Does James Chapter Two Teach Salvation By Works?

James 2:14-21, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?"

James chapter 2 is a commonly misunderstood passage. Please carefully notice that James said that he would “SHEW THEE” his faith by works, and by works you can “SHEW ME” your faith. Clearly, James is speaking about being justified "BY WORKS" in the SIGHT OF MAN. 1st Samuel 16:7, "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." God looks at a man's heart, but since we cannot see into a person's soul, we can only judge by their works (or absence thereof). In sharp contrast to James, the Apostle Paul in Romans speaks about being justified "BY FAITH" in the SIGHT OF GOD. ...

Romans 4:1-7, "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered."

Here we see the exact opposite of what James teaches. Paul shows that Abraham was saved by faith alone, and not by works in any way. If Abraham had been saved by works, then God would have OWED him salvation, and not of grace. Some preachers today foolishly claim that Old testament saints were saved by works. That is unbiblical. People were saved by faith alone in the Old Testament. So says Romans 4:6 concerning David. So says Habakkuk 2:4, Genesis 15:6, Jonah 2:9 and Acts 10:43.

So in Romans Paul is teaching about the ROOT of the believer's salvation, which is FAITH. But James is teaching about the FRUIT of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25), which is FAITH PLUS WORKS. We must always separate SERVICE from SALVATION. We are saved by faith alone; but then God wants us to serve Him with faith and works for the rest of our life, which is a matter of rewards and obedience, not the free gift of eternal life. Here are some helpful theological quotes showing the big difference between discipleship (service), and salvation (sonship).

A Christian does NOT have to follow Christ as a disciple to be saved, nor to stay saved. Eternal life is a free gift. But God wants us to depart from sin and allow Christ to live through us. Galatians 2:20-21, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." So we see here that Jesus lives the Christian life through us, if we will humble our self to search the Scriptures and live in them daily (John 5:39; 2nd Corinthians 10:5-6). Lordship Salvation is a false plan of salvation, which is caused by MIXING service with salvation. I use the words "service" and "discipleship" interchangeable. True salvation is by faith alone, which does not require service.

So remember, Paul in Romans is speaking about being justified in the sight of God BY FAITH. But James in the Epistle of James is speaking about being justified in the sight of men BY WORKS. One more thing. James 2:21 says that Abraham was justified when he offered up Isaac. That event happened in Genesis chapter 22. But the Bible says Abram (Abraham) was saved in Genesis 15:6, when he believed on the Lord. Genesis 15:6, "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." This is the Old Testament passage that Romans 4:1-5 is referring to. Isaac wasn't even conceived at the time Abraham was saved. Abraham was justified in God's sight by faith, but man's sight by works.

Romans 4:6-7, "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered." Paul said that the patriarchs, like Abraham and David, were “blessed” to have their sins forgiven and covered. That sure sounds like eternal security to me! If, as some false teachers like Dr. Peter S. Ruckman and Pastor Gene Kim claim, people were saved by works in the Old Testament, then no one could have known for certain they were saved. How could they have been “blessed” to know that their sins were forgiven and covered. There are problems on many levels with the whole concept of people being saved by faith plus works at any time in history.

James chapter two is very simple friend. The apostle was speaking about being justified in the eyes of our fellow man. Proof of this is read in James 2:15-16, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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?” Our faith as professed Christians is evidenced by the way we treat others. This has nothing to do with the gift of salvation, but being justified in the eyes of other people.

I once saw a man in San Diego searching in the garbage for food. So I walked over and handed him $20 and a Gospel of John. I'll never forget what he said to me: “Thank you for being a doer of the Word and not just a hearer!” That is what James is teaching. Our faith is dead without works. What saith the Scripture? Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We are not saved by good works; but rather, we were saved unto good works. We are not expected by God to do good works to seal, validate, prove, maintain, nor keep His gift of eternal life; but rather, to lay hold (capitalize) on the eternal life which God has freely given to us by faith alone.