to be two different understandings of “works.” One is from the law, such as in the present passage, and the other is rooted from faith itself, such as what James is referring. Works of the law have no saving power but works that come from a faith in action in Christ reveal that the saving faith needed for justification is real and present within the person.

Galatians 3:21-29

Paul, in this passage, addresses the purpose of the law which was to be a guardian until Christ came so that one might be justified by faith (Galatians 2:24). Since Christ has come, the law has been replaced because of Christ’s fulfillment, therefore, replacing it with himself, the object of our faith. Moreover, works attached to the law are powerless, but works that come from faith are evident of salvation. This seems consistent with the teachings of Jesus.

Luke 19:1-10

Everyone growing up in church, and even beyond the church, has heard of the story of Zaccheus. Jesus comes to his house, a tax collector, and Zaccheus, after receiving Jesus as a guest that day, stood up and stated he would give back fourfold to anyone he had defrauded (Luke 19:8). After this, Jesus stated that salvation had come to this house (Luke 19:9).

This short passage reveals a faith in action which produced repentance, or works, revealing true justification. As James stated, a faith that is not accompanied with works is a faith that is dead because it is a faith of mere acknowledgement not of action and repentance.

Ephesians 2:8-10

Finally, in this text, one is clearly saved by grace through faith, and it is a gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is one of the clearest texts supporting what we both agree upon that one is saved by grace and not by a works-based righteousness. Going further it does reveal that the grace given to each person is for the purpose of good works (Ephesians 2:10).

This seems to be the point that James is making within the concerned pericope of his work. Authentic justifying faith produces works. It is these works that reveal such a saving faith, rooted in God’s grace, is present within the person. Otherwise, if there are no works from faith, then, as Paul put it, the faith may not be real because one is justified for the purpose of doing good works.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the text in question within James seems not to be a contradiction of how justification takes place but rather is congruent with an understanding that faith is the means of justification while works rooted in such faith reveal the type of faith necessary for justification. Saving faith is one of action and repentance. Again, I could see, knowing your story, where the text in James would be a concern for you, but this reluctance to accept this passage maybe more rooted in psychology than theology. The idea of seeing the wording in James maybe a “trigger” back to what you were trying so hard to overcome in your day and possibly overlooking the semantic issues. I hope the above may address your concern, and also reveal that James is seeing works, not in the sense for salvation, but rather works from salvation. Therefore, it should be seen that there is no threat from this text that justification comes by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone according to the Scripture.

Sincerely Your Brother in Christ,

Jeff Jackson