As James
continued to share with his fellow brethren who were “scattered
abroad”, he challenged them to have no “respect of
persons” and told them if they did so, they violated the “law
of God” and were offenders of the “whole law” if
they broke it in “one point”. After declaring that a
person would “shall have judgment without mercy, that hath
shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment” in
chapter two and verse fourteen of his letter James asked whether
there is “profit” if a person “says he has faith”
and does not “have works”. We read:
he has
faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
The verse begins, “What
does it
profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith,...” James
began with “What does it profit””
or “What advantage, accumulate or benefit”, “my
brethren”
or “brothers and sisters who were fellow believers which were
united to each other by the bond of affection and in Christ”,
“though a man”
which refers to “if and whether a man” “say”
or “utters,
speaks, calls and tells” “he has
faith” or
“holds, owns and possesses the conviction that God exists and is
the creator and ruler of all things who is the provider and bestower
of eternal salvation through Christ and the strong and welcome
conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain
eternal salvation in the kingdom of God”. James asked his readers
to consider “the benefit” that a person has when they “declare”
that they “believe” God is who He says He is and that Jesus is
the Savior.
The
verse continues, “...and
have not works? can faith save him?” James
added, “and have not”
or “does not hold, own or possess” “works”
which means “business, employment, enterprise and undertaking”,
“can faith” or
“can or will the conviction that God exists and is the creator and
ruler of all things who is the provider and bestower of eternal
salvation through Christ and the strong and welcome conviction or
belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal
salvation in the kingdom of God be able to and have the power to”
“save him” which
means “deliver him from the penalties of the Messianic judgment and
the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance”.
James' question was whether “faith” without
“works” can
“deliver” a person from the “Messianic judgment” to come.
When
we think through these words of James, we may be inclined to attempt
to answer his question rather than ponder it. Paul the apostle showed
how “faith” saves a person, and yet, James' question was
whether “faith” alone could do so. Jesus Christ provides
the “faith” to believe, and unless “the Father draws”
a person, they will never know His Salvation. We shall explore this
idea of “faith” and “works” more as James
continued to write, but suffice it for now to know both “faith”
and “works” are important and essential in the believer in
Jesus' life.
Next
time James refers to “a
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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