James 2:14-17: What Doth It Profit?
2024-07-03
We now begin probably the most misinterpreted passage in all Scripture. There are many isolated verses out there that are taken out of context, but this is a whole section that has been misinterpreted by so many. The problem is selective reading; some verses are ignored in this passage and sometimes words, like “justified,” are interpreted theologically and not in an ordinary sense. Let us consider this passage.
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (James 2:14)
This is a hypothetical and rhetorical question. The answer is a man that says he has faith but does not do any works profits nobody.
The word “profit” is translated elsewhere as advantage: “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32). What good does all that gospel preaching do if there were no resurrection, especially if your life were in jeopardy? Well, it would be worthless. Praise God, that is not the case.
Faith is supposed to have a positive effect. There is supposed to be a return on investment. God wants to save the souls of men because of compassion, but He also recreated them to do good works: “created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” And again, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men” (Titus 3:8). And especially, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).
Good works cause others to come to Christ and give Him glory. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). And again, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).
Tabitha was lamented because of her good works. “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did” (Acts 9:36).
Good works are a woman’s true beauty. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9-10). Yet this is not written for women alone; good works done in the power of the Lord should be what draws people to any one of us. Notice the one who professes godliness should have good works.
The rich are expected to be rich in good works. “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1 Timothy 6:18).
Church leaders must be models of good works. Of Titus, we read, “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity” (Titus 2:7).
We are to stir each other up to good works. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
Now of this hypothetical person that has faith without works it is said in this way: “though a man say he hath faith.” He “says” he has faith. This is key, for we will unravel this a lot in the coming verses. If a man does not have works, the only way for us to know that he is a man of faith is if he says so. And then, we must take his word for it; there is no physical evidence that the man has any faith. Only the Lord knows, and He truly knows if this man has faith.
Now, we come to something significant: “can faith save him?” This is where otherwise orthodox men turn to heresy because the entire context is skipped. If I have faith in Christ, does it save me? He sure does. I am saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The most important counter-question to ask is, “can faith save whom?” It is not referring to the one with faith; it is the one whom the one with faith is serving. In this case, it is the poor man, the one of whom we are to be impartial. The context has not changed in all of James 2; we are in the same frame of mind. Our faith does not magically help the one who needs help. If you do not believe me, the next two verses prove this is the case.
James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (James 2:15-16)
A person comes into the congregation, just like the one with the vile clothes on in James 2:2, he is barely covered with whatever clothes he has and is starving. The man by his faith was trusting that the poor man or woman would have peace and warmth and filling but had the power to help him physically fulfill the needs. Did this help the naked hungry person? It is obvious that he did not help him. The workless believer did not “save” the impoverish man. He will die of starvation in the cold.
A question we have is, what does such a man hope to happen? Is he expecting that the Lord Himself will descend and provide the clothing and food? Maybe he is praying/expecting/hoping someone else would help him? Maybe he “doesn’t have that gift”? But perhaps the Lord was appointing that man to help the other, and he failed to do that specific good work appointed to him.
What stops someone from helping? Is it fear? Is it laziness? Is it cheapness? It could be any number of things. However, if there is someone we know we can help, we should help them.
This pair of verses clearly shows what faith without works is. It is something that does not profit. It is internal only. It is verbal assent without a finger being lifted. It may be kind wishes to someone without doing anything to help. Recall that in Hebrews 11, we saw many examples of faith, and the Scriptures referenced what they had done, not a doctrinal statement affirming all the correct views. We don’t undermine correct doctrine, but correct doctrine leads to correct practice.
From this, we can tell that has nothing to do with the salvation of the one professing faith without works. This deals with the practical dealings of one who has faith. Salvation was settled back in James 1:18: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” This letter is not to review how to be saved, but how to live now that we are saved and to live with power “from above.”
James 2:17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17)
What does it mean that faith is without works? It is the answer to the repeated question in the previous three verses: “what doth it profit?” Faith without works is faith without profit.
Faith was meant to work and profit. When we first trusted in Christ, we often want to get busy with the mission. That was the case for me. I wanted to be busy doing something for the Gospel’s sake. There was a whole lot of zeal without knowledge. That desire was stronger at times than at others throughout the years, but the desire is still within me today to make a difference for the kingdom in some way.
And this only makes sense. If it is true that “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17), then we would expect some manner of changed life. There is some danger in this because we cannot see someone’s actions 100% of the time. One may fail to have works in one area, but behind the scenes they have a lot of fruit. Don’t forget what the Lord said, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 6:1). A lot of giving and prayer is done behind the scenes because of commands such as these.
Faith is about trusting Christ with everything, and this includes with everyday activities.
Even the world knows this. The world expects religious people to be doing good works. The biggest thing in recent history is the backlash against the phrase, “thoughts and prayers.” People do not want “thoughts and prayers.” They want the problem solved, people helped, and action that shows religion is genuine. Many will hate Christ anyway. However, some will hear the Gospel coupled with action and believe.
As for people who are saved and have no works, it seems there must be some. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).