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The Lord will quickly judge divisions in the congregation caused by respect of persons. He
will do it without mercy on the one who has been so quick to judge others. God will deal
only so long in mercy toward the one who is judging and then he will come to vindicate the
one being judged.

God would rather the person who is judging repent and be restored to fellowship. This
causes God’s judgment to be overridden by His mercy. God delights in showing mercy to
His children.

In “mercy triumphs over judgment,” triumph is a military term meaning victory in war. It is
as if God’s mercy is warring against His justice until one finally wins out. If no repentance is
found, judgment will win out. If repentance is found, God rejoices and exalts in mercy
winning over judgment.

2. Faith’s Production of Works (14‐26)

James spends the remainder of the chapter explaining the importance of works as an
expression of faith in the believer’s life. James explains that if there is a brother or sister
in need and an individual has the means to meet that need but does not and instead says,
“Go in peace and be blessed,” his faith is without effect; it is inoperative. Faith without
works is dead.

A. The Character of Useless Faith

Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not
works? can faith save him?

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can
faith (that faith) save him?
Versus 14 through 26 develop one theme: the relationship of faith and works. The question
in this verse is rhetorical. There is no profit to faith if there are no corresponding actions.

Faith and works are mentioned ten times in these thirteen verses. James is teaching the
same thing Jesus taught (Matthew 7:24‐27). Doing the Word of God brings a solid
foundation to the believer’s life. This foundation will cause the spiritual structure to be
strong against the storms of life.

Some of the believers in Jerusalem had gone from one extreme to the other. They came
from Jewish legalism where all of the emphasis had been on human works. Now that they
had been born again and had heard the message of grace, they had little use for works in
their lives. James is telling them that without works, their faith was useless to the masses
of unbelievers they encountered daily. Good works are a tool of witnessing.

Some have accused James of contradicting Paul’s teaching on grace (Romans 3:28, 4:1‐12;
Galatians 3: 6‐14), but this is false. Paul’s emphasis is salvation before God— the new birth.
James’s emphasis is salvation before the world. This is a demonstration of our justification to bring