Lesson 3 of 3
Faith without works, and Paul
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Study objective: Study James 2:14-26 and compare it carefully with Paul’s teaching on faith.
Reading: James 2:14–26Romans 3:27–28Romans 4:1–5
James 2:14–26 WEB
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? 15And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, 16and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it? 17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. 18Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder. 20But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? 21Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected. 23So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. 25In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
Romans 3:27–28 WEB
27Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Romans 4:1–5 WEB
1What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. 3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. 5But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
Background and context
James asks what good it is to say you have faith without works, and concludes that faith without works is dead. Both James and Paul use Abraham as their example. Paul writes that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law; James that a person is justified by works and not by faith only. Many readers understand them as addressing different questions: Paul, how a person is made right with God; James, what genuine faith looks like. Others explain the relationship differently. This lesson lays the texts side by side.
Observe
- James gives the example of a hungry person sent away with words only (2:15-16).
- Even demons believe that God is one (2:19).
- James cites Abraham offering Isaac and Rahab hiding the spies (2:21-25).
- Paul cites Genesis 15:6, before Isaac was born (Romans 4:3).
Words, people and events to notice
- Justify
- To declare or show to be in the right. Paul and James both use the word, with different emphases. Romans 3:28James 2:24
- Works of the law
- Paul’s phrase in Romans for keeping the law of Moses, which he says does not justify. Romans 3:28
Understand
- What kind of “faith” is James criticising (2:14-19)?
- Which event in Abraham’s life does each writer use, and when did it happen?
- How would you state what both James and Paul agree on?
Connect
- Ephesians 2:8–10
Saved by grace through faith, created for good works.
- Galatians 5:6
Faith working through love.
Reflect
- Is there a gap between what you believe and how you live?
- How do grace and good works fit together in your life?
Key takeaways
Editorial summary, not Scripture.
- Genuine faith shows itself in action.
- James and Paul use Abraham to make different points; their letters are best read in their own settings.
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