Relationship between faith and works

Faith is a key doctrine in the Christian life. The sinner is saved by Faith (Eph. 2:8, 9), and the believer must walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6); and whatever is not from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).

Someone has said that faith is not "believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence." In Hebrews 11, we read about men and women who acted upon God's Word, no matter what price they had to pay. Faith is not some kind of hazy and vague feeling that we work up; faith is confidence that God's Word is true, and conviction that acting upon that Word will bring His blessing.

In James 2:14 - 26, James discussed the relationship between faith and works. This is an important discussion, for if we are wrong in this matter, we jeopardize our eternal salvation. What kind of faith really saves a person? Is it necessary to perform good works in order to be saved? How can a person tell whether or not he is exercising true saving faith? James answers these questions by explaining to us that there are three kinds of faith - dead faith, demonic faith and dynamic faith (faith based on the Word of God) covering James 2:14 - 26. Let us cconsider, in some details, each kind of faith.

Dead Faith (James 2:14 - 17)

James said: "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14 - 17, NKJV, emphasis added).

People with dead faith substitute words for deeds. They know the correct vocabulary for prayer and testimony, and can even quote the right verses from the Bible; but their walk does not measure up to their talk. They think that their words are as good as works, and they are wrong.

James gave a simple illustration. A poor believer came into a fellowship, without proper clothing and in need of food. The person with dead faith noticed the visitor and saw his needs, but he did not do anything to meet the needs. All he did was say a few pious words! - "Be warmed and filled" (James 2:16). But the visitor went away just as hungry and naked as he came in!

Food and clothing are basic needs of every human being, whether he is saved or unsaved.

Paul said: "And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content" (1 Tim. 6:8).

Jesus said: "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we ear?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things" (Matt. 6:31, 32).

Jacob included these basic needs in his prayer to God: "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on" (Gen. 28:20).

As believers, we have an obligation to help meet the needs of people, no matter who they may be.

Paul said: "... as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).

Jesus said: "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (Matt. 25:40).

To help a person in need is an expression of love, and faith works through love (Gal. 5:6).

The apostle John emphasized this aspect of good works: "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need and shuts up his heart form him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and truth" (1 John 3:17, 18).

The priest and Levite in the Parable of the Good Samaritan each had religious training, but neither of them pause to assist the dying man at the side of the road (Luke 10:25 - 37). Each of them would defend his faith, yet neither demonstrated that faith in loving works.

Obviously, that kind of faith - that is never seen in practical works would not save a person. Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration. That kind of faith is dead faith. That is why James said that faith by itself (alone), if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:17). The great theologian, John Calvin, wrote, "It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone." True saving faith can never be by itself. It always brings life, and life produces good works.

The person with dead faith has only a intellectual experience. In his mind, he knows the doctrine of salvation, but he has never submitted himself to God and trusted Christ for salvation. He knows the right words, but he does not back up his words with his works. Faith in Christ brings life (John 3:16), and where there is life there must be growth and fruit. Three times in James 2:14 - 26, James warns us that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17, 20, 26).

Beware of a mere intellectual faith. No man can come to Christ by faith and remain the same any more that he can come into contact a 250-volt wire and remain the same.

John said: "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12).

Dead faith is not saving faith. Dead faith is counterfeit faith and lulls the person into a false confidence of eternal life.

Demonic Faith (James 2:18, 19)

James said: "But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me you faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble" (James 2:18, 19)!

The New Testament Church had rediscovered the reality and activity of demons. When our Lord was ministering on earth, He often cast out demons; and He gave that power to His disciples. Paul often confronted demonic forces in his ministry; and in Ephesians 6:10 - 20, he admonished the early Christians to claim God's protection and defeat the spiritual forces of wickedness.

James said that the demons have faith. I believe it comes as shock to many people. If demons have faith, what do they believe? For one thing, they believe in the existance of God; they are neither atheists nor agnostics. They also believe in the deity of Christ. Whenver they met Christ when He was on earth, they bore witness to His Sonship (Mard 3:11, 12). They believe in the existence of a place of punishment (Luke 8:31); and they also recognize Jesus Christ as the Judge (Mark 5:1 - 13). They submit to the power of His Word.

The man with dead faith was touched only in his intellect; but the demons are touched also in their emotions. They believe and tremble.

But it is not a saving experience to believe and tremble. A person can be enlightened in his mind and even stirred in his heart and be lost forever. True saving faith involves something more, some that can be seen and recognized - a changed life. "Show me your faith without your works," challenged James, "and I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18).

How could a person show his faith without works? Can a dead sinner perform good works? Impossible! When you trust Christ, you are "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).

Being a Christian involves trusting Christ and living for Christ. You receive the life, then you reveal the life. Faith that is barren is not saving faith.

James said: "But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead" (James 2:20, emphasis added).

The Greek word translated "dead" carries the meaning of "barren or idle." Like money drawing no interest.

Dynamic Faith (James 2:20 - 26)

Dynamic faith is the only kind of faith that can save the sinner. Dynamic faith is faith that is real, faith that has power, faith that results in a changed life.

James said: "But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:20 - 26).

Dynamic faith, the saving faith, is based on the Word of God. We receive our spiritual rebirth through God's Word (James 1:18). We receive the Word and this saves us (James 1:21).

Paul said: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the the word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

James used Abraham and Rahab as illustrations of dynamic saving faith, since both of them heard and receiving the message of God through His Word.

Faith is only as good as its object. The man in the jungle bows before an idol of stone and trusts it to help him, but he receives no help. No matter how much faith a person may generate, if is not directed at the right object, it will accomplish nothing.

Dynamic faith is based on God's Word, and it involves the whole man. Dead faith touches only the intellect; demonic faith involves both the mind and the emotions; but dynamic faith involves the will. The whole person plays a part in true saving faith. The mind understands the truth; the heart desires the truth; and the will acts upon the truth. The men and women of faith named in Hebrews 11 were people of action - God spoke and they obeyed. They believed what dynamic faith really is. Faith is not believing in spite of evidence, but faith is obeying in spite of consequences!

True saving dynamic faith leads to action. It is not intellectual contemplation or emotiona consternation. It leads to obedience on the part of the will. And this obedience is not an isolated event; it continues throughout the whole life. It leads to works.

Many different kinds of works are named in the New Testament:

1. The works of the Law - Paul said: "... knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified" (Gal. 2:16, emphasis added).

The works of the Law relate to the sinner's attempt to please God by obeying the Law of Moses. Of course, it is impossible for a sinner to be saved through the works of the Law.

2. The works of the flesh - Paul said: "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dessensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19 - 21, emphasis added).

The works of the flesh are what the flesh or corrupt and unrenewed human nature produces. They are done by immature so-called Christians or unsaved people who live for the things of the old nature.

3. Wicked works - Paul said: "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight ..." (Col. 1:21, 22, emphasis added).

4. Dead works - The writter of Hebrews said: "For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sactifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Heb. 9:13, 14, emphasis added).

Dead works are works that are deadly in their nature - works that lead to death. They are works that have no spirituality and no life. By "works" here the writer does not refer to their outword religious acts particularly, but to the conduct of life, to what people do. Their works are not spiritual and saving but such as lead to death.

5. Works produced by dynamic saving faith - What James said in his Epistle. Where there is dynamic saving faith, you will always find good works.

The dynamic saving faith of Abraham and Rahab

James choses to illustrate "dynamic saving faith" by studying the life of Abraham and Rahab. What did Abraham and Rahab in common? Both exercised saving faith in God.


1 Abraham


Abraham was declared righteous by faith; he was justified by faith (read Rom. 4). His faith was tested when God asked him to offer up Isaac on the altar (Gen. 22). Abraham was not saved by obeying God's difficult command. His obedience proved that he already was saved. James said: "Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith ws made perfect" (James 2:22)? There is a perfect relationship between faith and works. As someone has expressed it. "Abraham was not saved by faith plus works, but by a faith that works."


By faith, Abraham was justified before God and his righteousness declared; by works he was justified before men and his righteousness demonstrated.


2 Rahab


The background for Rahab is found is Joshua 2 and 5. Israel was about to invade their Promised Land and take the city of Jericho. Joshua sent spies into the city to get the lay of the land. There they met Rahab, a harlot, who protected them and affirmed that she believed in what God had said and what God was going to do. When the men departed, they promise to save her and her family when the city was taken; and this they did.


The story of Rahab is one of the Bible's great examples of saving faith (see Heb. 11:31). Rahab heard the Word and knew that her city was condemned. This truth affected her and her fellow citizens so that their hearts melted with them (Josh. 2:11). Rahab responded with her mind and her emotions; but she also reponded with her will - she did something about it. She exercised dynamic faith - her mind knew the truth, her heart was stirred by the truth, and her will acted upon the truth. She proved her faith by her works.