Chapter 2
Fourth Test, 2:1-13, Test of Impartial Love
This verse: 1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. [Jas 2:1 ESV]
We are not to judge others in the church by their appearance or by extension, their success in the world. This is the wrong criteria!
2022 - The "wrong" in this thinking is in vs 4: Don't make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts. Again, the test is an internal test. We give ourselves these tests. If you put the rich person in a good spot because he might throw you a bone sometime, or you put the lowly person three rows behind you because he has no resources that could benefit you, then you've judged that person's value - not by God's criteria, but by your own. You valued the person based on how they can advance you, instead of as fully - or only - equal to you in God's sight. This is wrong thinking, wrong criteria, and the "bad" kind of judgment.
(2023 - That last phrase..."the "bad" kind of judgment". I think that tells me that the "good" kind of judgment, the kind Christians are supposed to exercise, is GODLY judgment. We CAN and SHOULD judge those within according to God's criteria, not according to our own. Not by the clothes they can afford but by their behavior compared to that encouraged in the NT. What a relief to be able to articulate the judgment that we are to practice.)
This verse states the reason we ought to avoid this:
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? [Jas 2:5 ESV]
2022 - Jesus spent his time in the byways and rural areas, far from the rich and prosperous. Think that was coincidence? Luke 10:21 says otherwise.
James then reiterates the point with a contrast in this verse:
6 ...Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? [Jas 2:6b-7 ESV]
2022 - Think of this in terms of who ought to pay the most taxes. Don't we "hate" the rich because they don't pay their share? How quick are we to demonize Bill Gates for his vaccination ideas? When we want to point out what's wrong with the world, don't we point to the greed and corruption of the rich? But when someone we know to be one of the rich and important comes into our circle, aren't we just as quick to act the servant to them? Why? Because they might be big tippers. Really contradictory way we have of categorizing rich people - because it is according to circumstances. The rich are monsters when they're far away, but they are benefactors when they are close by. We show favoritism - which is always wrong - no matter which way it cuts. There are those who are so enamored with helping the poor that they would rob from the wealthy to enrich the poor. This too is favoritism, cutting the other way. Put the rich man out of his giant house and move in 6 or 8 poor families. Is that not also favoritism? Partiality? We have to look at all equally, through God's eyes, and remember that in eternity, the playing field will be leveled, and there will only be one criteria, and it won't have a thing to do with financial success or failure.
2022 - Poor people are more likely to respond to the gospel message because those who have very little are seeking a better life. Rich people, content and happy and able to do what they want, are not motivated to devalue their possessions in favor of intangible blessings. These verses in James do not mean that the poor are just naturally better people than the rich. But I think it does mean that, following the example of Christ, it is much more likely that a poor soul can be snatched from hell than a rich soul can.
We are to love ALL our neighbors. And even if it is only in this one area that we sin, this sin alone makes us guilty before God. We are guilty because of one sin, not because we've violated every sin. We can tell ourselves that "our" sin is minor compared to what we might be doing, or to what others are doing. But James says it is all the same. Our personal "favorite" sin - grovelling before the rich and the boss and the landlord - if we hang onto it based on how the world would view it or based on some perceived worldly benefit if we continue in that sin, then we are as bad as those who commit obvious sins like adultery and murder. Sin is sin, and corrupts, if we know it is wrong, are convicted by the word that it's wrong, and we continue to do it anyway. Behaving this way indicates an underlying problem with our faith.
2022 - This is a test we can give ourselves, if we are honest in our self-examination of our treatment of others. But make no mistake. Others can also plainly see if we do this. If we're known as the office brown-noser, we fail Test Four. If we brag about getting invited to the after party, we fail. What are we proud of - social status, social connections - or the aid and help we give to others?
2024 - Look at this verse:
13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. [Jas 2:13 ESV]. The idea here is that we are judged as we have judged. This passage has already shown that we are ALL guilty of sin - of breaking the Law - and also shown that if you sin AT ALL you are guilty of all. That is, so far as judgment before God is concerned, no one is more guilty than another. You are perfect or you are guilty, just like that serial killer over there, and that guy who was mean to his parents, and the show off over there. Equally guilty. So. Do you want to be judged by that Law, which has no provision for mercy at all, but only guilt or innocence, or do want to throw that out, and be judged by "the law of liberty", where mercy trumps judgment, and sins can be forgiven.
Possible FB post - Do you want rules, or do you want mercy?
Fifth Test, 2:14-26, Test of Righteous Works
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? [Jas 2:14 ESV]
If we say we have faith, and our obedience does not demonstrate that faith, then there is a problem. True faith prompts, or even compels, sacrificial works. Works are a result of faith, not a precursor to faith. Abraham believed God, and so was willing to do the unthinkable FOR God based on his faith IN God. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac demonstrated to the people of his time that his faith resulted in obedience such that he would withhold nothing from God. Obedience means holding nothing back. What Abraham did put feet to his faith. (This is an extreme example.) Rahab did the same. She is mentioned in this same context with Abraham's obedience. Her faith required her to risk home, family, culture, and even her life for her faith that this Hebrew God was the real God. If God's word makes it clear that we need to "sacrifice" some pleasure or some "love" in our lives, and we refuse, then that failure to do the "work" demonstrates questionable faith. It doesn't make us a lesser Christian, it calls into question whether we ever were Christian.
2022 - A very controversial passage, used by some to say that the more we do for God, the greater our reward. Some say you can't get to heaven without these good works. But remember the context here. These are tests of faith. If you treat people differently, fail. We don't go back there and say, well, you subscribe to People Magazine so you must not be saved. You show partiality. But we look at this one, and we say You don't ever sign up to take food to the sick, so you must not be saved. These "tests" in James are about maturity in faith, about growth in the ways of God, about how far along we are on the road to sanctification. These tests presume salvation. You might be knocking it out of the park helping the poor with basic necessities while snapping at everyone who ever asks you a question. Neither means you're saved. Neither means you are not. These tests are about what we need to work on if we want to be closer to what He wants us to be. That's all they're for.
I am amazed, this time through, at the every day practicality of these tests so early in the life of the church. This is the oldest book in the New Testament. Perhaps Paul hadn't gone to Damascus yet when this was written. John had certainly not been to Patmos. But surely we can all see ourselves, evaluate our positions along this scale from "Not partial at all...1 2 3 4 5... Partiality rocks" And we are not talking here about 3 axes of maturity, or 5 or 7. There are 13 here! Monthly review at minimum!
But moving on to faith without works.
2023 - These verses:
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? [Jas 2:15-16 ESV]. A hypothetical situation to test ourselves as to whether our faith is "working". Note first that this is about a brother or sister - I think a Christian is in view. Someone at church is starving - fallen on hard times, out of work, too sick to work. They are choosing between food and rent, between medicine and gas. The test of faith is about our reaction. Take some groceries over, fill up the tank, refill the scripts? Or tell them they ought to apply for food stamps, and advise them to put away some emergency money next time? The test is whether our faith is all talk or our faith leads to action.
2022 - Faith which has no influence on behavior is barely faith at all. In fact, it might mean exactly that there is no faith at all. Works are evidence that our sense of value has shifted from ourselves to others. The works we're talking about here are not even perceived as works, but as "the right thing to do", "the only thing to do", "what any decent human being would do". That's how we see them, but the unsaved see them perhaps as points on the scoreboard, done to achieve rather than done to serve.
2022 - This verse:
18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [Jas 2:18 ESV] The question is, how can you prove that you have any faith at all - how can you convince me of your salvation - based solely on what you tell me, and not at all evidenced by any "un-reimbursed" effort on your part. Why should I believe you? And the next verse...you believe in God? Great, so does Satan, that means nothing.
2023 - This same verse...This is about evidence, as in a court. You say you have proof, what will you show as evidence if you say you don't need works to prove faith. Works are the tangible proof of invisible faith.
2023 - This verse:
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! [Jas 2:19 ESV]. I think the real point being made here is that demons have no faith. Demons are on the extreme "empty" end of the faith scale. Tank is dry. They believe, but they absolutely do not do ANY good works. The lack of works is absolute proof that they have no faith. 100% belief in God will never get you to heaven. Faith, as measured by works, as verified by works, is what gets you to heaven. Works do not get you to heaven, but they are tangible proof that you are going there. But...common grace! Bad people can do good works, we've seen that too. Works done as "insurance" are not faith-motivated. Works done to garner praise from others are no proof of faith. Works done to accomplish political ends, to gain votes...do not prove faith, and do not earn salvation.
2025 - Well...I had this wrong also it seems:
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? [Jas 2:21 ESV]. So I had concluded that justification mean having no sin charged to your account. To be justified before God is to have no guilt of sin before God. Then, what works do is not about justifying us, but about making us righteous before God. Adam and Eve were sinless to start with, but they failed at righteousness when they disobeyed. Righteousness, I believed until this morning, was about future rewards in heaven, based on the works we do, which bring us righteousness. I believe this is why we drink the blood at the LORD's supper, though that was completely and entirely prohibited in the Law. The life of the flesh is in the blood. If we drink the blood, we take the life into ourselves, Jesus lived an entirely obedient - entirely righteous life - and we symbolically imbibe that when we drink the symbolic blood. Only Jesus life demonstrated perfect righteousness, perfect obedience. We eat the sacrifice - which justifies us by taking away our sin - and we drink the blood - which stands us before God as righteous people. But look what this verse says...Abraham was JUSTIFIED by offering Isaac, not made RIGHTEOUS by that work. I didn't look up the Greek word used here, but I really don't think the translators mixed up justification and righteousness.
Oh my!!! I DID go look it up, and according to BLB, the word used here is transliterated dikayootay, and here is the BLB outline of Biblical usage of this word:
to render righteous or such he ought to be
to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
So this word indeed IS about righteousness, and my understanding is in fact corroborated by this verse, if you get the words right rather than shown erroneous by it. Here is another verse where the word translated "justified" here in James is used, and clearly translated differently:
13 Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." [Mat 9:13 ESV].
But...as I study further, it is looking like it is always this word dikayootay that is translated either justified or righteous. Hmm...
In this verse: 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. [Rom 3:20 ESV]. This is like the definitive verse that says we are not justified by our works. The word translated justified is Strong's G1344. In James 2:21, the word translated justified is G1344.
16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. [Gal 2:16 ESV]. All three of these are G1344.
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, [Tit 3:5 ESV]. This one is G1343. A very similar word, but used a little differently. BUT, the KJV translates THIS word righteousness in all 92 instances that it occurs in the NT. Here is the outline of Biblical usage for this word:
in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God
the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God
integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting
in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due
That is not very much difference at all, the key seeming to be that 1344 is to render, to show, to declare, and 1343 is an existing condition. So one a verb the other a noun? Actually...yes. That is the difference. Look how quickly this gets very very involved!
So, as if I am not behind enough already, the question is "What is the difference between righteousness and justification" theologically.
2022 - This verse:
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. [Jas 2:24 ESV]. Ah, James...surely this could have been worded a bit better! This verse is what theologians call a "disputed passage". Why? Because IF it was the only verse in the Bible that you ever read, the only conclusion you could reach is that works must be accumulated through our lives if we ever expect to be justified by God. I mean, that is what it says. But it isn't the only verse we have on this subject. Note the first two words in this verse..."you see". I think we can read that almost as a "therefore", which looks back to what came before. Here is the immediately prior verse: "23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. [Jas 2:23 ESV]". It does NOT say "Abraham did great works and they made him righteous in God's eyes." There is no contradiction here. James has just said the belief saves, NOT works. Vs 24 is confusingly worded for just one reason. Because this concept is vitally important, and we need to understand it far more deeply than as a simple statement. I think it is written this way because God wants us to dig more deeply into the meaning. So there is this verse:
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. [Rom 4:2 ESV]. There is a contrast here. Abraham did do some spectacular works, far beyond what most are ever called to do. So compared to other men, Abraham has much to boast about. He can hold himself up to other men and say, "Look at my great works". But he can't say that to God, because God knows the heart, and God knows it wasn't Abraham's works that saved him but the faith that prompted those works. The two are different sides of the same coin. The works don't count without the faith. The faith is worthless without the works. There are no layers to this coin. Both sides are one.
2022 - This final verse:
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. [Jas 2:26 ESV]
When we die, our body gets buried or burned or committed to the deep, and our spirit goes wherever it's going. If the body is in one place, and the spirit in another, the body is dead. In the very same way, if we say we have faith but no works are in evidence, such that faith and works are separated from each other, then that faith is a dead faith. What an emphatic, and clarifying verse to end this controversial passage.
2023 - The only possible way for the spirit and the body to be separated is to kill the body. The only possible way to have faith with no works is to kill faith. This is how inseparable they are. So the presence or absence of a inner compulsion to do good for our neighbor as we would for ourselves, or our "score" on the scale of works from none to constant, is a measure of our faith, and increasing in works builds up faith when we see that God rewards us for what we give.
Works are the spirit of faith. Inseparable in life as body and spirit.
Works are the spirit of faith. Inseparable in life as body and spirit.
2025 - This verse:
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. [Jas 2:26 ESV].
Can we say from this that the division of body and spirit is the definition of death? And so when body and spirit are reunited at the rapture, isn't that by definition life? Or is that going too far given the context? In animals, there is no spirit - God did not breath his spirit into animals. The life animals have is a different thing than the life of human beings. This is what is unique about us. When an animal dies, it has no spirit to depart and go elsewhere. An animal dies, and is gone. That is sad. No Sambo, no Ripley...But it must be the case that somehow we won't miss them, any more than we will miss the loved ones who do not make it to heaven. To miss those we will never see again would necessarily be sad. There will be no sadness in heaven.