Study No. 7
WORKING FAITH
JAMES 2:14-26
In the previous chapter we said that “The Faith” refers to the complete set of beliefs and practices that Christianity holds and teaches. It is not wrong to say “The Faith” means the Bible, or the Word of God.
The way the words, the faith, are used in the following scripture clearly shows that it is speaking of the sum of Christian truth.
1 ¶ Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
That is a very serious verse by the way. It is one of the signs that we are getting close to the end.
However, in this chapter we are looking at faith – personal faith.
Before we dig into this next section, verses 14 – 19, it is important to understand that there are two extremes regarding faith and works.
The first is WORKS WITHOUT FAITH
In Pharisaical Judaism at the time of Christ, visible works were essential to identify a person as a God-follower.
Jesus confronted the Jewish leaders of the day for this very thing.
Lu 18:9-14 Then he gave this illustration to certain people who were confident of their own goodness and looked down on others:
10 "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one was a Pharisee, the other was a tax-collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed like this with himself, ‘O God, I do thank thee that I am not like the rest of mankind, greedy, dishonest, impure, or even like that tax-collector over there. 12 I fast twice every week; I give away a tenth-part of all my income.’
13 But the tax-collector stood in a distant corner, scarcely daring to look up to Heaven, and with a gesture of despair, said, ‘God, have mercy on a sinner like me."
14 I assure you that he was the man who went home justified in God’s sight, rather than the other one. For everyone who sets himself up as somebody will become a nobody, and the man who makes himself nobody will become somebody."
The 'certain people' who Jesus was referring to, quite obviously, are the Pharisees. They prided themselves in displaying the 'good works' that they were proud of.
This is one example of works without faith … or at least, there is no mention or emphasis on faith. Jesus also mentions a practice of the heathen in which they perform ‘work’ without faith. I suppose this was meant to shame the Pharisees, to some degree.
Jesus said, And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Matthew 6:7
Trying to 'earn' our way to heaven is logical. It goes against all human logic to imagine that God would give us heaven as a gift. If we had to pay for going to heaven, we could never afford it. But from the human perspective, we don't know that. We can't imagine the cost … and so, in ignorance we think we can actually 'make it' by being good and sincere in our actions.
Twice in the book of proverbs we read this statement:
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12 also 16.25)
Trying to qualify, trying to be good enough to the extent that God would take notice and let us into his Heaven … is human logic. The writer says that this logic ends up being the way of death.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Rome, also addressed those who were performing works without faith.
31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. Romans 9:31,32
Paul is saying that Israel worked ... even worked hard, to be religious and meticulous in following all the right laws and rules. But because they thought their hard work would earn them eternal life ... they stumbled. They stumbled so seriously that, if they did not repent of this sin .. they stumbled right into hell.
To human logic … faith is a stumbling stone. Israel did not get it … neither does the average human.
So Paul clearly says;
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Romans 3:28
and then Paul elaborates,
Romans 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
This is also logic … but not natural logic to a natural human. We think we have to earn it. Paul says IF we could earn it, we could demand it as our Payment for Services Rendered'.
But since we absolutely cannot earn it … (the price would be our having lived in total perfection with no history of error … for our entire lives), it becomes essential that we acknowledge this, and humble ourselves, and accept the gift.
How important is the message that salvation is not based on good works? It is a matter of life and death.
Actually a matter of eternal life or eternal death.
Paul believed and taught and felt strongly about this. He said ...
Ga 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Basically all non-christian world religions teach a system of earning eternal life.
There are a few cults, calling themselves Christian, who plainly teach that your eternal status with God can be achieved, only by performing works. The JW group is one of them.
The Roman Catholic church has taught this from their inception. Their Anglican counter-part teaches salvation on much the same basis.
But perhaps I should say at this point, that some so-called Christian groups have devolved to the point where they say that (regardless of having faith or works or none at all) everybody makes it in the end.
We have been talking about WORKS WITHOUT FAITH. So having underscored that the true gospel is based on faith, without any outward works at all ...
We now we look at ...
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS
14 ¶ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
James is speaking to those Christians who claim to have faith, but who have no good works showing up in their lives.
In the earlier part of this chapter of James, he was saying that showing favoritism toward the wealthy was sin. We might as well be breaking the entire set of commandments, he said. It is obvious that James wants to see a change in that kind of behavior.
We can't help but wonder if he expects his readers to object by saying, "Why should I change my behavior? It doesn't make any difference what I do … it's what I believe that's important."
And today I am actually hearing 'All my sin, past present and future, has been dealt with on the cross. I will never have to face my sin in the future. I can do what I want basically … because it is already forgiven.'
What a faulty and dangerous assumption! When Jesus spoke from the cross saying, "Father forgive them, they know not what they are doing.", he was not forgiving the world. He was specifically speaking of the Roman soldiers who had nailed him to the cross. He may have had in mind the Pharisees who were behind it all. But what he was asking the Father, was to not add this particular sin of crucifixion to their sin debt. That way the guilt could be spread equally on the whole world. We put Jesus on the cross. The Pharisees or the Romans have no more guilt than we do.
It was when Jesus said, "It is finished!", that the atonement for sin was complete. PAYMENT was made on the cross. Jesus made forgiveness AVAILABLE. Forgiveness is never applied without repentance and a request for forgiveness. The tax-collector that we mentioned earlier pleaded for forgiveness as he acknowledged his sinfulness.
James illustrates what he has just said in verse 14.
2:15 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?
Nowadays we say, “Your going to be OK. I promise you. Trust me! You're going to be fine.”
But James asks the question, 'What good is that?'
He wonders if there is any real faith in that heart at all.
2:17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
This sounds very serious – and it is serious. James says that some of them were talking the talk. But he indicates that they are unsaved.
We don't earn salvation by what we do … but what we do indicates whether we have real faith or not.
2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." ---
In other words, some were saying “ You have one spiritual gift … I have another. I might have the gift of faith and you have the gift of works … or vise versa. So don't judge me. ”
These persons who ‘claim’ to have faith were likely thinking of the gift of faith. And there is a ‘gift’ of faith mentioned in I Corinthians 12:6-11. Actually here is a list of gifts.
1Co 12:6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
Two of the gifts which the Apostle Paul lists are faith and miracles. If James has these in mind, he does not say so. But even if he did he would say, if a person has the gift of faith … he or she would say something in faith … and it would be done. There would be a 'work' that would show that your faith (or your gift of faith) was just used. Faith is much more than talk.
James tells us that some have been saying, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," But that's it. There is no other help or actions extended. It looks like the person really does not care. And that is exactly the point. Talk without action sends a clear message.
In a way, a practice exists in some Christian circles which goes something like this;
An individual is diagnosed with type II Diabetes and has become insulin dependent.
The person comes before some believers who pray for a healing.
Immediately after the prayer they excitedly announce, that the individual is healed.
When speaking of this incident to others they say something like, ‘Did you hear the latest? Katy is healed of her Diabetes!’
“Really? Wow! When did this take place?”
“Just last week!”
Etc. etc.
You overhear this discussion and it dawns on you that you know a Katy with diabetes, so you enter the conversation … “Do you mean Katy Brown who lives on the south side of Centerville?”
“Yes!”
“She’s healed?” you ask.
“Yes!”
“You’re telling me she no longer takes insulin shots?” you ask further.
“Oh she’s still taking her insulin”
“But you said she is healed” you exclaim.
“Oh, that. I see why you’re questioning. We are believing God for a healing.”
In the above scenario … God indeed can and may respond with a genuine healing where no insulin will ever again be necessary – but using the words “She is healed!” when in fact she is not (yet), is misleading and really is quite hollow.
James says, Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
He says that genuine faith will always have some sort of evidence. And then he shames them by giving them an example in which the demons have more real faith than they do. I will give the next verse in the old King James Version … for a reason.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
I want to point out that very often this verse is used to point out that faith alone is not enough. And even though that is exactly what James is trying to prove, he is saying quite the opposite. He is saying “Your faith is shown (or announced) in mere words … no action. The demons have more faith than you have … they at least have some kind of action …What is the action? They tremble. Real faith truly has SOME kind of action. Trembling Demons is a pretty good sign that they are believers. They honestly believe their judgment day is coming. Do you claim to believe something? Where is the evidence?”
James now (20-25) offers two Biblical examples for evidence that genuine faith always has works.
2:20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
This is an interesting approach. To use such strong language, i.e. "you foolish person" … indicates that he is aware that this problem is a fairly large issue in the group to whom he is writing, and it was causing dissension within the churches.
The first example that he gives is very dear to the hearts of every Jew. And these 'christian Jews' would still hold father Abraham in great esteem. What a great example for James to use.
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 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.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Abraham took his son up the mountain, built an altar, put him on the altar, bound his own son with cords and had his knife at his throat … that is action. Works. But he would not have done it had he not believed God. His works are clear evidence of Belief.
But this is quite different from people who do good works simply to earn a standing with God.
Paul uses the same example of Abraham like this;
Romans 4:1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."
When we have a preconceived belief, the tendency is to find scriptures that back up what we already believe.
If we believed in 'works for salvation' we would use the words of James who says that Abraham was justified by works.
But if we believe that salvation is by grace alone, we would be inclined to use what Paul said in Romans 4.
By comparing them in context we discover that Paul and James are not disagreeing with each other. Real faith will always be evidenced by real action.
That is 'working faith'.
James offers another example to prove his point.
25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
Why does James use a prostitute for his example? I think he is trying to show that no matter who you are, how old you are, how wealthy or how poor, faith will produce some kind of real action. He had just used Abraham in his first example. Who, especially those of Jewish background, would not like to be compared to Abraham? But to be compared with a devil? To be compared with a prostitute? To be shown up by them ... that these had better and more genuine faith than themselves?!! I wonder if they were getting the point.
James takes it one step further. It truly looks like he is saying ... if you don't have spontaneous real evidence of your belief ... you are not saved!! He said,
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
To sum it up ... do you think you have to 'perform' in order to be accepted by God? There is no amount of 'performing' that you could do to make you worthy of eternal life. But what James is saying, if you have truly put your faith in Jesus Christ, there will be all kinds of evidence. True faith ... is evidenced by action ... I will add, spontaneous action.
James asked this question back in verse 15:
2:15 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?
Now we can answer. When a true believer, a follower of Jesus sees a brother or sister poorly clothed or lacking daily food ... they will do something about. It will be automatic. they won't be able to help themselves, because they truly believe. Real faith works.
The way the words, the faith, are used in the following scripture clearly shows that it is speaking of the sum of Christian truth.
1 ¶ Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
That is a very serious verse by the way. It is one of the signs that we are getting close to the end.
However, in this chapter we are looking at faith – personal faith.
Before we dig into this next section, verses 14 – 19, it is important to understand that there are two extremes regarding faith and works.
The first is WORKS WITHOUT FAITH
In Pharisaical Judaism at the time of Christ, visible works were essential to identify a person as a God-follower.
Jesus confronted the Jewish leaders of the day for this very thing.
Lu 18:9-14 Then he gave this illustration to certain people who were confident of their own goodness and looked down on others:
10 "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one was a Pharisee, the other was a tax-collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed like this with himself, ‘O God, I do thank thee that I am not like the rest of mankind, greedy, dishonest, impure, or even like that tax-collector over there. 12 I fast twice every week; I give away a tenth-part of all my income.’
13 But the tax-collector stood in a distant corner, scarcely daring to look up to Heaven, and with a gesture of despair, said, ‘God, have mercy on a sinner like me."
14 I assure you that he was the man who went home justified in God’s sight, rather than the other one. For everyone who sets himself up as somebody will become a nobody, and the man who makes himself nobody will become somebody."
The 'certain people' who Jesus was referring to, quite obviously, are the Pharisees. They prided themselves in displaying the 'good works' that they were proud of.
This is one example of works without faith … or at least, there is no mention or emphasis on faith. Jesus also mentions a practice of the heathen in which they perform ‘work’ without faith. I suppose this was meant to shame the Pharisees, to some degree.
Jesus said, And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Matthew 6:7
Trying to 'earn' our way to heaven is logical. It goes against all human logic to imagine that God would give us heaven as a gift. If we had to pay for going to heaven, we could never afford it. But from the human perspective, we don't know that. We can't imagine the cost … and so, in ignorance we think we can actually 'make it' by being good and sincere in our actions.
Twice in the book of proverbs we read this statement:
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12 also 16.25)
Trying to qualify, trying to be good enough to the extent that God would take notice and let us into his Heaven … is human logic. The writer says that this logic ends up being the way of death.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Rome, also addressed those who were performing works without faith.
31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. Romans 9:31,32
Paul is saying that Israel worked ... even worked hard, to be religious and meticulous in following all the right laws and rules. But because they thought their hard work would earn them eternal life ... they stumbled. They stumbled so seriously that, if they did not repent of this sin .. they stumbled right into hell.
To human logic … faith is a stumbling stone. Israel did not get it … neither does the average human.
So Paul clearly says;
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Romans 3:28
and then Paul elaborates,
Romans 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
This is also logic … but not natural logic to a natural human. We think we have to earn it. Paul says IF we could earn it, we could demand it as our Payment for Services Rendered'.
But since we absolutely cannot earn it … (the price would be our having lived in total perfection with no history of error … for our entire lives), it becomes essential that we acknowledge this, and humble ourselves, and accept the gift.
How important is the message that salvation is not based on good works? It is a matter of life and death.
Actually a matter of eternal life or eternal death.
Paul believed and taught and felt strongly about this. He said ...
Ga 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Basically all non-christian world religions teach a system of earning eternal life.
There are a few cults, calling themselves Christian, who plainly teach that your eternal status with God can be achieved, only by performing works. The JW group is one of them.
The Roman Catholic church has taught this from their inception. Their Anglican counter-part teaches salvation on much the same basis.
But perhaps I should say at this point, that some so-called Christian groups have devolved to the point where they say that (regardless of having faith or works or none at all) everybody makes it in the end.
We have been talking about WORKS WITHOUT FAITH. So having underscored that the true gospel is based on faith, without any outward works at all ...
We now we look at ...
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS
14 ¶ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
James is speaking to those Christians who claim to have faith, but who have no good works showing up in their lives.
In the earlier part of this chapter of James, he was saying that showing favoritism toward the wealthy was sin. We might as well be breaking the entire set of commandments, he said. It is obvious that James wants to see a change in that kind of behavior.
We can't help but wonder if he expects his readers to object by saying, "Why should I change my behavior? It doesn't make any difference what I do … it's what I believe that's important."
And today I am actually hearing 'All my sin, past present and future, has been dealt with on the cross. I will never have to face my sin in the future. I can do what I want basically … because it is already forgiven.'
What a faulty and dangerous assumption! When Jesus spoke from the cross saying, "Father forgive them, they know not what they are doing.", he was not forgiving the world. He was specifically speaking of the Roman soldiers who had nailed him to the cross. He may have had in mind the Pharisees who were behind it all. But what he was asking the Father, was to not add this particular sin of crucifixion to their sin debt. That way the guilt could be spread equally on the whole world. We put Jesus on the cross. The Pharisees or the Romans have no more guilt than we do.
It was when Jesus said, "It is finished!", that the atonement for sin was complete. PAYMENT was made on the cross. Jesus made forgiveness AVAILABLE. Forgiveness is never applied without repentance and a request for forgiveness. The tax-collector that we mentioned earlier pleaded for forgiveness as he acknowledged his sinfulness.
James illustrates what he has just said in verse 14.
2:15 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?
Nowadays we say, “Your going to be OK. I promise you. Trust me! You're going to be fine.”
But James asks the question, 'What good is that?'
He wonders if there is any real faith in that heart at all.
2:17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
This sounds very serious – and it is serious. James says that some of them were talking the talk. But he indicates that they are unsaved.
We don't earn salvation by what we do … but what we do indicates whether we have real faith or not.
2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." ---
In other words, some were saying “ You have one spiritual gift … I have another. I might have the gift of faith and you have the gift of works … or vise versa. So don't judge me. ”
These persons who ‘claim’ to have faith were likely thinking of the gift of faith. And there is a ‘gift’ of faith mentioned in I Corinthians 12:6-11. Actually here is a list of gifts.
1Co 12:6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
Two of the gifts which the Apostle Paul lists are faith and miracles. If James has these in mind, he does not say so. But even if he did he would say, if a person has the gift of faith … he or she would say something in faith … and it would be done. There would be a 'work' that would show that your faith (or your gift of faith) was just used. Faith is much more than talk.
James tells us that some have been saying, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," But that's it. There is no other help or actions extended. It looks like the person really does not care. And that is exactly the point. Talk without action sends a clear message.
In a way, a practice exists in some Christian circles which goes something like this;
An individual is diagnosed with type II Diabetes and has become insulin dependent.
The person comes before some believers who pray for a healing.
Immediately after the prayer they excitedly announce, that the individual is healed.
When speaking of this incident to others they say something like, ‘Did you hear the latest? Katy is healed of her Diabetes!’
“Really? Wow! When did this take place?”
“Just last week!”
Etc. etc.
You overhear this discussion and it dawns on you that you know a Katy with diabetes, so you enter the conversation … “Do you mean Katy Brown who lives on the south side of Centerville?”
“Yes!”
“She’s healed?” you ask.
“Yes!”
“You’re telling me she no longer takes insulin shots?” you ask further.
“Oh she’s still taking her insulin”
“But you said she is healed” you exclaim.
“Oh, that. I see why you’re questioning. We are believing God for a healing.”
In the above scenario … God indeed can and may respond with a genuine healing where no insulin will ever again be necessary – but using the words “She is healed!” when in fact she is not (yet), is misleading and really is quite hollow.
James says, Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
He says that genuine faith will always have some sort of evidence. And then he shames them by giving them an example in which the demons have more real faith than they do. I will give the next verse in the old King James Version … for a reason.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
I want to point out that very often this verse is used to point out that faith alone is not enough. And even though that is exactly what James is trying to prove, he is saying quite the opposite. He is saying “Your faith is shown (or announced) in mere words … no action. The demons have more faith than you have … they at least have some kind of action …What is the action? They tremble. Real faith truly has SOME kind of action. Trembling Demons is a pretty good sign that they are believers. They honestly believe their judgment day is coming. Do you claim to believe something? Where is the evidence?”
James now (20-25) offers two Biblical examples for evidence that genuine faith always has works.
2:20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
This is an interesting approach. To use such strong language, i.e. "you foolish person" … indicates that he is aware that this problem is a fairly large issue in the group to whom he is writing, and it was causing dissension within the churches.
The first example that he gives is very dear to the hearts of every Jew. And these 'christian Jews' would still hold father Abraham in great esteem. What a great example for James to use.
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 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.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Abraham took his son up the mountain, built an altar, put him on the altar, bound his own son with cords and had his knife at his throat … that is action. Works. But he would not have done it had he not believed God. His works are clear evidence of Belief.
But this is quite different from people who do good works simply to earn a standing with God.
Paul uses the same example of Abraham like this;
Romans 4:1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."
When we have a preconceived belief, the tendency is to find scriptures that back up what we already believe.
If we believed in 'works for salvation' we would use the words of James who says that Abraham was justified by works.
But if we believe that salvation is by grace alone, we would be inclined to use what Paul said in Romans 4.
By comparing them in context we discover that Paul and James are not disagreeing with each other. Real faith will always be evidenced by real action.
That is 'working faith'.
James offers another example to prove his point.
25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
Why does James use a prostitute for his example? I think he is trying to show that no matter who you are, how old you are, how wealthy or how poor, faith will produce some kind of real action. He had just used Abraham in his first example. Who, especially those of Jewish background, would not like to be compared to Abraham? But to be compared with a devil? To be compared with a prostitute? To be shown up by them ... that these had better and more genuine faith than themselves?!! I wonder if they were getting the point.
James takes it one step further. It truly looks like he is saying ... if you don't have spontaneous real evidence of your belief ... you are not saved!! He said,
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
To sum it up ... do you think you have to 'perform' in order to be accepted by God? There is no amount of 'performing' that you could do to make you worthy of eternal life. But what James is saying, if you have truly put your faith in Jesus Christ, there will be all kinds of evidence. True faith ... is evidenced by action ... I will add, spontaneous action.
James asked this question back in verse 15:
2:15 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?
Now we can answer. When a true believer, a follower of Jesus sees a brother or sister poorly clothed or lacking daily food ... they will do something about. It will be automatic. they won't be able to help themselves, because they truly believe. Real faith works.