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Faith and works; Christian speech
James 2:14-3:12:
1. James v. Paul: James says that “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (2:24). Paul appears to contradict this when he says that “we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Gal 2:16). Amazingly, both Paul and James make use of the same example, Abraham, whose “faith was credited to him as righteousness.” To be clear, Paul is not about cheap grace.1 This conflict is resolved by recognizing that “works” in Galatians is obedience to the law, especially cultural boundary markers like circumcision, but In James, “works” refers to caring for widows and orphans (1:27); not showing favoritism (2:1), etc.—actions which might be characterized by Paul as flowing from the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).2 What are meant, for Paul and James, by Abraham’s works and faith?
2. Friend of God: A further clue to resolving their positions is found in James 2:23, where James’ says Abraham was “called the friend of God” (23). Abraham was “friends” with God before there was creed or law. He was in a right relationship before God because he trusted God and acted on that trust. Setting aside soteriology and focusing on your relationship with God, What would it have looked like for Abraham to exhibit the failed faith of either Paul or James? How would you paraphrase James 2:24 and Galatians 2:16 in terms of relationship with God? (Extra credit: for either Paul or James, is the initial choice to follow Jesus a “work”?)
3. Mature faith: James says Abraham’s faith was “completed” (teleioō—brought to maturity, perfected) by his willingness to sacrifice Isaac (2:22). This reminds us that a key way to safeguard both our faith and that of the next generation is to encourage this sort of stepping out in trust, establishing a chain of experiences in which God is present and faithful in our lives. (a) What might God be calling you to do as a step of trust? (b) How can we lead our youth and young adults in doing this, to help keep them from wandering away from the faith?
4. Words that last: James describes the potentially devastating and powerful effects words can have. Things people say to and about us can stay with us for a lifetime. What have been some of the most powerfully positive and negative things that have been said about you? Who in your life is close enough to you for you to affect in this way?
5. Words that change: James says that words not only reveal who we are, but they form who we are. They are so powerful that if you want to see victory and order in one or more area of your life (e.g. you want to master your anger, or you want to learn to better spend time with God), you should start by controlling what you say (and, 3:2, only the Spirit can do this for you). Have you experienced this? Can you think of an area in your life where you would like to see change which might be affected by a change in speech? (E.g., do you struggle with anger? Do you find the peace of God eludes you? Do you wish you were more consistent in devotions? &c.) 1 Not to caricature Paul, who also said that we are “created to do good works” (Eph 2:10); that “the only thing that counts is faith working through love” (Gal 5:6); and warned of others, “they claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him” (Tit 1:16). 2 This “works” distinction goes back at least to the 4th century and Augustine: “Paul said that a man is justified through faith without the works of the law, but not without those works of which James speaks.” The one hint James has of the sort of “works” Paul refers to is in 2:19’s subtle reference to the Shema, the basic creed of Judaism, which pious Jews recited twice a day. James makes it clear this is not to be confused with saving faith, since the demons themselves share this belief. The Holy Huddle 2 Friday, May 4th, 2018
While James is often read as a series of fortune-cookie proverbs, it is actually a subtle meta-sermon on Jesus’ teaching. For instance, below are Jesus’ and James’ teachings on speech (with James’ new insights in bold):
| Jesus | James |
|---|---|
| “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock” (Mt 7:24; also the parable of the two sons in Mt 21:28-32) |
Faith without works can’t save you Works show the state of your faith Abraham and Rahab are the exemplars of faith which acts |
| “…if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire… if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you [go be reconciled]” (Mt 5:21-26) “You will know [false prophets] by their fruits. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?” (Mt 7:16-18) (Luke’s version makes it clear this is about speech by concluding, “it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks”; Lk 6:43-44) |
The tongue is powerful in its effects, and both reveals and forms who you are Don’t be inconsistent (cursing people and blessing God) Humans are made in God’s image and should be treated accordingly Only a perfect person doesn’t sin; don’t rush to be teachers! |
Fun fact: James makes a pun on “work” in 2:20 by referring to work (ergon) as “workless” (arge); faith lacking works does not work! Further fun fact: The rich, male, upstanding Abraham and the (likely) poor, immoral (being a prostitute), female Rahab form a “merismus”, a pair which two extremes representing a range, like “for better and for worse, for richer or poorer”.