Daily Writing

Tuesday, 16 July 2019

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! James 2:19

The word “you” is singular and it is in the emphatic position, and so James – writing to a Jewish audience – implies that the individual is self-deceived if he claims to have faith and yet has no works. The structure of the first part of this verse varies a bit between manuscripts –

You believe that One is the God.

You believe that the God One is.

Either way, God is the formal object, and it is speaking of the oneness of God, not so much the fact that there is one God – although that is to be understood. This then is in line with the proclamation of Moses which is recorded in Deuteronomy 6:4 –

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!”

James uses this statement of faith in order to highlight the belief in the monotheistic God who is also Triune in nature – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In emphatically stating to each person in his audience that they believe God is One, he is preparing them for his next words to show how little that actually means all by itself, even though it is a good thing. As he says, “You do well.”

Jews believed this all along, ever since Moses proclaimed it to the people. James says that this is commendable. It demonstrates faith in the words of Moses concerning God’s nature. However, that is only good to a certain point. He shows this by saying, “Even the demons believe.”

The Oneness of God is understood by the demons, just as it is to those humans who accept the premise. Both accept the same truth. However, James continues. They believe “and tremble!”

The word James uses is found only here in Scripture, phrissó. It originally meant “to be rough on the surface,” and thus “to bristle.” From this one gets the sense of hair standing on its end from terror. It is more than to tremble, but to shudder. It carries the sense of horror at the knowledge. This is what James is referring to, and it is something that is intended to point to the Oneness of God, despite speaking of faith in Jesus. In other words, He is indicating that faith in Jesus is faith in God. This is confirmed by the accounts of demons being faced with the presence of Jesus as recorded in the gospels, such as –

“When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ And suddenly they cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’” Matthew 8:28, 29

These demons had a knowledge of Jesus, including that He is fully God. As James says, “God is One.” But these are demons. James is saying to his audience that just because someone knows God is One, it doesn’t mean that their knowledge is backed up by anything of further value. If the demons believed this and backed it up with action, they would not be demons set for destruction, but angels who would forever stand before God praising Him. James’ point is, “Where do you stand? On belief alone, or belief plus acting on your belief.”

Life application: Most rational people will believe there is one God, regardless of how they exercise that faith, so James is saying that this is nothing special. In fact, even the demons believe this, but they shudder at that knowledge. Why? Because they believe in God from first-hand knowledge! Their belief is more than general faith, and that knowledge tells them they will receive their sentence in due time.

How many times have you heard someone say, “I believe in God,” and then you watch them live lives of ungodliness? This is irrational because someone who believes in God and lives that way hasn’t thought the whole thing through. However, the demons have. They know that judgment awaits, and yet they continue on their reckless path. This is what James is talking about.

Misdirected faith is wasted faith. If you are a Jehovah’s Witness, a Mormon, etc., then you obviously believe in God. However, your faith is misdirected and it is therefore useless. God isn’t contradictory and His word is not to be manipulated. Rather, it is to be believed as written. You believe that God is One. Good! Don’t waste your faith in Him then. Exercise it appropriately unto salvation and proper action. Call on Jesus, who is God.

O God, we believe in You, and we believe that Your word is true. Give us wisdom in understanding it more each day. Grant us to know Your ways, faith that isn’t dead, and the desire to accomplish deeds that will be pleasing to You. May our lives be as examples to others of faithful Christians who honor You in all ways. Amen.

Monday, 15 July 2019

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18

James now introduces a possible argument someone might make. It is a hypothetical to get his reader to consider the matter. Paul did this in 1 Corinthians 15:35 –

But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?”

In this verse, James’ hypothetical is stated in relation to what was said in verse 2:14. There James said, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” Can such faith bring help or healing to another? No. Not unless it is converted into works.

In response, someone might say, “You have faith, and I have works.” What is the source of the faith? What is the motivation behind the works? Also, what external benefit is one over the other? To stimulate thought on the matter, James then says, “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

A more literal reading of this would be, “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I from my works will show you my faith.” Can a person’s faith without any deeds be demonstrated in the care of another? Obviously not. Faith is something that is within a person and which only concerns that person. On the other hand, James argues that a person can demonstrate his faith by his works. The person in verse 15 who is naked or destitute, and who is helped out by someone, can see the faith of that person in action.

However, there is a problem. People do good deeds all the time, and they often do not do them in faith. They may do them for recognition, to make themselves feel better, for personal gain, and so on. Good deeds may demonstrate faith in a true believer, but they also can be done by people who only claim to be believers, or who have nothing to do with the faith. James is only concerned with those of the faith who are willing to demonstrate their faith through good deeds. This will continue to be seen in the verses ahead.

Life application: James is working towards a goal in his thought process. He is coming to the conclusion that faith has an important part in our walk as Christians, but that deeds do as well. He still hasn’t indicated what deeds, or what type of deeds, other than to speak in the general terms of the previous verses.

In the coming verses, he will use several noted figures from the Bible to establish a baseline of what deeds are acceptable for the justification James refers to. Think on these people, and even do a quick personal study on them and where they are mentioned in Scripture, before those verses are evaluated.

Also, please think on the state of non-believers who do nifty deeds for others. Contemplate how they fit into the picture of the salvation Jesus’ provides. If deeds could increase our standing before God, can their deeds be credited for righteousness even though they don’t have faith in Jesus? Surely you realize now that they obviously can’t (see Romans 4:2), but it is important to think on their acts in comparison to those of Christians.

James stands and quotes someone who says, “You have faith and I have works.” He then agrees with that person by saying that he will show his faith by what he does. Can I do super things after becoming a Christian to increase my justification before God?

Paul says that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

For the believer, this is not a judgment of justification. Instead, it is a judgment for rewards and losses. Are our deeds done in conjunction with our faith? What deeds are you doing since you became a Christian? And what is the motivation behind them? Are you doing them for your own glory or that of Christ?

Heavenly Father, help us to want to be pleasing to You without pretense or for self-serving reasons. May our actions be a testimony to the salvation that Jesus worked out on our behalf, and may we not suppose that we are increasing our position in You above what He did, but let us trust in Him alone for our standing as Your servants. Amen.

Sunday, 14 July 2019

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17

James now shows that a person’s faith needs to be expressed outwardly in acts which are of value in relation to the faith. What does that mean exactly? First, he says, “Thus also faith by itself.” The Greek actually is structured with “by itself” at the end of the verse. Further, “faith” has an article before it to show that he is speaking of the faith of the individual in the gospel. Not all types of faith require works to be alive –

“so also the faith, if it may not have works, is dead by itself.” YLT

In this, James is showing that a professing Christian’s faith which never goes beyond that faith into some type of action, is a dead faith. One can think of a baby in a womb which issues forth dead. It doesn’t mean it isn’t a baby, but it does mean that it has no purpose from that moment on. Such is true, James says, concerning the faith by itself.

He then adds in “if it does not have works.” Again, the word “it” is speaking of “the faith,” not all types of faith. One does not need to have works if he has faith in the strength of a chair to hold him. One does not need to have works if he has faith that his wife will cook dinner that evening. James is speaking of one who has faith in Christ, but who does not outwardly display that faith in acknowledgment of what they have received. For such a person, their faith “is dead.” The only person it does any good for is the individual. But it does nothing beyond him. But Christ worked in order to save him. What kind of appreciation is there in what He did, when a person isn’t willing to extend what Christ did on to others in some manner?

But, this brings in an obvious question. When James says, “if it does not have works,” what is he talking about? “What works?” The Roman Catholic Church makes a great deal about works being necessary to be saved and to continue to be saved – cooperating in salvation with Christ. Reformed theologians speak of “works” as being a necessary demonstration of saving faith – the fruits of it. But neither system defines what “works” somehow prove the saving faith – either for or because of salvation. Each just gives the statement expecting adherents to somehow know what works justify them (RCC) or prove their justification (Reformed).

James will continue to reveal what he means, including what “works” demonstrate a faith which is alive.

Life application: Other than to hang a door, a doornail is pretty much useless. And so it is with a faith in Christ that isn’t then exercised through accompanied action. James is going to give biblical examples of faith-based deeds in the verses ahead and then he will provide a verse which has brought about argument and theological finger-pointing for eons. Until we get there, let us just think about what it means to be saved and how we can know if we are. Paul says in Romans 10:9 –

“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

Either this is true or it is not. Paul then goes on to say –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14

Again, if we are saved by the expression of faith in Romans 10, and then immediately marked with God’s Holy Spirit as indicated in Ephesians, then how can our faith later be considered dead? Our faith is part of the gift of God for salvation as is noted elsewhere in Ephesians. So what actions are necessary to ensure our faith is alive? Think on these things and understand that there is a satisfactory answer to them if we simply think on faith from a biblical perspective.

Heavenly Father, for those who have called on Jesus, we once lacked saving faith, but O! how sweet was the day we received the gift of grace through faith from You. May we never forget the glorious moment You brought our souls to life. We reached out and accepted what You offered – peace through Your precious Son, our Lord and Savior! Help us to never forget this, and to act with living faith because of it always. Amen.

Saturday, 13 July 2019

…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? James 2:16

James just spoke of the person who is “naked and destitute of daily food.” Now, referring to those he is writing to, he says, “and one of you says to them.” It is a believer speaking to the person who is naked or destitute of daily food. There is an obvious understanding of the person’s plight. Nobody could look at him and not understand the need which exists. And yet, instead of offering assistance, there is just a general greeting, “Depart in peace.”

The words were a common way of sending another off. Three examples from the gospels and Acts will show this –

1) After Jesus forgave a woman of her sins, he said, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke7:50

2) After he had healed a woman of her flow of blood, he said, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48

3) After Paul and Silas were released from captivity, the keeper of the prison said, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”

In the case of James’ example, the individual says this to the one in need, but then adds in “be warmed and filled.” It sounds like a noble blessing and it is probably intended to make the one saying it feel good about himself, as if he had accomplished something. However, James continues with the words, “but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body.”

If you notice in the three examples from the gospels and Acts, those who were told to depart in peace had received some tangible benefit. The woman who was a sinner was freed from her sin-debt. The woman who had the issue of blood was freed from her affliction. And the apostles who were jailed were allowed to depart without further charge or harm. For them, the words “Go in peace,” were because they had been granted something that could provide them with the peace they were in need of.

On the other hand, the person who is in need in this example in James has been given nothing but a word of encouragement. Of this, James asks what will that profit them? The answer is, “Nothing.” In fact, it will only deepen the affliction they have through the knowledge that their destitute state doesn’t matter to another believer at all. Where is their love, empathy, or any care in their words? Has this person been healed in any way? Certainly not. But this is the purpose of our faith. It is to understand that we have been given mercy, and we are to then extend that mercy to others.

In his words, James uses the term ophelos, or profit. As in verse 2:14, he again asks, “what does it profit?” James is not speaking of the one with faith. Rather, he is speaking of the one in need. Therefore, the question of verse 2:14, “Can faith save him?”, is not speaking of the person with faith, but of the one who is in need. It should say, “Can faith heal him?” The answer is, “Without deeds, ‘No!’” That will continue to be explained in the next verses.

Life application: Doing good deeds for the name and for the cause of Christ – this is what James is speaking of today. How many times do we see a friend in need and feel sorry for him, but don’t really do anything to help him? “Gee, I’m so sorry about that Tom…”

Often we feel helpless simply because the problem is something too big for us to handle, or it is out of our area of expertise. Or, maybe we are just too busy to get involved. For whatever reason, we tell Tom, “I wish you well…” If our words aren’t backed up with something more solid, they may really mean nothing to Tom.

Quite often, something more solid can simply be spending time with the person. A lot of the pain of difficult times is the isolation during them. If a friend is sick, getting divorced, financially ruined, etc., then it is true that we may not be able to help them with the main problem. But we may be able to lend an ear when they need to talk, or to take them out – away from their pains for awhile – to dinner or a movie. What is seemingly unhelpful may be a great value to the person.

In James 2:16, the matter is something we could help with – a friend or stranger who is cold and hungry can easily be given something warm and some food. Wishing them well and spending a few minutes with them really doesn’t help them at all. What they need is a Big Mac and a blanket.

If you have never helped out at a homeless shelter or an inner-city mission, you might try it. And you might realize that it is a blessing to you as much or more than for the people whom you have helped. Make an effort to help in whatever capacity is relevant to the situation. People don’t normally forget kindness and the Lord certainly remembers every good act done in His name.

Lord, give us hearts to help the helpless; give us the desire to assist the needy; grant us the ability to carry through with those intentions, and to provide us with the understanding that You are the one to receive the glory when the deed is done. May we be instruments of Your love to those who are suffering. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Friday, 12 July 2019

If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, James 2:15

James now gives an extreme example of how faith should be worked out in deeds. He just asked about someone not having works, while having faith. He asked, “Can faith save him?” In the commentary on the previous verse, it was questioned who “him” was speaking of.

James doesn’t specifically answer the question, but he proceeds to give his example which closely reflects the sentiment of Matthew 25 concerning the judgment of the nations based on the treatment of those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and in prison. His example is concerning a “brother or sister.”

James is speaking of a believer in Christ who sees another believer. In this, he says that person is “naked.” The word is rarely used to signify stark naked. Rather, it is a person who possesses only his undergarments, or who is poorly clothed in the extreme. James further says that he is “destitute of daily food.” This is well translated. The word is ephémeros. It signifies that which occurs on the basis of a day. From day to day this person is lacking food. With this in mind, he will continue with the thought in the next verse.

Life application: Regardless of the issue of whether James is speaking of deeds resulting in salvation, or whether he is speaking of deeds accomplished in faith by those who are saved, shouldn’t we consider the plight of others simply because they are also God’s image-bearers? Let us not lose sight of the trees for the forest. May we open our hearts to those who have such great needs as are spoken of by James in this verse.

Lord God, give us willing hearts to love and assist those who are destitute, caring for them and their needs according to our ability to do so. Help us not to turn a blind eye to our brother or sister who is in need when we are able to help in getting them back on their feet. May this be so in order that You will be glorified through the works we accomplish in Your name. To Your glory we pray. Amen.