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Clear Gospel Campaign
by Ronald R. Shea, Th.M., J.D
 
Topics Touching the Message of Salvation
— James 2:14-26 —
Curriculum Outline and Study Guide | Resurrection | Assurance | Baptism | The Bema | Calvinism | The Gospel Message & Content of Saving Faith | The Creator | Dispensationalism | Eternal Security | Evangelism & Discipleship | Expiation, Propitiation and Redemption | Faith | Fruit . .. Don't you need it? | Grace | Hebrews 10 | Hebrews 6:1-15 | Heirship and Rewards | James 2:14-26 | Jesus is God | 1st John | John MacArthur | Justification | Bilateral Contract Salvation or "Lordship Salvation" | The Market Driven Church | Perseverance of the Saints | Predestination and Free Will | Public Confession of Christ | Regeneration | Repentance | Roman Catholicism | Salvation | Sanctification | The Sheep and Goats Judgment | Silly Gospel Substitutes | "Sovereign" (Irresistible) Grace | Stewardship of the Gospel Message | The Modern "Testimony" | The Ten Commandments: Their Relationship to the Believer | Theology and Doctrine | Total Depravity and `The Bondage of the Will` | Worship Music | Appendix I: Church History from a Free Grace perspective
Chapter 1: Text of James 2:14-16
Chapter 2: Faith Alone, or Faith plus Works?
Chapter 3: James in Three Peanut Shells: Nutshell 1
Chapter 4: James in Three Peanut Shells: Nutshell 2
Chapter 5: James in Three Peanut Shells: Nutshell 3
Chapter 6: Overview of the Message of James
Chapter 7: What Does it Mean to Be "Saved?"
Chapter 8: Poverty in the Epistle of James
Chapter 9: Wisdom Literature and the Epistle of James
Chapter 10: Eternal Salvation: What does James have to say?
Chapter 11: Irony in the Epistle of James
Chapter 12: The Opening Verses of James
Chapter 13: James 2:14-17--Salvation in James
Chapter 14: James 2:18-20
Chapter 15: Justification and the Epistle of James
Chapter 16: Exegesis of James 2:21-24

 

Faith and Works in the Second Chapter of James

 

by

 

By Ronald R. Shea, Th.M., J.D.

 

 

Welcome to Clear Gospel Campaign.  If you have ever been perplexed by this passage in James, we hope our discussion is helpful to you, strengthening you in your understanding of God's grace, both to equip you to do the work as an evangelist, and to more properly honor God in your heart as a God who is rich in grace.

 

 

James 2:14-26

Authorized Version of 1611

 

14.     What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

 

15      If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

 

16      And 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?

 

17      Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

 

18      Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

 

19      Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

 

20      But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

 

21      Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

 

22      Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

 

23      And 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.

 

24      Ye see then how that

by works a man is justified,

and not by faith only.

 

25      Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

 

26      For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

James 2:14-26

New King James Version:

 

14      What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

 

 

15      If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

 

16      and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

 

 

17      Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

18      But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your[d] works, and I will show you my faith by my[e] works.

 

19      You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!

 

20      But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

 

21      Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

 

22      Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

 

23      And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."And he was called the friend of God.

 

 

24      You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

 

 

25      Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

 

 

26      For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

 

 


Chapter 1: Text of James 2:14-16

 

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