Faith: Dead or Alive?

Q: Can faith alone (without works) save?

A: No! Faith alone cannot save!

Sola Fide!

Faith: Dead or Alive?

Martin Luther“In comparison with these [Paul’s and Peter’s letters] the epistle of James is an epistle full of straw....”

“[It] contradicts Paul by teaching justification by works.”

Faith: Dead or Alive?

Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

James 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Paul v. James?

Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness….

Roman Catholic• Works required to merit eternal life

Reformed/Calvinist• Works required to prove eternal life• We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is not alone

4 ways to reconcile James & Paul

Roman Catholic• Works required to merit eternal life

Reformed/Calvinist• Works required to prove eternal life

Arminian• Works required to keep eternal life

4 ways to reconcile James & Paul

“If any one saith… by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema.”

Council of Trent, Canon 14

Roman Catholic

“...our Church teaches we can end up ‘losing’ the salvation God has begun in us, and the consequence of this in the age to come is our eternal destruction in Hell.”

UMC.org

Arminian

“Put your faith in Him. Accept the incredible gift of the cross, where Jesus took upon Himself the punishment we deserve and gives to us the life, healing, and redemption that come only through grace.”

Francis Chan, Erasing Hell

Reformed/Calvinistic

“Put simply, failing to help the poor could damn you to hell.” Francis Chan, Erasing Hell

Reformed/Calvinistic

Roman Catholic• Works required to merit eternal life

Reformed/Calvinist• Works required to prove eternal life

Arminian• Works required to keep eternal life

Free Grace• Works required for the justified to become sanctified4 ways to reconcile James &

Paul

What is the meaning of “faith”?• Faith is content• Faith is an event• Faith is a process

Faith alone cannot save

Acts 16:31“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved....”

What is the meaning of “faith”?What is the meaning of “save”?• Past – I have been delivered• Future – I will be delivered• Present – I am being delivered

Faith alone cannot save

Salvation in James

James 5:15...the prayer offered in faith will restore [lit. “save”] the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up....

James 5:20...he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 16:17-18 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; he who watches his way preserves his life.

Proverbs 19:16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.Also see Genesis 32:30; 1 Samuel 19:11; Proverbs 13:3; Ezekiel 18:26-27

Salvation in James

James 2:12-13

James 3:1

Judgment in James

James 2:12-13James 2:14-26

James 3:1

Judgment in James

• Faith alone (immature, without works) cannot save you from a useless life and a merciless judgment

• Mature faith (expressed through good works) is necessary for salvation from a useless life and a merciless judgment.

• Faith and works are inseparable for salvation from a useless life and a merciless judgment for the eternally secure Christian.The argument of James 2:14-26

Five statements of the argumentFaith separated from works...

• 2:14 – can’t save• 2:17 – is dead• 2:20 – is useless• 2:24 – can’t justify• 2:26 – is dead

Five illustrations of the argument

One argument, 5 illustrations

Faith and works are inseparable for salvation from a useless life and a

merciless judgment for the eternally secure Christian.

“dead” ≠ non-existent“dead” = useless, of no benefit

Illustration #1: a believer in need (2:14-17)

Faith and works are inseparable for salvation from a useless life and a

merciless judgment for the eternally secure Christian.

• Diatribe (Rom. 9; 1 Cor 15)• Punctuation was not inspired

Illustration #2 (2:18-20) : an argumentative fool

Illustration #2 (2:18-20) : an argumentative fool

Illustration #2 (2:18-20) : an argumentative fool

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works.” (NIV ends here)

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (NAS ends here)

Illustration #2 (2:18-20) : an argumentative fool

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.” (BGFST ends here)

Illustration #2 (2:18-20) : an argumentative fool

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”

20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

Illustration #2 (2:18-20) : an argumentative fool

18 But someone (an objector) may well say, “You have faith (only, without works) and I have (faith and) works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works (faith can be demonstrated with or without works. I will illustrate to prove my point).

Illustration #2 (2:18-20) : an argumentative fool

19 You (James) believe that God is one (you are orthodox). You do well (you do good works; James 2:8; Mt. 5:44; 12:12; Luke 6:27; Acts 10:33); the demons also believe, and shudder (they do no good works. So you see that faith and works can be separated).”

20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?Illustration #2 (2:18-20) : an

argumentative fool

19 You (James) believe that God is one (you are orthodox). You do well (you do good works; James 2:8; Mt. 5:44; 12:12; Luke 6:27; Acts 10:33); the demons also believe, and shudder (they do no good works. So you see that faith and works can be separated).”

20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?Illustration #2 (2:18-20) : an

argumentative fool

Faith and works are inseparable for salvation from a useless life and a

merciless judgment for the eternally secure Christian.

• Abraham’s chronology• Faith “perfected”• “Friend of God”• “Justified”

#1 – declared righteous by faith alone#2 – declared righteous by faith AND worksIllustration #3 (2:21-24): Abraham, friend

of God

Faith and works are inseparable for salvation from a useless life and a

merciless judgment for the eternally secure Christian.

Rahab “saved” her familyRahab earned a good reputation

Illustration #4 (2:25): Rahab, the harlot

Faith and works are inseparable for salvation from a useless life and a

merciless judgment for the eternally secure Christian.

• the body = faith• the spirit = works

Illustration #5 (2:26): a dead body

Faith and works are inseparable for salvation from a useless life and a

merciless judgment for the eternally secure Christian.

We have perfect assuranceWe have great responsibility

Application

Fireside Room

@briangfisher

Q/A after 11am service

Faith: Dead or Alive?