Faith Shown by Works

James 2 opens with a warning: My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality. James describes a gathering where a man with a gold ring and fine clothing is welcomed to a good seat, while a poor man in shabby clothing is told to stand or sit on the floor. Such favoritism makes believers judges with evil thoughts. God chose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom, yet the readers had dishonored the poor man.

The standard is the royal law, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Partiality is sin, and the law cannot be kept in pieces: whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all. So believers should speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom. For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James then asks, What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Faith that only says, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, to a hungry and cold person is dead. Even the demons believe that God is one, and shudder. Abraham’s faith worked with his works when he offered Isaac, and the Scripture was fulfilled, Abraham believed God, and he was called the friend of God. Rahab of Jericho showed her faith by receiving the messengers. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.