Faith and Works – James chapter 2, verses 14 to 26
Faith and Works
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works…?
James 2:21 English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
- “What! Abraham was justified by works?” How can James say that? Isn’t it opposite to what Paul says?
- James was concerned that some Jewish Christians were not living according to the faith they claimed.
- Genuine faith produces good works (James 2:14-19) “26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”
- Faith and works bring justification (James 2:20-26) “22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works”
- Paul and James use 2 different meanings for the word “works”
- Paul – “we can’t boast in our works”. Works ALONE cannot save us.
- James – “works are the evidence of real faith“
