SAVED
BY WORKS:
FAITH
WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
STAGE
ONE: 
OBSERVATION
OF WHAT THE WORDS SAY
STAGE
TWO OF JAMES CHAPTER 2:
CORROBORATION
AND FURTHER COMMENTARY
I)
INTRODUCTION
A)
WORKS TO BE PERFORMED BY THE BELIEVER ARE IN VIEW
B)
JAMES BELIEVED IN THE FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE
1)
[Jas 1:17-18]:
2)
[2 Cor 4:6]:
C)
SO THE ISSUE IS NOT WHETHER WORKS SHOULD ACCOMPANY FAITH BUT TO WHAT
END!!!
II)
[Jas 2:1-4]
A)
DO NOT ACT WITH FAVORITISM, ESPECIALLY TOWARD THOSE WITH WORLDLY RICHES
OR STATURE
1)
[Phil 2:3-4]
III)
[Jas 2:5]
A)
DID NOT GOD CHOOSE THE POOR OF THIS WORLD WHO LOVE HIM TO BE RICH IN
FAITH AND HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM?
B)
MATERIAL POSSESSIONS ARE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO A BELIEVER'S FAITHFUL LIFE
1)
[Mk 4:18-19]
2)
[Rev 3:17]:
2)
[1 Tim 6:9-10, 17]
C)
THE ULTIMATE ISSUE RELATIVE TO BEING FAITHFUL & RECEIVING REWARDS IN
HEAVEN IS OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WORD OUT OF LOVE FOR THE LORD
1)
[Jn 14:15]
D)
SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IS NOT IN VIEW. THE VALUE OF A BELIEVER'S
LIFE - HIS FAITHFUL WORKS - JUSTIFYING HIM BEFORE MEN AND BEING SAVED IN
HEAVEN IS
E)
LOSS OF SALVATION CANNOT BE IN VIEW EITHER - ESPECIALLY SINCE SCRIPTURE
TEACHES ETERNAL SECURITY
1)
[Ro 8:1-4]
a)
THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST, I.E., BELIEVERS, ARE UNCONDITIONALLY ETERNALLY
SECURE FROM GOING TO HELL
b)
THE BELIEVER IS UNCONDITIONALLY SET FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH
AND ITS EFFECTS BY HIS POSITION IN CHRIST UNDER THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF
LIFE
c)
WHAT MAN COULD NOT DO, BEING CONTAMINATED BY HIS SINFUL NATURE, GOD'S
SON DID: TOOK CARE FO THE PENALTY FOR MANKIND'S SINS FOR HIM
i)
[1 Jn 2:2]
ii)
[Acts 10:43]
d)
THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS IN CHRIST, I.E., WHO IS A BELIEVER, NOW HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO - BUT NOT THE CERTAINTY THAT HE - WILL LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY
i)
[Eph 5:15-18]
e)
SO THE BELIEVER WHO WALKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT
WILL INDEED FULFILL THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW
IV)
[Jas 2:6-7]
A)
SO THOSE WHO HAVE RICHES AND POWER USUALLY ABUSE IT, YET THOSE NOT SO
BLESSED ARE MOST OFTEN DISHONORED
1)
[Jas 1:9-11]:
2)
[Compare Jas 5:1-6]:
V)
[Jas 2:8-11]
A)
THE LAW OF LIBERTY IS SUCCESSFULLY FOLLOWED WHEN THE BELIEVER ACTS
TOWARD OTHERS UNDER THE ROYAL LAW OF LOVE
B)
SHOWING PARTIALITY IS ENOUGH TO BE CONVICTED OF BREAKING THE LAW
VI)
[Jas 2:12-13]
A)
ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE WILL BE EQUITABLE JUDGMENT UNDER THE LAW OF
LIBERTY TO DETERMINE TEMPORAL JUDGMENT AND ETERNAL REWARDS IN HEAVEN
1)
[Jas 1:12]:
B)
JUDGMENT FOR THE UNFAITHFUL BELIEVER CAN RANGE FROM DISCIPLINE TODAY OF
VARYING DEGREES TO EARLY DEATH TO GREAT LOSS OF ETERNAL REWARDS WHEN THE
BELIEVER REACHES HEAVEN'S SHORES
VII)
[Jas 2:14]
A)
THERE IS NEITHER PROFIT NOR SALVATION, (PRESERVATION), OF ONES EARTHLY
LIFE FOR ONE WHO SAYS HE HAS FAITH BUT HAS NOT WORKS
B)
THE CONTEXT OF THIS VERSE IS ESTABLISHED IN CHAPTER ONE: EXHORTATION OF
BELIEVERS TO LIVE FAITHFULLLY FOR CHRIST IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE LENGTH
OF THEIR PHYSICAL LIVES, TO SAVE THE VALUE OF THEIR LIVES FOR ETERNITY &
TO JUSTIFY THEMSELVES TO MANKIND AS DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD
1)
[Jas 1:12-15]
a)
[Jn 14:15]
C)
SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IS NOT IN VIEW BECAUSE JAMES IS ADDRESSING
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALREADY SAVED UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
1)
[Jas 1:18-21]
D)
LOSS OF ONE'S SOUL: THE LOSS OF ONES PHYSICAL LIFE AND ITS VALUE IN
ETERNITY - NOT LOSS OF ETERNAL LIFE - IS IN VIEW IN JAMES:
1)
[Jas 1:21]:
a)
[Compare Jas 2:14]:
b)
[Jas 5:19-20]:
c)
[Compare Pr 10:27]:
d)
[Pr 11:19 NAS]:
e)
[Pr 19:16 NAS]:
2)
[Mt 16:24-27]:
3)
[Lk 6:9]
E)
"SAVED" COULD NOT REFER TO SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE
THE CONDITIONS GIVEN IN ORDER TO BE SAVED IN JAMES CHAPTERS ONE AND TWO
ARE NOT THE CONDITION OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE TO MEET FOR
RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE
1)
[Jas 1:18-21]:
F)
SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IS NOT IN VIEW BECAUSE JAMES IS ADDRESSING
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALREADY SAVED UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
G)
CONCLUSION: THE KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING JAMES' LETTER
1)
IT IS EXHORTING BELIEVERS TO SERVE GOD IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE LENGTH
OF THEIR PHYSICAL LIVES AND THE VALUE OF THEIR LIVES FOR ETERNITY
2)
IF NOTHING OF VALUE IS PRODUCED THEN A WORTHLESS UNSAVABLE UNHAPPY LIFE
IS THE RESULT TO THE POSSIBLE EXTENT OF PREMATURE DEATH & NO REWARDS
AND WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH IN CONTEMPLATION OF SUCH GREAT LOSS IN
HEAVEN
a)
[1 Cor 3:12-15]
b)
[1 Cor 11:28-30]
c)
[1 Jn 5:16]
d)
[Lev 10:1-2]
e)
[Acts 5:1-11]
f)
[Ez 18:4, 20]
g)
[Pr 3:1-3]
h)
[Pr 10:27]
i)
[Pr 11:19]
j)
[Pr 14:27]
k)
[Jas 1:15]
l)
[Jas 5:18-20]
m)
[Jn 3:3]
3)
THE WORDS SAVED & SALVATION IN THE BIBLE MORE OFTEN REFER TO
SALVATION FROM PHYSICAL DEATH, DISEASE & VARIOUS TEMPORAL
DIFFICULTIES AS THEY DO IN JAMES
H)
SUMMARY OF VERSE 14: IN LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING ANALYSIS, LET'S SUMMARIZE
VERSE 14
1)
'CAN THE ONE TIME SAVING FAITH UNTO ETERNAL LIFE OF A BELIEVER KEEP HIM
FROM A PREMATURE PHYSICAL DEATH AND A SAVING OF HIS LIFE'S VALUE FOR ALL
ETERNITY IF HE DOES NOTHING FOR THE LORD ALL HIS LIFE?' ANSWER: NO!
2)
NO MORE THAN CAN THE ONE TIME SAVING FAITH OF A BELIEVER KEEP HIM FROM A
PREMATURE PHYSICAL DEATH IF HE LEADS A LIFE OF CONTINUOUS SIN
VIII)
[Jas 2:15-16]
A)
OF WHAT USE IS YOUR FAITH FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU DO NOT HELP A BROTHER OR
SISTER IN NEED?
IX)
[Jas 2:17]
A)
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD = USELESS RELATIVE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS AND
GODLY VALUE OF THE BELIEVER'S LIFE
1)
[Eph 5:14b]
"Wake up, O sleeper,
Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
B)
BUT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES AND A RISK FOR A BELIEVER BEING FAITHFUL IN
HIS WORKS
X)
AT THIS POINT LET US MAKE A FEW SUMMARY STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BOOK OF
JAMES BEFORE GOING ON TO VERSES 18-19:
A)
James is talking to eternally secure Christians. He is warning them of
the consequences of an unproductive Christian life: a shorter life on
earth and nothing to be saved in heaven relative to eternal rewards.
B)
He is recognizing that Christians have a sin nature & that they
perform evil. It is evil, James says, for example to NOT help another
when the capacity & the means are there.
C)
Christians are to be productive in their lives with divine good works -
those works which God specifically ordained for each child of His to
perform. They are not to substitute rituality, religiousity or
churchianity for their real responsibility.
D)
James uses the word "dead" to describe a Christian's faith in
Christ which is unproductive of divine good service. Comparison is later
made to a physically dead person who obviously is totally unproductive
and inactive. So faith without works is dead.
E)
James is not talking about adding good works to one's faith to attain
salvation.
F)
James is not saying if one does not show good works then one cannot be
saved.
XI)
[Jas 2:18-19]
A)
JAMES NOW ANSWERS THE OBJECTIONS OF BELIEVERS WHO RESIST THE PRINCIPLE
OF WORKS BEING REQUIRED TO KEEP ONES FAITH ALIVE
B)
THE OBJECTOR FALSELY MAINTAINS THAT FAITH AND WORKS ARE NOT CONNECTED
C)
THE OBJECTOR MAINTAINS THAT THERE IS NO OBLIGATION FOR A BELIEVER TO DO
GOOD WORKS TO VALIDATE HIS FAITH WITH MEN AND HE POINTS TO THE DEMONS TO
PROVE IT
D)
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT THE REBELLIOUS AND EVIL BEHAVIOR OF
THE DEMONS DOES NOT CONTRADICT WHAT THE DEMONS TRULY BELIEVE. THEY
BELIEVE IN ONE GOD BUT ALSO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN BECOME LIKE GOD
E)
THE TRUE VALUE OF A PERSON'S LIFE - WHAT HE DOES WITH IT - INEVITABLY
PROVES OUT WHAT HE BELIEVES
1)
[Pr 23:7a]
2)
[Pr 27:19]
3)
[Mt 6:21]
4)
[Mt 12:34a]
F)
OBJECTORS TO FREE GRACE SALVATION INSIST THAT THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF
FAITH NOT BEING ENOUGH TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE - YOU MUST ALSO HAVE WORKS -
IS TAUGHT IN VV. 19
XII)
[Jas 2:20]
A)
FAITH WHICH DOES NOT PRODUCE WORKS IS USELESS IN TERMS OF PRESERVING THE
VALUE OF THE BELIEVER'S LIFE IN ETERNITY, (REWARDS), AND TESTIFYING TO
MEN ABOUT OUR LORD WHILE ON EARTH
B)
JAMES'S ANSWER TO THE OBJECTOR INDICATES THAT FAITH AND WORKS ARE
SEPARATE CONCEPTS BUT THEY ARE TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
SUCH THAT THE WORKS VALIDATE ONES FAITH
C)
CONCLUSION FOR VERSES 18-20:
SALVATION IS STILL NOT
IN VIEW. THE LENGTH OF YOUR LIFE, ETERNAL REWARDS AND TESTIMONY ARE. SO
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS INDEED USELESS
XIII)
[Jas 2:20-23]
A)
JAMES SUPPORTS HIS POINT THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS USELESS BY REFERING
TO THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM
1)
FIRST OF ALL, ABRAHAM WAS NOT SAVED UNTO ETERNAL LIFE BY HIS WORKS, BUT
BY HIS ONE TIME ACT OF FAITH ALONE IN GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION THROUGH
HIS SEED, THE COMING MESSIAH JESUS CHRIST
a)
[Gen 15:4-6]
b)
[Ro 4:1-3]:
2)
ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN ABRAHAM OBEYED GOD IN DEEDS HE JUSTIFIED HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BEFORE MEN CONFIRMING THAT HE WAS THE FRIEND OF
GOD
3)
AS IT DID WITH ABRAHAM, SO IT IS THAT A CHRISTIAN'S FAITH EXPRESSED IN
HIS WORKS BRINGS SPIRITUAL MATURITY AND CONFIRMS FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD
a)
[Jn 15:14]
4)
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF ABRAHAM HAD NOT OBEYED GOD AND HE HAD NOT
TAKEN ISAAC UP TO THE ALTAR TO SACRIFICE HIM?
a)
[Heb 11:17-19]
XIV)
[Jas 2:23-24]
A)
JAMES TEACHES HIS READERS THAT THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF JUSTIFICATION
B)
NOTE THAT JAMES DOES NOT SAY HERE THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE KIND OF
JUSTIFICATION WHICH IS BY WORKS AND FAITH COMBINED
C)
JAMES DOES NOT SAY HERE OR ANYWHERE ELSE THAT ONE'S SALVATION IS
ESTABLISHED AND VALIDATED BY ONE'S WORKS BEFORE GOD. SIMILARLY, JAMES
DOES NOT SAY THAT ONE'S SALVATION CAN BE MADE INVALID BY A LACK OF
WORKS. HE NEVER SAYS THAT JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH CANNOT EXIST APART FROM
JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS. THIS IS WHY JAMES URGES BELIEVERS TO LIVE AS
CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO....THE THEME OF HIS ENTIRE EPISTLE!
1)
[Mt 7:15-23]
a)
[Mt 7:15-16]
i)
NOTICE THAT THE SUBJECT OF MT 7:15-23 IS FALSE PROPHETS AND HOW THEIR
LIFESTYLE PROVES OUT THEIR FALSE TEACHING
b)
[Mt 7:17]
i)
EVERY BELIEVER WHO IS IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD WILL LIVE A LIFESTYLE WHICH
BEARS GOOD FRUIT, BUT THE ROTTEN TREE - CARNAL BELIEVER, UNBELIEVER
GROUP INCL THE FALSE PROPHET WILL BEAR BAD FRUIT
c)
[Mt 7:18]
i)
THE GOOD TREE REPRESENTS THE LIFESTYLE NOT THE ETERNAL DESTINY OF
FAITHFUL BELIEVERS, THE ROTTEN TREE THE LIFESTYLE OF UNBELIEVERS AND
UNFAITHFUL BELIEVERS
[Ro
8:7]
d)
[Mt 7:19]
i)
EVERY LIFESTYLE DEVOID OF GOOD WORKS IS DESTROYED, BURNED UP, BUT NOT
THE INDIVIDUAL HIMSELF
e)
[Mt 7:20]
i)
SO THEN YOU WILL KNOW THE FALSE TEACHERS FROM THE TRUE ONES BY THE LIVES
THAT THEY LEAD
[Titus
1:15-16]
ii)
HOWEVER, IT OFTEN TAKES A DISCERNING BELIEVER WHO KNOWS THE WORD OF GOD
IN ORDER TO DETECT THE ROTTEN FRUIT OF A FALSE PROPHET'S LIFESTYLE
iii)
AN UNFAITHFUL LIFESTYLE IS NOT ALWAYS AN INDICATOR OF AN UNBELIEVER,
BELIEVERS CAN ACT THAT WAY TOO
iv)
JUST AS THE FALSE TEACHER WILL BE KNOWN BY HIS LIFESTYLE SO WILL A
BELIEVER'S CHOICE TO BE UNFAITHFUL BECOME EVIDENT
[Jas
2:18b]
v)
ASSURANCE TO THE BELIEVER OF HIS SALVATION IS NOT A GUARANTEE OF A
FAITHFUL LIFESTYLE
vi)
COMPARE 1 JOHN 5:9-13 WHICH TEACHES THAT ONE CAN KNOW THAT ONE HAS
ETERNAL LIFE AT THE MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE BEFORE ANY
WORKS ARE PERFORMED - WHETHER GOOD OR BAD
[1
Jn 5:9-13]
vii)
SCRIPTURE THEREFORE DOES NOT TEACH THAT IF ONE DOES NOT SHOW EVIDENCE
THAT ONE IS A BELIEVER THEN ONE IS NOT SAVED
viii)
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT ALL CHRISTIANS SIN AND NEVER DO REACH A POINT IN
THIS LIFE WHEN THEY CAN SAY THAT THEY DON'T SIN OR ACT UNCHRISTIANLIKE
[1
John 1:8, 10]
ix)
THE FALSE DOCTRINE THAT A BELIEVER MUST PROVE OUT HIS SALVATION IS
UNSCRIPTURAL, CAUSES JUDGMENTALISM AND CONTRADICTS THE TRUE DOCTRINE OF
THE EXCLUSIVE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN THE SALVATION OF MANKIND
x)
THE DEEDS OF FALSE PROFESSORS DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ANYTHING BUT
LAWLESSNESS
f)
[Mt 7:21]
i)
HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD RELATIVE TO THE RECEPTION OF ETERNAL LIFE IS
HE WHO SIMPLY AND ONLY TRUSTS ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE
[Jn
6:27-29]
g)
[Mt 7:22-23]
i)
ANY DEEDS DONE TO GAIN MERIT WITH GOD FOR SALVATION ARE CONSIDERED BY
OUR LORD AS LAWLESSNESS AND THEY CANCEL OUT GOD'S GRACE AND CAUSE THE
INDIVIDUAL FURTHER CONDEMNATION
[Jn
1:12]
ii)
CONCLUSION ON MATTHEW 7:21-23
JUSTIFICATION
BY FAITH ALONE IS NOT BEING REFUTED IN THIS PASSAGE
MATTHEW
7:21-23 IS TEACHING THAT NO ONE CAN EXPECT KINGDOM ENTRANCE ON THE BASIS
OF WORKS OF ANY KIND
THE
WILL OF THE FATHER CONCERNING SALVATION THEREFORE IS THAT WE BELIEVE IN
HIS SON + NOTHING ELSE IN ORDER TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
XIV) [JAS 2:23-24
(cont.)]:
D)
SO A MAN IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN ONE WAY ONLY - BY FAITH IN CHRIST UNTO
ETERNAL LIFE, BUT HE IS ALSO TO BE JUSTIFIED IN ANOTHER WAY - BY WORKS
TO PRESERVE HIS MORTAL LIFE, RECEIVE REWARDS IN HEAVEN & DEMONSTRATE
THAT HE IS A FRIEND OF GOD
1)
[Ro 4:2]
2)
[Eph 2:8-9]
E)
SO THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF JUSTIFICATION
1)
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE WHICH GIVES ON A STANDING
OF ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE GOD
2)
JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS WHICH EXERCISES ONE'S FAITH IN CHRIST AND GIVES
ONE A STANDING OF FRIENDSHIP - OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD BEFORE PEOPLE
XV)
[Jas 2:25]
A)
IN THE SAME WAY THAT ABRAHAM DEMONSTRATED HIS FAITH IN CHRIST UNTO
ETERNAL LIFE TO MEN BY HIS ACTIONS WITH ISAAC SO RAHAB DEMONSTRATED HER
FAITH BY HER OWN ACTIONS TO SAVE THE HEBREW SPIES
B)
SO FAITH DOES NOT NEED WORKS TO BE ADDED TO IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE
FAITH BUT IT IS A DEAD FAITH WITHOUT THE WORKS
1)
[Jas 2:17]
C)
SO RAHAB LIKE ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH BEFORE GOD UNTO ETERNAL
LIFE AND WAS ALSO JUSTIFIED IN ANOTHER WAY: BEFORE MEN TESTIFYING THAT
SHE WAS THE FRIEND OF GOD
D)
SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT WORKS PLAY ABSOLUTELY NO PART IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S
SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
1)
[Gal 3:21b-22]
E)
SO JAMES IS SAYING THAT RAHAB ALSO HAD A JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS IN
ADDITION TO HERE JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. THIS WORK WAS THE PRODUCT
OF HER SAVING FAITH NOT A PART OF IT
1)
[Heb 11:31]
XVI)
[Jas 2:26]
A)
WHEN A CHRISTIAN HAS A FAITH THAT IS INACTIVE IT IS LIKE THE BODY WITH A
DEPARTED HUMAN SPIRIT - DEAD, USELESS
B)
A DEAD FAITH WAS ONCE USEFUL FOR SECURING ETERNAL LIFE
1)
[Eph 1:13-14]
XVII)
CONCLUSION: JAMES CHAPTER 2
.....RETURN
FOR MORE ON REWARDS
.....RETURN
FOR MORE OF JN 15:1-14
