Is faith alone saving really people? Many people in the Protestant Church believe that faith alone saves; this because many pastors and teachers have taught this theory. People attempt to support this theory with scriptures about believing in Jesus Christ and they seem to just run with that alone, but it’s wrong. Anytime a “half-truth” is told, it’s really a lie. And unfortunately, many Christians who’ve believed this, along with the pastors and church leaders who’ve taught it will be condemned and damned during the Day of Judgment.

So let’s examine what James is talking about in this passage. James shows the irony in Christians worshipping on Sunday, professing their faith, and later – how it isn’t followed up with good works later. There will always be works of some kind that you will do, but it’s a matter of doing the right thing, or doing the wrong thing. But listen to what James says: “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14). After this, James goes on to give an example of faith by itself. Think of your Christian life as something consisting of 2 parts: You can’t have a marriage with just a man or just a woman; you can’t have a sandwich with just bread; and you can’t listen to an iPod or mp3 with just a headphone cord. Every invention is made up of several parts that come together in conjunction to fulfill a specific purpose. Likewise, the Christian life is made up of 2 conditions: First, after a person accepts Christ, he believes in Jesus; Second, a person as a result of the Holy Spirit living inside of you, starts to do and then continues to do things that show people that Christ truly is in their life. These are not acts of “legalism,” but it simply is a natural thing that happens after the Holy Spirit comes. Peter started preaching after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. The works that come after the Spirit arrives is not someone trying to “earn their way into heaven,” or “works of the Law,” but works of the Spirit.

Another thing to observe is the fact that your belief in Jesus as the Son of God makes you no different than demons: “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19). In other words – “SO WHAT?! You believe in God, OK fine – even the demons believe that!” What makes you different than the devil himself when no works follow? Your faith by itself can’t save and your religious practices can’t save you either! James draws his point to a close by saying, “Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). So you now have to realize that your dead faith is actually no faith since it’s dead, which brings to vividness what Jesus said, “From the one who does not have, even what [little] he [thinks he] does have shall be taken away” (Luke 19:26).

One closing thought: One of Jesus’ last words before He ascended was this: “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). The Greek word for “disbelieve” also means disobey. That’s enough to prove that it’s faith and obedience to the Bible. A similar Greek word appears in John 3:36: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). Don’t dismiss this message. However, sit down and really think about that!

James 2:14-26