James 2:14-26, ¹⁴What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶And 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? ¹⁷Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ¹⁸Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. ¹⁹Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. ²⁰But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? ²²Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ²³And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. ²⁴Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. ²⁵Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? ²⁶For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Before we get into our study of this passage we must make one thing clear and that is that our works, nor the works of anyone other than Jesus Christ, can save us.

As we said in our opening lesson the book of James has had a controversial past and the controversy has been around this conflict between faith and works.

Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:20, that we are to know this,  That no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

By this we are to accept the fact that no scripture is to be interpreted by itself but we are to study all scripture to know the truth of God’s word.

Peter continues by saying the prophesy came as men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit.

In other words the Spirit of God has a message for us and that message is only known by comparing scripture with scripture, not arriving at conclusion from one scripture alone.

So if we are faithful to Peter’s instruction we can look to

Ephesians 2:8-10 for a clear declaration concerning grace, faith and works for this scripture carefully provides discernment to know how grace, faith and works fit together:

There is a chronology, a timeline, of events here for we see that salvation comes by grace being first, then faith, then works.

God extends His grace to those who exercise faith and that results in good works.

That is the order of things.

In our study of scripture we are not to get these out of order and James adheres to this order in his epistle.

This order tells us that God did not save us because of any good works that we have done but He has saved us to be doers of good works.

We are created, that means we have been born again in Christ Jesus, to do good works for prior to being born again we were incapable of doing good works in Christ Jesus.

Now James ended his first chapter by telling us that pure religion consisted of two things.

One was the visiting of the fatherless and widows who were afflicted and the doing of this in purity.

He began chapter two by telling us that this religion does not include partiality.

There is to be an equality among believers regardless of outward status.

Each of us is to look on the other without thought of benefit to ourselves but with thoughts of benefit to others regardless of their standing, whether they be rich or poor, powerful or weak, red or yellow, black or white.

In our passage today he warns against thinking that benefits consist of mere words without works.

He states it in verse 14 in this manner.

This word profit means benefit.

He is saying: What benefit is a kind of talking faith that does not produce benefit to others.

Remember the old song sung by Arthur Godfrey, that captured this truth: Heap big smoke but no fire! Him talk a lot, but him not so hot.

This says the mouth provides no heat.

This kind of faith produces lots of talk but no action.

Is this the kind of faith that God brings into a life?

Doesn’t God say that we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works?

This means that you, as a new creation are now able and expected to do good works in the name of Christ.

God meant it that his children are truly the body of Christ here on earth and that body, like our body, is not to laze around but to work.

So based upon this, a talking faith, a faith that does not result in works is not a faith that God has given but is a man constructed faith, a man imagined faith.

It is a faith that is professed but not practiced and is a faith that is of no practical value, to us or to others.

It is a faith that does not serve and therefore it reveals a faith that has not been accompanied by salvation.

James in verses 2:15-16, asks us to consider this example,

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶And 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?

Now James is assuming that you have something tangible to give to your brother or sister other than words.

Proverbs 3:27 tells us this,  Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

In this proverb God is giving permission to you, his steward, to use that which he has entrusted to you for the benefit of others.

To not do so is stealing from God.

So James is saying that words alone are not the good that is required here.

Words do not warm the body, words do not fill the belly.

This brother or sister is in great need, having neither proper clothing for the conditions, nor do they have sufficient food to eat.

So instead of providing their needs we assume their needs will be met by compassionate and tender words.

Words that are said with such emotion as to communicate that you are such a caring person.

The words "Be ye warmed and filled" tell him or her that you are such an observant person, so sensitive to picking up on their need for a coat and food so quickly.

But the warmth of words soon fades and does not keep out the cold, nor do the multitude of words bring a feeling of satisfaction to the belly.

As we read in Jude, they are like clouds without rain.

I am reminded of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31:20 who had more than words.

Note this woman has no words for the poor but she gives them her hands, for her hands are doing hands, working hands, hands that produce coats of scarlet for her family and I am sure those coats also went to the poor.

You mothers not only tell your children to have a good lunch, but you provide a good lunch.

You not only tell them to keep warm but you provide a coat for them to keep warm.

We would say that a mother with only words is not a mother in the true sense of the word.

James is saying that a person with words alone does not have the God given faith that will produce works.

For he says in verses 17 and 18,  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. ¹⁸Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

Words are not to prove your faith to me, James says, works are to do that.

This is not a new thought but a thought that builds on the words of Jesus Christ as given in Matthew 12:33-37,

Empty words, words that do not precede works, reveal a heart that is devoid of faith and those words will return in the day of judgment.

The encouragement "Be ye warmed and filled" should mean that I will try to warm you and fill you.

"Be ye warmed and filled" without trying to warm and fill you is a false promise and reveals a false profession of faith.

A profession of empty words, without any works, indicates to me a profession that has no status before God.

James is boldly confronting our faith.

What kind of faith do we have. Is our faith genuine?

He is saying a mere profession of faith does not guarantee possession of faith.

Paul also cautioned the Corinthians about this when he told them in 2 Corinthians. 13:5,  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

You may say you have faith. Anyone can say anything.

A 17 year old can say he or she is old enough to buy alcoholic beverages.

But the storekeeper does not rely on words, but deeds.

Show me proof, he says.

Let me see identification that has been blessed by the proper authorities.

Let me see something besides hearing your words.

We know that mere words are not compelling proof for anything so why should they be in the matter of faith.

Now you do not have to prove anything to me or others in this matter but you at least ought to prove to your own self that you have saving faith for this is a matter of life or death.

Remember the story in Mark 2 of the four men who lowered their friend on a stretcher from the roof so that Jesus would heal him.

Mark reports that in this act Jesus saw their faith.

These four men could examine and prove their faith by their act of bringing their friend to Jesus and in so doing Jesus said he actually saw their faith.

The experts in the law were flabbergasted when they heard Jesus say "Son your sins are forgiven."

They saw no faith in His words so Jesus demonstrated his faith by his deeds and told the paralytic man to, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk.

When John the Baptist had doubts about Jesus and asked from prison,  Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Jesus did not answer John with comforting words but He pointed him to his works and told His disciples to:

Jesus verified that works mean something and that they reveal whether or not a man’s faith is a faith that derives from God.

James then brings into the argument those who believe God but do not have true faith, faith to obey God’s word in deeds.