James 2:14-26
We’re going to talk about one of the favorite sayings of people who believe in a works based salvation. They will teach and preach that since James Chapter 2 says, “Faith without works is dead,” that you must have good works to earn the free gift of heaven.
They ignore the entire Bible, and they go with the phrase: “Faith without works is dead.” Because the phrase “faith without works is dead” is in the Bible they choose to believe you must do good works to get to heaven.
What If You Don’t Have Good Works?
They will say if you don’t have good works this proves you aren’t saved and you aren’t going to heaven. They will say that you will do good works if you are saved. And you will continue to do good works if you are saved.
So, they go with that versus listening to the actual words of the Bible. They don’t attempt to study the Book of James. They don’t attempt to listen to the entire Bible.
What does faith without works is dead actually mean? When I say “faith without works is dead,” does that equal saying “if you don’t do good works the rest of your life, you’re going to hell?” FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.
Faith is dead if it doesn’t have works to go with it. Is faith still there? It says, “Faith without works is dead.” Some people will teach that you can’t have faith without works. Well, the Bible says: “Faith without works.” So you must be able to have faith without works. And it’s obvious you can have faith without works. Happens every day.
Faith Without Works is Dead = Every Day for Most Saved People
Billions upon billions of examples of faith without works every single day, but these same people will teach that you can’t have faith without works. There’s even an example of faith without works in James Chapter 2 that God gives you to explain what this means, but those same people will ignore the words of the Bible.
So, must you have good works with faith to be saved? Must you have good works to earn the free gift of salvation? A gift is free. You don’t work for a gift.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The Bible is 100% for sure, specifically, talking about being saved. For by grace are ye saved through faith. Grace means you don’t deserve it. Work means you do deserve it. You worked for it. You get to boast about it because you worked for it. “Hey, look, I earned heaven because of all the good works I’ve done.” That’s what these people want to say.
Grace Means You Don’t Work For It and Earn It
Grace is the opposite. You don’t work for it. You don’t deserve heaven. You don’t deserve to receive the free gift of heaven since you sin against God daily.
Verse 9 says, “NOT OF WORKS.” How do you get out of that? Not of works. Not of works. Not of works. They say, “Well, Josh, you interpreted that incorrectly.” Not of works means you must do good works. Mind blowing.
And here’s what they do. They ignore verses 8 and 9. The Bible says you are saved by grace through faith. NOT OF WORKS. Verse 10 says that we SHOULD do good works. It doesn’t say works are required to be saved. After we’re saved by grace through faith, we should do good works. Already saved.
What we do after we’re saved doesn’t determine if we stay saved. Saved is past tense. That’s simple English. Saved. Past tense. Done. Over. Complete. Saved forever.
Romans 3:25-27
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Saved by Faith in the Blood of Jesus Christ
Through faith in his blood. To declare his righteousness for the remission of sins THAT ARE PAST. His righteousness. He is just. He is the justifier of him which BELIEVETH in Jesus. Where is boasting because of your works? It is excluded. It’s not possible. No one is going to be boasting when they get to heaven over the good works that got them there.
No one will do that because those people won’t be in heaven. They believed in their own good works. They didn’t believe “IN” Jesus. What law excludes boasting? The law of faith. Obey God by putting your faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Deeds = works. Good deed equals good works equals following the commandments in the Bible. That’s a conclusion. A man is justified by faith. Is it faith only? Yes it is. FAITH ALONE SAVES YOUR SOUL.
Romans 4:1-4
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
“If” Abraham Were Justified by Works, He Could Glory
The Bible says that if Abraham were justified by works, he could glory, but not before God. Before a truly just and holy God, no one can glory in his works. If we are judged by our works, we are going to hell. Let me see these people that believe in their own goodness and their own works go stand before the Almighty God and tell him to look at their works.
Hey, it will not be good. James Chapter 2 teaches this as well. If you offend in one point in God’s law, JUST ONE POINT, you’re guilty of all. The Bible is one book and one law. If you break one law in this Bible, you break the whole thing. It’s broken. You aren’t good. I’m not good.
The Bible says, “Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” But these “Faith without works is dead” parrots ignore all the Scriptures and what they clearly teach.
Verse 4 right there says, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.” If you think your works, IN ANY WAY, are going to save you BEFORE, DURING, or AFTER salvation, you are in debt. If you believe in your own good works, you are going to hell. If you think it’s both faith and works that get you to heaven, you’re going to hell. If you believe you must have good works after salvation so that you stay saved, you’re going to hell.
Going to Hell = Harsh
Some people might think, “Well that’s just harsh.” Well, I didn’t make the rules. God did. And he clearly tells us that we aren’t saved by our good works hundreds of times all throughout the Bible in every way imaginable.
Romans 4:5-7
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his FAITH is counted for righteousness. The blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. No works are required to be saved from hell.
Romans Chapter 5 says free gift 3 different times. You don’t work for a free gift. Jesus Christ paid for the free gift of salvation. You don’t pay for it. Why? Because you can’t. You’re a sinner. You can’t pay for your sins because you are a sinner in debt. Jesus can pay because he is without sin. He has no debt. He can pay it.
Let’s say my credit card is maxed out. I am maxed out on debt. And you come to my because your credit card is maxed out. “Hey Josh, can you pay off my credit card debt.” Hey, I don’t have anything to pay with. I need mine to be paid too. Only Jesus can pay for our debt.
Good Works Don’t Pay For Sin
If I went out there and murdered someone, I can’t do good works the rest of my life to pay for that sin of murder.
There are entire chapters in the Bible that teach you are saved by faith and not works. There are entire books of the Bible that teach you are only saved by believing in Jesus. And yet, people will take James Chapter 2 and act like it’s teaching the opposite. They will simply say, “Faith without works is dead” and shut down and act like the entire rest of the Bible is wrong.
Romans 10:3
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Hey, submit to what God says. He is right. You are wrong. NOT OF WORKS.
Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
The works of the law are good works. Some people attempt to say they aren’t. We are only justified by believing IN Jesus Christ.
Believing in Jesus Christ = Justified From Sin
Galatians 3:9-11
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
How much clearer can the Bible be?
Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
By faith, by trust, by believing, by faith, by faith, by faith. THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE.
Titus 3:4-5
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Not by works of righteousness which we have done. NOT OF WORKS. Not of works. Not of works. Not of works. Over and over and over and over again.
“Faith Without Works is Dead” Doesn’t Mean Works for Salvation
Does the phrase “faith without works is dead” just cancel all of that out and mean that salvation or being saved from hell is now all about doing good works? Who in their right mind would believe that? Many, many people out there believe all of that.
So, let’s actually see what it means. In the Book of James, James is writing to his brethren.
James 1:2-3
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Do these people have faith? “That the trying of YOUR FAITH worketh patience. He is writing to his brothers in Christ who have faith in Jesus Christ. They are already saved. They already have everlasting life. They can actually understand the book of James because they have faith. They already know that James isn’t going to teach a works based salvation.
They already know the Holy Spirit isn’t going to teach a works based salvation. Imagine teaching that the Holy Ghost has now voided out all these other Scriptures and is making salvation of works. Imagine teaching that. Horrible sin. They call the Holy Ghost a teacher of a works based salvation. These words were written through the Holy Spirit of God.
And they say faith without works is dead now means that you are saved from hell by your good works.
Are You Saved From Hell by Your Good Works?
James 1:16-18
Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
My beloved brethren. Good gift. Perfect gift. He doesn’t change the target. He doesn’t vary how we get to heaven. He has never once changed the way to heaven from Genesis to Revelation. “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.”
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
He begat us with the word of truth. You heard the word of truth. You heard the Gospel. You heard the good news. Getting to heaven is a free gift that you can take right now by putting all your trust in Jesus to save you from all your sins right now.
You Heard the Word of Truth, Trusted, and Were Saved
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. The Gospel is not about doing good works to earn the free gift that Jesus paid for in full. The Bible says right there that “in who also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
It’s after, right after, you believed in Jesus Christ. You are signed, sealed, and delivered. You receive everlasting life the moment you change your mind about doing good works to get to heaven.
The people who believe in good works to get to heaven do not believe in Jesus Christ. The people who believe you must keep doing good works to keep your salvation aren’t believing in Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:4-5
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Trust Jesus and Be Saved Right Now
When you put all your trust in Jesus to save you, do it right now, you are saved forever with no chance of ever going to hell. The chance is 0.00000%. That fadeth not away. Reserved, past tense, reserved in heaven for you. Who are kept by the power of God through faith. You aren’t kept by you doing good works. Salvation is not of works.
Is James teaching that being saved is of works? No, he keeps telling you that over and over again.
My brethren. Your faith. You were begotten by the word of truth. Not by works. By God’s word. James is teaching they are already saved from hell by their faith in Jesus Christ, but doing good works is very important. We teach that same thing here.
I don’t want you to get saved and then do absolutely nothing for the Lord. That doesn’t help you. And that doesn’t help anyone else. If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you do nothing good the rest of your life, you still go to heaven. People out there hate when I say that. These are the same people that do nothing for the Lord and have never done anything good for the Lord.
A Works Based Salvation = Pure Evil
They prance around teaching a works based salvation which is the most evil thing you could ever do.
James 1:21-22
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Receive the word which is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only. Believe the engrafted word WHICH IS ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SOULS.
James begins to teach that good works are very important. Not to the salvation of your soul. But you doing good works can help save other souls. You going out and preaching the Gospel can lead to souls being saved.
I am continuing in James Chapter 2.
James 2:1
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
My brethren. Faith. Don’t have respect of persons.
James 2:5
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
God Chooses Those Rich in Faith
God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in FAITH. James then starts rebuking his brethren because they have been respecting persons. They are caring more for the rich. They have despised the poor.
James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Don’t turn back the other way and think that you’re good. If you offend in one point of the law, you are guilty of all. You’ve broken the law. But these people out there will attempt to use James Chapter 2 to teach that you better follow God’s commandments or you’re going to hell.
They condemn themselves to hell because they don’t follow all of God’s commandments. By their own admission, straight from their own mouth, they are going to hell. They are guilty of all.
James 2:13
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
If you want to be saved by works, God will judge your works without mercy. And then you’re in big trouble. Imagine stepping up in front of God one day and realizing you are about to be judged on everything you’ve ever done. All those thoughts. All those sins. They will all come up before a holy and perfect God. And you’re done for. Cast into hell.
I Will Not Be Judged by My Works for Heaven or Hell
Me, I am not going to be judged by my works for heaven or hell. I believed in Jesus alone. He forgave me of all my sin. Did I deserve that? No. But he loved me so he died for me. And I believed in him. And he saved me forever. Did I deserve that? No, I deserve death and hell.
Now, let’s get to the important part here. We move to verse 14 in James Chapter 2. I hope you’ve heard everything that has been said so far.
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Automatically people say the answer to that question is no faith cannot save him. The answer isn’t given. Is it a yes or a no? Can faith save him?
If I am a smoker, I have many health problems, lung cancer, and I continue smoking cigarettes, will my faith save my life? “God, I know I’m doing wrong smoking these cigarettes. I’m not going to stop.” Will my faith in God save my physical life? Or, should I repent of that great sin and stop smoking so I don’t die? Should I do that good work of repenting of sin to save my life?
Will faith save me?
If this is speaking of eternal salvation of the soul from torment in hell, then can faith in Jesus Christ save the man? Yes. The whole Bible teaches that. You don’t get to take that verse and then say that faith in Jesus can’t save a man’s soul forever. Jesus himself says, over and over again, that faith in him saves your soul forever.
Does James 2:14 Say Faith in Jesus Doesn’t Save Your Soul?
Does that verse right there say that faith in Jesus doesn’t save your soul forever? No, it doesn’t. The subtle serpents who follow after their father the devil will say that it does. Watch the next verse as this is going to teach you what he means. The Bible teaches you.
James 2:15
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
You have a brother or sister in Christ who is naked and has no food. No food. No clothing. These things are needed or you will die. Here’s the example. We’re continuing.
James 2:16
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?
We are talking about you and another person who has no clothing and no food. What will happen to that person? That person will physically die if you don’t help that person. If you won’t do any good works, your faith alone in Jesus Christ will not help that person. Your eternal salvation won’t help that person if you won’t act and help that person.
Your faith in Jesus already saved you. But that person over there needs some help.
Faith Without Works Doesn’t Profit Others
And you say unto them, “Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled.” You simply say those words to them. Depart in peace. Be ye warmed and filled. And you don’t give them those things that are needful to the body. What will it profit? Will that help them? No, it won’t.
Is my faith without works going to profit that person? If I have faith and I do nothing with it, will it help that person over there? If you know the Gospel and you won’t preach it to your friend, your friend will die and go to hell. What did that do for your friend?
Good works are highly, highly important in profiting others. Your good works don’t get you to heaven. But your good works can help get others to heaven. Your good works can help save the physical life of others.
It is a good work to clothe and feed people. It is good. The Bible is teaching that right there.
James 2:17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Yes, Faith Can Be Alone
Can faith be alone? The Bible says it can be. Faith being alone. How is it alone? If it doesn’t have good works to go with it. Faith is dead being alone.
The Bible doesn’t say that you are dead and going to hell. Let’s say that I put my faith in Christ. Faith the size of a mustard seed saves your soul from hell. This little tiny drop of faith saves me in a moment. I’m born again. Saved forever. Everlasting life.
But then I have the rest of this life to live. Now let’s think about every moment of the rest of my life. Am I always going to be doing good works every moment of my life. I sleep at night. I am not helping others while I sleep. I have faith. I am sleeping. I am not doing any good works.
I sit down and eat a meal with my family. I will play a card game with them. We aren’t doing any good works. I have faith. But I don’t have any good works at that time. My faith is dead while I am not doing any good works. It’s not getting better. It’s not getting stronger. It’s not growing. It’s dead at the time I am not doing good works. My faith is alone at those times.
You Still Go to Heaven Without Good Works
Am I still going to heaven if I died when I wasn’t doing any good works? Yes, I am.
The people who say faith without works is dead to prove a works based salvation are the ones who aren’t doing any good works. Faith without works is dead simply means faith, without works, is dead.
Your faith is not helping anyone while you don’t do the good works God has asked you to do. You faith is not profiting anyone else if you won’t do good works.
If my faith is dead, does that mean I don’t have faith? That’s not what this chapter says. This chapter says, “Faith, without works, is dead.” This chapter says, “Faith, being alone.” Is faith there? Yes, faith is there. It’s simply alone without good works.
If you do good works, your faith can increase. You need to grow your faith by doing what God has asked you to do. We will continue this topic of faith without works is dead this evening. I want to continue to go through the chapter.
Let’s pray.
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