NB: Feel free to skip some questions if short on time. Ask your own application questions if the

## James 2:14-26 Study

- 3. James gives two examples of faith in action from the OT. (You can decide below how much to investigate each of them). What is the big idea of these two examples? How was Abraham’s faith “made complete” by what he did (v22)?

Launch: Can you think of obvious times when you feel like you failed to act out your faith? How did it make you feel in retrospect?

For Abraham, see Genesis 22. Read in the context of the promise made to him in Gen 15. What if Abraham had said to God that he wouldn’t sacrifice Isaac? For Rahab, See Joshua 2. Note her confession (v9ff) and also how she is contrast with the other people in Jericho who had also heard about the God of Israel (v10ff).

Read James 2:14-26.

- 1. What is the answer to the questions in verse 14? How does the illustration of v15-16 argue this point?

The big idea is that real faith led to action. Abraham trusted God and was willing to do what he was told (despite, humanly speaking, the killing of Isaac seeming to totally thwart the fulfilment of the very promise that God made to Abraham in Gen 15, and which he believed God and was credited with righteousness). Similarly, Rahab believed that the God of Israel was the one true God – and she acted on that faith by hiding the spies and sending the soldiers away. This is contrast with the others in Jericho who had also heard about what the God of Israel had done, but instead their fear lead to opposition, not submission. And so, the idea of being made complete is that faith flourished… it acted and fulfilled its goal (the word for complete means ‘reached its goal’… the goal of faith is actions that are in line with that faith – and both Abraham and Rahab exhibit this. (in the next question we’ll look at the verses in Paul that say the same, such as Eph 2:8-10 and Rom 1:5; faith is always intended to lead to works/obedience).

Implied ‘no good’, and ‘no, it can’t save’. (along with the context, the Greek construction also confirms that these are the expected answers to the rhetorical questions). The illustration picks up that the words are useless without action. Your ‘care’ isn’t really care at all because the person is not helped. [Note that this scenario assumes that you are in a position to help. Note also that it is about a brother or sister who is spoken to – so it’s not about world poverty etc.]

- How does James describe ‘faith’ that is not accompanied by deeds in this section? How do these verse make you feel?

Such ‘faith’ is ‘dead’ (v17, 26), ‘useless’ (v17). Already, I find this passage confronting/scary. See what others feel (try to feel the weight of his argument!).

- 2. What objection does James anticipate? Can you imagine this playing out in our context?
- 4. Excurses: James vs Paul. Think about how you might reconcile these two verses that seem contradictory at first read. Think particularly about context in each case.

That there can be a dichotomy between faith and deeds – as in they are both different gifts that individual Christians might have one without the other. This could be quite close to home. “We have good teaching” but “they focus too much on social justice”. Note also as we go through this section that James always implied that ‘deeds without faith’ are dead too – that’s just not the issue he is dealing with.

## You see that a person is considered righteous [justified] by what he does and not by faith alone. (James 2:24) For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. (Romans 3:28)

- How does he argue against it? Why is intellectual agreement to the truth not enough?

Ultimately, Paul is talking about how we are saved – that it is by grace, though faith alone, and apart from works (particularly works of the Jewish law). This is the context of Ch 3 (cf. 3:21ff). Salvation is by faith alone. (I think James agrees with this). James is talking to people who claim to have faith,but might not actually have faith. He is giving a diagnostic to help people be sure they have faith. (cf. James 5:19-20 as one purpose for the letter). So he agrees that we are saved by faith – but is saying that real faith has actions. I think this is why the NIV translates the same word differently in James and Paul. Paul uses it in a technical term to say that we are ‘declared righteous’ (=justified) by faith. James is saying that we ‘considered righteous’ (=justified) by what we do in that our faith is vindicated of proven in our actions. [nonetheless, it’s clear in the previous verses in James that he sees that faith and action go together, and that the action is a completion of saving faith. He certainly isn’t arguing that we are saved by works].

Firstly, I think he implies that anyone can say that they have faith – but the only way to know is by seeing it in action = deeds. I.e. you can’t prove your faith aside from actions. Secondly, he takes that idea to show that even the demons have a right ‘faith’ in terms of what they believe about God. They come from heaven and know him (that he is one). This affirmation is central to the truth (the Shema – Deut 6:4 – was recited daily by Jews. We say the Nicene Creed which begins “we believe in one God, the Father, the almighty…”) BUT despite their knowledge/belief, they fail to act – they fail to reorient their lives to God being one, or Jesus being Lord. (cf. Mark 1:24; 5:7 etc). It is possible to believe (=have faith) the right things – but not have saving faith. At least the demons ‘shudder’ because they recognise the seriousness of their situation. Many people don't even do that.