A Faith That Works

July 27th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

James 2:14-26 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? …Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself… A man is justified by works and not by faith alone… For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Some see a contradiction between the theology of Paul and James. Whereas Paul said, “A man is justified by faith apart from works” (Rom. 3:28; 4:5-6; Gal. 2:16), James wrote, “A man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (2:24). What is easily seen, however, is that since Paul and James address two distinct situations, their teachings actually complement each other. As for Paul, his writings refute the legalism of the Jews who held that one must observe the tenets of the Law in order to be saved. But James opposed antinomian (i.e., no law) notion that said Christians had no obligation to obey the teachings of the Law. Furthermore, Paul’s usage of the term “justified” means “saved” or “declared righteous.” James, however, used the term to mean “vindicated” or “genuine.” In sum, Paul spoke of works of the Law; James spoke of works that true faith yields. Thus, salvation is by God’s grace, through faith in Christ, yielding good works—works created by God for His people to accomplish (Eph. 2:10). We are thus declared righteous by faith alone apart from works. But faith without works is dead faith; no faith.

As Paul illustrates faith alone for salvation by using Abraham as his example (cf. Rom. 4; Gal. 3), James does likewise, illustrating a faith that works—spiritual fruit vindicating one’s salvation (Jas. 2:21-26). What is clearly seen in both the teachings of James and Paul is that faith is the root of salvation, works are the fruit of that salvation. One can neither have works without faith nor faith without works if their salvation is genuine. True belief in Christ is a faith that works. Although no particular works are cited by James, elsewhere in his epistle, it is clear that endurance (1:3) and perseverance under trial (1:12), purity of life (1:21), obedience to Scripture (1:22-23), concern for the needy (1:27), impartiality (2:1-9), acts of compassion (2:15), control of the tongue (3:2-12), humility (4:6, 10), truthfulness (4:11), and patience (5:8) are in his mind as evidence of genuine salvation in Christ (cf. Gal 5:22-23)—that is, a faith that works.

Jesus said, “An hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29). It is clear therefore that true salvation proves itself naturally with righteous deeds as fresh flowers bring forth a fragrance in contrast to fake flowers. According to Paul, true Christian fragrance flows through the good deeds of believers in Christ (Titus 2:7), for those who “profess to know God, but by their deeds…deny Him, [are] detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed” (Titus 1:16). Likewise, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness” (2 Tim. 2:19).

Jesus addressed this when He said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’ ” (Matt. 7:21-23).

Food For Thought
When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas how he could be saved, they responded, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31), proving that salvation is by faith alone. Yet faith that is alone is dead. Let us therefore examine ourselves by our works to see if we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). Do your works for Christ absolve or accuse your faith?