(1) Last time we looked primarily at verses fourteen through seventeen (c.f. James 2:14-17), where James showed us that one of the characteristics of a “dead” faith (i.e. the kind of faith that cannot “save”) is its false compassion.⁴ Dead faith may express itself in words, but seldom (if ever) in any substantive action – people with dead faith do little or nothing to help their “brothers and sisters” in Christ, even when they have the resources to do so. People with dead faith may be willing to pray – but they are not willing to get personally involved. They may be willing to give a few dollars to a worthy cause – but they are not willing to give of themselves in any meaningful or sacrificial way.

(2) Now, in verses eighteen and nineteen (c.f. James 2:18-19), James shows us another characteristic of dead faith – namely, the shallowness of its conviction.⁵ A person with dead faith often believes certain things about God and His word that are true, but he does so without submitting his life to either⁵ – hence, as a system of belief dead faith is often similar to, but no better than, that of “the demons”.

(3) Note, then, what James says in verse eighteen: “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’” (c.f. James 2:18).

(a) Some of you may know that the original languages of the Old and New Testaments often lack the kind of basic punctuation you and I are familiar with in English. Most of the time this doesn’t present a problem for translators – but occasionally it does – and verse eighteen is one of those times. Hence, those of you following along in the NASV will see that most of this verse is in quotes – thereby making it one long statement by a hypothetical individual – which means James’ reply doesn’t start until verse nineteen, and (at that point) really doesn’t make much sense.

Those of you using the NKJV or the NIV, however, will see that only the phrase: “You have faith and I have works” is in quotes – thereby making the remainder of verse eighteen James’ response to that statement (c.f. James 2:18).

(b) As much as I love the NASV, this is one of those times when I think other translations give us a better sense of what’s going on – and what seems to be going on is this – James is challenging the person who says he has “faith” (i.e. saving faith) to prove it. The person he’s challenging seems to think that some people have faith, while other people have works – but that both kinds of people are Christians. James’ reply is, “No they aren’t! And I can prove it with one simple test. If you can show me your faith is genuine, even though there are no good works to support it – I’ll show you my faith is genuine by pointing you to my good works” (c.f. James 2:18).

(c) At this juncture the person who says he has saving faith, even though he doesn’t have the good works to back it up, has a problem – there’s no way he can prove the validity of his profession of faith – he has no evidence to support his contention that he’s a Christian. All he has are words – there’s no visible, tangible evidence to suggest that what he says is true!

It would be like me telling you I’m a commercial airline pilot – I can say it all I want, but just saying it doesn’t make it so. I may claim to be a pilot, but where’s the proof my claim is true? There’s really only one way to prove my contention, and that’s to climb into a commercial airplane and fly it. Just because I have pictures of airplanes on my living room wall doesn’t mean I’m a pilot – just because I know a lot of facts about airplanes and aerodynamics doesn’t mean I’m a pilot – just because I hang around airports, and even sat in an cockpit once, doesn’t mean I’m a pilot. The only way I can prove I’m an airline pilot is by actually flying a plane.

In much the same way, without good works a person’s profession of faith in Christ is meaningless. Just because we have pictures of Jesus hanging on our living room wall doesn’t mean we’re a Christian – just because we know a lot about the bible doesn’t mean we’re a Christian – just because we go to church doesn’t mean we’re a Christian. The only way to prove we have saving faith is by DOING the kind of good works people with saving faith do!

(d) James’ challenge is still relevant today. It’s not enough for us to give mental assent to right doctrine (even if it’s Reformed doctrine) – nor is it enough for us to become a church member⁶ – or be baptized – or whatever. All of these things are important, and ought to be done – but they don’t prove we have saving faith, any more than spending a night in the garage proves I’m a car. As Jesus once said: “You will know them (How?) BY THEIR FRUITS. (After which He went on to say) (You don’t find) Grapes (growing on) thorn bushes nor (do you find) figs (growing on) thistles” (c.f. Matthew 7:16). Even so, you don’t find people who are Christians in name only meeting the two-fold criteria for the kind of good works that are pleasing to God!

(e) James is NOT suggesting every person who appears to be doing a lot good things in the church or community automatically has genuine, saving faith. For one thing, appearances can be deceiving – i.e. what looks like a good work to us, may not be one at all (at least not in the biblical sense that we looked at in a previous message). As one writer pointed out, among those involved in humanitarian work all over the world today are some who deny the very existence of God – not to mention some who deny Christ.⁶

So, James’ point is NOT that the presence of works that look good proves a person has saving faith – his point is that the ABSENCE of good works calls a person’s profession of saving faith into question.⁶ To put it another way – if a person doesn’t have the works needed to back up their profession of faith, then there’s no real proof they have saving faith.

(4) Moving on to verse nineteen, James makes a startling comparison, saying: “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (c.f. James 2:19).

(a) One of the basic doctrines of both the Jewish and Christian faiths is the confession that says, “God is one” (c.f. James 2:19). For example, the Book of Deuteronomy says: ⁴“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! ⁵(And) You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (c.f. Deuteronomy 6:4-5). In this instance you will note that a belief in “One” God is to be followed by loving Him with our whole being.

We find the same confession in the New Testament. For example, the Book of First Corinthians says: “… there is but one God, the Father …” – while the Book of First Timothy says: “… there is one God …” (c.f. I Timothy 2:5). The New Testament also teaches us that this One God exists in Three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But no where does it ever say (or imply) that these Three Person constitute more than One God.

(b) The reason James brings this up in verse nineteen is because lots of people say they believe in God – or that they believe in the existence of God⁷ – but that belief, “by itself”, (c.f. James 2:17) doesn’t prove they have saving faith! The Book of Hebrews says genuine faith believes God “is” (c.f. Hebrews 11:6) – BUT, it doesn’t stop there! Saving faith goes on to put what it believes into practice by doing what the God who “is” says. Hence, as we saw last time, Hebrews chapter eleven tells about some of the things men and women like Abel and Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses and others DID as a result of believing that God “is” (c.f. Hebrews 11:4, 7-11, etc.)

(c) James goes on to point out (in verse nineteen), that “the demons also believe … God is one” (c.f. James 2:19) – i.e. demons believe the very same thing lots of people say they believe – namely, that God “is” (c.f. Hebrews 11:6) – that God exists. In fact, the demons don’t just believe it – they KNOW it! Hence, on one occasion demons said to Jesus: “I KNOW who You are – the Holy One of God!” (c.f. Mark 1:24).

Demons know (and believe) ALL these things – AND YET, they do NOT have saving faith! And if we inquire as to why not, one answer is that their faith is not accompanied by good works – their belief in God has not changed the way they live – their faith has not been “perfected” by good works, as James says in verse twenty-two (c.f. James 2:22), like the faith of Abraham and Rahab was perfected (c.f. James 2:21-22, 25-26).

(d) Remember, James is not trying to give us a crash course on demonology – he’s trying to make the point that “faith without works is useless” (c.f. James 2:20) – that faith without works doesn’t save anyone. He does tell us one thing about demons, however – that UNLIKE many men and women who say they believe in God – the belief demons have causes them to “shudder” (c.f. James 2:19).

The word “shudder” (c.f. James 2:19) carries the idea of trembling with great fear⁸ – and the contrast James draws is sobering to say the least. John MacArthur put it like this: “Demons at least have the sense to shudder (because they know the torment that awaits them) (c.f. Matthew 8:29). In this regard, they are much more realistic and sensible than those with false faith who think they will escape God’s judgment by their shallow and superficial faith (i.e. by their workless faith).”⁸

(e) Another writer put it like this: “Why do demons believe and tremble, while people who have a similar faith do not? The answer is that the demons are not as blind as people. They know what their end will be – they know what the justice of God will mean for them in the end – the know who God is … and they fear Him (c.f. Matthew 10:28). But people who say they believe in God, go about their daily lives as if He did not exist – as if He cannot see through their fraudulent-faith – dreaming all the while that they are safe in the everlasting arms.”⁹

When it comes to the end result of faith without works, demons have a more accurate understanding and are more intellectually honest than many people.

(5) So, are you ready to admit that “faith without works is useless” (c.f. James 2:20)? Are you ready to admit that faith without works cannot save you – or me – or anyone else? Are you ready to admit that it’s possible to believe a lot of things about God that are true, and still be lost in your sins, because the good works needed to perfect your faith are absent (c.f. James 2:22)? Are you ready to test yourself (c.f. II Corinthians 13:5) to see whether your life is spiritually fruitful or spiritually sterile?¹⁰

This is NOT a minor issue! It is literally a matter of life and death – eternal life or eternal punishment – heaven or hell! You say you believe in God (c.f. James 2:19) – you say you have saving faith (c.f. James 2:14). Good! Now prove it, by getting to work!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

¹Kistemaker: NTC – James; p. 89.

²IBID; p. 90.

³Keddie: The Practical Christian; p. 111.

⁴MacArthur: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary;

James; p. 126.

⁵IBID; p. 129.

⁶Blanchard: Truth For Life; p. 165.

⁷Keddie: Ibid; p. 113.

⁸MacArthur: Ibid; p. 132.

⁹Keddie: Ibid; pgs. 113-114.

¹⁰IBID; p. 114.