Today’s post concludes a treatment of James 2:14-26 and focuses on James 2:26. For a study of the previous verses, see earlier posts on this passage of Scripture.
James concludes his argument by stating: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
If you have ever viewed a dead body, you know exactly what James is talking about. You can tell the person’s spirit is no longer there. There is nothing inside to animate the body. It is without spirit and dead. James says similarly, “Faith without works is dead also.” Faith without demonstrable works is like a dead body with no spirit. There is no life. There is no power.
But where there is genuine faith, saving faith, real living faith, there is power! It’s interesting to note that when James speaks of the “works” of Abraham and Rahab, he does not have in mind the kinds of works that are generally familiar. James does not say, for example, “The reason Abraham and Rahab’s faith is clearly genuine is because of their works of reading the Bible and going to church.”
No, the “justification by works” evidenced in Abraham and Rahab are the “works” of putting their hopes and their very lives on the line for God. Abraham is willing to see his son die. Rahab risks her life by hiding the spies. These two people have anything but a powerless faith! They have a powerful faith that leads to life-denying, risk-taking works.
When you truly love someone, you will risk everything to be with that person. It’s not that you are selfishly motivated by what you can get out of the relationship but that you find pleasure and joy in simply being in the relationship.
I love this statement about Abraham at the end of verse 23: “And he was called the friend of God.” When we are genuinely saved, we are regarded as a friend of God. We once were enemies of God, but, by the grace of the gospel, we are now friends of God. What a wonderful relationship!
A person is not your friend if they are using you to get what they want, taking advantage of your position, the stuff you have, or your job. A true friend won’t manipulate you to get what they want. Friendship is just being with someone because you love that person. It’s the pure joy and pleasure of being in that relationship.
That’s what being a Christian is like. We are friends with God and friends of God. We are His friends not for what we can get out of the relationship but merely because we enjoy being with Him, being in His presence. Arguably, this desire to be with God is the greatest evidence of genuine salvation.
What About You?
- How would you respond if someone asked how people in the Old Testament were saved?
- How can you use the examples of Abraham and Rahab this week as you share the gospel with an acquaintance?
- Our desire to be with God and spend time with Him is arguably “the greatest evidence of genuine salvation.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
**Excerpt from You’re Either Walking The Walk Or Just Running Your Mouth (Preaching Truth: 2020), pages 96-98, available on Amazon.
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