James, Session 6: Faith and Works

Read the passage: James 2:14-26 (ESV, Bible Gateway)

If you’re wondering whether someone might be a Christian or not, what sort of things do you look at?

Read James 2:14-26

Why does getting the relationship between faith, works and salvation right matter?
- How do ‘religious’ people tend to see the relationship?
- How do ‘secular’ people tend to see it?
How does what James writes in v14-17 relate to what has come already in James?
Considering the example James gives in v15-16, what do the person’s words seem to say, but their actions definitely say?
- How would genuine faith have caused the person to respond differently?
According to v18, what is the relationship between faith and works?
Look at v19. What point is James making?
- Why is having correct beliefs not the same as having saving faith?
- What kind of ‘churches’ or individuals might be guilty of this?
How are the two examples James uses of false faith (in v15-16 and v19) different? How might we categorise these?
- Is it possible to have genuine believers (maybe even churches) with different emphases? For example, can one be into worship, or deep theology, or sports ministries, and another into care for the poor/needy? ‘You have your care for the poor, I have my love of worship ministry, or great teaching, or outreach through sport’?
Look at v20: Is James being insulting when he describes people as ‘foolish’?
Read Genesis 15:1-6: this is a key passage for the New Testament writers to understand the role of faith in salvation and being declared righteous by God.
- What is remarkable about Abraham believing God’s promise?
- When God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (Gen 22), and Abraham obeys, what does this tell us about Abraham’s faith?
- If Abraham’s faith was not genuine, how might Abraham have responded?
- Overall, did Abraham obey first or believe first? What led to what?
Compare what James writes in v21-24 to what Paul writes in Romans 4:1-12. How do what James and Paul write complement (rather than contradict) each other?
- How are James and Paul using the word ‘justified’ differently?
Look at v25: Who was Rahab? In what ways did she believe in God and demonstrate that by what she did?
- If Rahab’s faith was not genuine how might her behaviour towards the spies have been different?
Why might James choose Rahab as an example alongside Abraham?
In what ways does your faith change the way you live? Can you give any examples of when your behaviour would have been very different if you did not trust God?

Recap & Reflect

Summarise the biblical view of the relationship between faith and works.

How well do you hold faith and works together? Do you personally tend more to just ‘faith’? Or are you tempted to trust in your works for your salvation? How might you use what you have learnt today to change your tendencies?

Leader’s notes

The notes are here to help you lead a group and answer tough questions. The idea isn’t to read the “right” answer out after each question, but rather to give you support or a helpful nudge in guiding your discussion in the right direction. Feel free to use them as best suits your group.

Why does getting the relationship between faith, works and salvation right matter?
If we take the message of the Bible seriously, then there are few things more important than getting the answer to the question, ‘How are we saved?’ right. Are we saved by what we do (good works, or having the right doctrine) or by God’s grace? Allied to this is another question: what should motivate our good works, or a life of integrity? Is it the fear of facing God’s judgement/hope of earning his favour, or is it the knowledge that we already have his favour? In summary, what is the root and the fruit? Christianity teaches us that salvation by God’s grace, through faith, is the root and good works the fruit. Legalistic religion (and secularism) teaches that good works are the root and the earned approval of God or others is the fruit/reward.
- How do ‘religious’ people tend to see the relationship?
  In two possible ways – both of which James draws out later: that you are saved by your good works; or, that having right doctrine is what ‘saves’ you.
- How do ‘secular’ people tend to see it?
  That there is no such thing as salvation, but what matters is living a good life (a life of good works; or, that being ‘spiritual’ or being sincere/‘a person of faith’ is what matters, of whatever faith.
How does what James writes in v14-17 relate to what has come already in James?
In 1:26-27 James wrote about the religion that God approves of: care for the needy/vulnerable; in 2:1-8 he described the sin of partiality – especially a partiality against the poor, and the command to love our neighbour.
Considering the example James gives in v15-16, what do the person’s words seem to say, but their actions definitely say?
Their words seem to express love and care for a brother or sister. Their actions display a lack of love, and a failure to see this other person as a brother or sister. Therefore, their actions suggest that they do not love their neighbour as themselves, and they are not a true member of God’s family.
According to v18, what is the relationship between faith and works?
Genuine faith will show itself by good works. That is, good works are the evidence of true faith.
Look at v19. What point is James making?
You can ‘believe’ right doctrine, but still not be saved. Having your doctrine correct is not the same as trusting God for your salvation and then living that out in good works.
- What kind of ‘churches’ or individuals might be guilty of this?
  Those that elevate or highly value doctrine, without connecting that to heart trust of God, the need for the new birth, and the changed life that results. Head and no heart, rather than head and heart.
How are the two examples James uses of false faith (in v15-16 and v19) different? How might we categorise these?
We might say the first is more feelings based, the other more intellectual. The first is ‘feel good’ the other ‘think right’. Neither is the gospel.
- Is it possible to have genuine believers (maybe even churches) with different emphases? For example, can one be into worship, or deep theology, or sports ministries, and another into care for the poor/needy? ‘You have your care for the poor, I have my love of worship ministry, or great teaching, or outreach through sport’?
  The answer is yes and no! Yes, it is possible to have different emphases according to our gifting and callings, but all true faith must result in love for our neighbour, especially the needy, or it is not true faith.
Look at v20: Is James being insulting when he describes people as ‘foolish’?
No, he is drawing on the book of Proverbs that distinguishes between the wise and foolish person. The wise person fears God – they seek to live all of life trusting in God and the wisdom of his ways. Whereas the foolish person thinks they can live life according to their own moral standards etc. So here, in calling someone foolish, James is drawing attention to the fact that they are not living according to God’s wisdom – which is trust in him.
Read Genesis 15:1-6: this is a key passage for the New Testament writers to understand the role of faith in salvation and being declared righteous by God.
- What is remarkable about Abraham believing God’s promise?
  By now he and Sarah his wife are very old. They have years of infertility and dashed hopes behind them. Yet, Abraham believes that God can – and will – do what he says.
- Overall, did Abraham obey first or believe first? What led to what?
  Abraham first believed that God could, and would, give him a son through Sarah, and that through that son a great nation would come and the world would be blessed. That son was Isaac. Then when God told him to sacrifice Isaac, Hebrews tells us that Abraham believed that ‘God was able even to raise him from the dead’ (Hebrews 11:19). It was because Abraham believed that he acted and was willing to sacrifice Isaac. So faith – trusting in God and his promise – came first, but resulted in action – works.
Compare what James writes in v21-24 to what Paul writes in Romans 4:1-12. How do what James and Paul write complement (rather than contradict) each other?
- How are James and Paul using the word ‘justified’ differently?
  Paul uses justified to refer to our legal status before God – the declaration of ‘not guilty’ that comes with faith in Christ’s atoning work on our behalf. James uses it in the sense of our faith being proven to be genuine by our works – one might say our faith is found not guilty of being a false faith. How we live our lives proves it’s the real thing – it justifies our profession to be genuine Christians.
Look at v25: Who was Rahab? In what ways did she believe in God and demonstrate that by what she did?
See Joshua 2:1-7; 6:17, 22-25
Why might James choose Rahab as an example alongside Abraham?
They are complete opposites: Abraham was the father of the Jewish people, Rahab a gentile. Abraham a man, Rahab a woman. Abraham a wealthy, successful nomad, Rahab a prostitute. It demonstrates that faith showing itself in works holds for all people.

Download the complete study: Bible study on James (PDF)