Faith Without Works
📖 James 2:20 (KJV) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
✅ Introduction
This chapter is where many so-called Christians get the gospel wrong and on the surface it looks like they have a point, but first and foremost we need to understand how do we get saved?
📖 Acts 16:30-31 (KJV) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
What we need to understand is believing and faith are essential the same thing.
📖 Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
So right away we see that it’s faith which is the only requirement for salvation, we also see that we cannot be saved by works unless we become boastful.
📖 Galatians 2:16 (KJV) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
So we know its very clear that salvation is by faith alone without works, the issue though is when false religions use James 2
1️⃣ Dead Faith?
What does it mean when the Bible says that faith is dead without works?
📖 James 2:14-15
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Right from the start we get the context here which will help understand the rest, it says “WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT” then it speaks of profiting others so the context is about profiting others and not oneself and thats important to note as we read on….
📖 James 2:16-18
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. [18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Now this is clear that its not about salvation but rather faith that is beneficial for others through our works. Now our faith alone is beneficial for our own salvation, but its not for others, so then a faith without works is dead to others not ourselves, my proof for this is in the text when they mention Abraham as an example….
📖 James 2:21-24
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? [22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? [23] And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. [24] Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
What’s interesting about is in another passage it says something different about Abraham, lets see in Romans 4:1
📖 Romans 4:1
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? [2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
So right here Abraham was justified for his works but not before God, what this means is that Abrahams works were justified for our profit, but not for salvation as his works don’t stand before God and we see it clearly here in the next verses
📖 Romans 4:3-5
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
So its very clear that his works was needful for us but not for his own salvation, it didn’t please God for salvation, it only encouraged us to see his faith in action.
2️⃣ Why add works to salvation?
This is very interesting thought, because why would you want to add works to salvation? It’s because the flesh wants to be involved, how I know is that naturally man wants to do something to get into heaven.
📖 John 6:28-29 (KJV) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Naturally unsaved people think that works are needed for salvation, this is the fleshly mindset, and your notice this all through the Bible, starting at the beginning…..
📖 Genesis 4:3-5 (KJV) And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
The issue that Cain had was he worked hard to gather all the vegetation to give unto God. Whereas Abel obeyed God and gave the firstling of the Lamb as a sacrifice.
📖 Luke 18:9-14 (KJV) And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Works for salvation is contagious with the prideful
Even in the church can the works based salvation shows its ugly big head. This is how dangerous it is….
📖 Galatians 3:2-9 (KJV) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
✅ Subtleness of works
Some of the things that confuses people is the subtleness of works for salvation, because a phrase you will hear a lot in christianity is “Repent of your sins” which is a term not found in the Bible, Now on the surface this phrase is deceiving because the unsaved person will 100% interpret this as I need to be a good person, which makes sense to an unsaved person, but it only leads people to hell.
3️⃣ The dangers of Works for Salvation
The question many might want to ask is why is it dangerous to do good works for God. Well, as we saw it only pleases the flesh, it creates boastful people, and it takes away from everything that Jesus did for us. Most importantly if you believe in works for salvation then you’re not saved.
📖 Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The issue with these guys is they thought their works was good enough to save them and that was deception that lead them to Hell, its not worth it and I’d place my faith 100% on the finish work of Christ. Amen
