Page 31 - book_james

Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

James concludes, and hopes his congregation does to, that works are necessary to
complete the process of justification. Faith before the Lord is sufficient for entrance into
heaven, but not for rewards. Rewards in heaven will be a display of our faith. They will be
given for our works, the display of faith on the earth.

Jas 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had
received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Likewise (omoios: the same way), also was not Rahab the harlot justified (declared
righteous) by works, when she had received (upodexamene: welcomed) the messengers,
and sent them out another way?

And another example of one whose faith was perfected through her actions was Rahab
(Joshua 2: 1‐11, 6:17, 22, 25). Because of her actions, her faith, which had been placed in
the Lord many years before, was now made.

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The body needs the spirit and the spirit needs the body. Faith needs works and works needs
faith.

Chapter Summary

James has a pastor’s love for his people, and he is concerned about the partiality he sees in
his congregation as well as the lack of understanding of the importance of works as an
overflow of true faith. Many were reacting like the world by preferring the rich over the
poor, and James warned about the divisions that could arise and ultimately, the swift
judgment of God that could result from such attitudes. He stressed the importance of good
works in the Christian life and explained that without works, faith is dead and ineffective.