Year 9, Day 124: James 2

Theological Commentary: Click Here

James 2, like much of James, is about how we put our faith into action.  James often gets slammed for being a legalistic book, and that reputation is perhaps rightly deserved.  James does focus on putting faith into action instead of saying we believe but not doing anything about it.  On this point I absolutely agree with James.  Faith, without works, is dead.  What is the point of believing in Jesus and God if we are not following Him?

Nobody loves a hypocrite.  Granted, we are all hypocrites at some point in our lives.  Nobody loves a hypocrite, though.  When we see someone who says one thing but then does another, it leaves a bad taste in our mouth.  This is precisely why James wrote this letter.  Human beings are prone to saying the easy words but then not living them out.  Human beings can be logically convinced.  We all need a push to put it into action.

For example, take the belief that God loves all people.  We are all created in the image of God.  Not everyone will be saved, but God desires relationship with everyone so that everyone has an opportunity to receive salvation.  Yet if we believe all these things to be true, why do we pay more respect to the rich, the wealthy, and the famous?  Why do we treat the orphan, the widow, and the poor like they are worthless?  Why do we withhold hope to those who need it the most?

This is what has James so upset.  Faith without works is dead.  Why say we believe if we are still going to follow our human heart in action?  If We are not changed people in action, do we really have faith?

Yes, we need faith.  But as James goes on to illustrate, the people in the Bible who are counted as righteous are people who acted upon their faith.  It doesn’t need to be big demonstrative action.  We simply need to live out the truth that we believe.

Accuse James of being too legalistic if you want.  At some points he deserves that reputation.  But he does make great points about the importance of action.  We aren’t saved by what we do, but what we do certainly gives witness to the salvation within.

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