1. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, {cp. Heb 1:3} with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly {splendid} apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile {dirty, shabby} raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay {splendid} clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves,
{ie., Have ye not then made a difference among yourselves?}
and are become judges of {with} evil thoughts {reasonings, motivations}?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world {1Cor 1:26-29} rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? {Jam 1:9; Mat 5:3; 1Pet 1:3-5}
6 But ye have despised the poor. {Prov 14:31} Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? {eg., Acts 16:19}
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy {excellent} name by the which ye are called? {v.1; Acts 4:12; Eph 3:14,15}
8. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, {Lev 19:18} Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, {v.1-4; Lev 19:15} and are convinced {convicted} of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all. {Mat 5:18,19; Gal 3:10,11}
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. {Jam 1:25; 1Pet 2:16}
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; {Mat 5:7; 6:15; 7:1,2} and mercy rejoiceth against {triumphs over} judgment. {Mic 7:18; Eph 2:4-7}
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons. (v.1)
The Lord of Glory humbled Himself to redeem all believers. In His Presence, any differences between redeemed sinners fade into insignificance. We have nothing in ourselves of which to boast (Jam 1:9-11). All who are in Christ are equal members of His one Body, regardless of our differing stations in society (1Cor 12:13; Eph 6:5-9).
Yet, because of fleshly pride we are often guilty of partiality toward our brothers, as James illustrates in v.2-3. In showing respect of persons, we demonstrate the natural ungodliness of our hearts, which we must put aside (cp. Jam 1:21,26-27).
James declares that by showing partiality, we become guilty of...
[See the corresponding references with the Bible text, above.]
oppressing the poor (just like the ungodly men who oppress us, v.4-7). cp. Prov 14:31
violating the Law of Love for our neighbors and brethren (v.8). cp. Lev 19:18
The Lord will hold believers accountable, at the Judgment Seat of Christ (v.10-13). Although James alludes to OT Law, he says that believers will be judged by "the law of liberty" (which is the entirety of God's Word, Jam 1:22,25). Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, with regard to our eternal salvation (eg., Joh 5:24). However, the OT Law remains valid as a standard of righteousness by which to evaluate the behavior of believers. See Mat 5:18,19; Rom 14:10; 1Cor 3:11-15; 2Cor 5:10.
I. The Testings of Faith (1:1- 2:26)
6. The test of good works. 2:14-20
14. What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? {ie., Can [that] faith save him?}
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 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? {1Joh 3:16-18}
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone {ie., by itself (without fruit)}. {v.26; Joh 15:2}
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; {Eph 4:5,6; 1Tim 2:5,6} thou doest well: {ie., Your doctrine is good. But does it move you?} the devils also believe, and tremble. {eg., Mark 1:22-24}
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
...though a man say he hath faith, and have not works...
This passage tests the reality of professed faith.
It is one thing to "say" you have faith. It is another to live out your faith.
Those who hear, but fail to 'do' God's Word, deceive themselves, with empty religion (Jam 1:22). Likewise, those who profess a faith that does not move them to action, have an empty faith.
Can [that] faith save him?
James answers this question, by putting this kind of faith to the test, in the next few verses.
...be ye warmed and filled... but ye give them not those things which are needful... (v.15-17)
This scenario illustrates that good sounding words are empty without the necessary action.
Likewise, a good sounding profession of faith is worthless, if it produces no worthwhile fruit (cp. Titus 1:16).
...show me thy faith without thy works... I will show you my faith by my works...
True faith is hidden within the heart. It can be 'shown' only by the external works, which express the content of the heart. (Just as a truly worshipping heart is confirmed or denied by external actions. Jam 1:26,27)
...thou believest that there is one God {(or) that God is one}... the devils believe...
To profess sound doctrine is good. But does your belief move you to serve God and His people?
The demons know the truth very well. Does that truth move them, more than you? At least, they shudder in fear of final judgment.
But the faith that saves is not alone, for it produces good works within and through the believer. eg., Gal 5:6; Col 1:3-6; 1The 1:3
Thus: "Salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone. But the faith that saves is not alone."
This principle is further illustrated in the next section.
I. The Testings of Faith (1:1- 2:26)
7. The illustration of Abraham. 2:21-26
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? {Heb 11:17-19; 1Joh 2:4,5}
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Some have erroneously imagined that James is presenting an argument in contradiction to Paul's teaching of "Justification by Faith, apart from works," as set forth in his epistles to the Romans and Galatians. However, this epistle of James (written about two decades before Romans and Galatians) could not be an answer to Paul's as yet unwritten letters.
However, James is illustrating that true faith is accompanied by works (v.22a), and that true faith is 'perfected' {GK=teleioo, finished, completed} in performing God's purposes (v.22b).
...the scripture was fulfilled... Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness...
This Scripture (Gen 15:6) is central to Paul's teaching of Justification by Faith. See Rom 4:1-5.
In the same chapter, Paul notes that Abraham was declared righteous, before he was circumcised, and before the Law was given. The timing of the imputation of righteousness to Abraham demonstrates that righteousness is a gift received by faith, rather than a merit earned by works (Rom 4:9-16).
Likewise, it is important for us to notice that Abraham was declared righteous long before Isaac was born (in Gen 21), and therefore, long before his preparation to offer his mature son as a sacrifice (in Gen 22). Paul cites the enduring strength of Abraham's faith, which continued to wait for God's promise, when all human hope was gone (Rom 4:18-22). Righteousness was imputed to Abraham, not on the basis of what he had done, but because when he could do nothing, he trusted God to keep His Word.
...when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Abraham's faith was hidden within his heart. His ready obedience to God's command (to offer
Isaac, Gen 22:1-3) was an external expression and confirmation of his faith (Gen 22:12b). Of course, God knew his heart. But by Abraham's action, you and I learn that true faith, in God, is expressed by obedience to His Word.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Verses 22 and 24 are both restatements of the principle: "Salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone. But the faith that saves is not alone."
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works...
Rahab's faith was the basis for her action to protect the Israeli spies. She expressed her faith in words (Josh 2:9-13) and action (Josh 2:1-6,15). Her faith would not have been known, if she had not risked her life to save the spies. Rahab was delivered by her faith, which was 'not alone' (Heb 11:31).
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. cp. v.17,20,26
A living faith will be expressed in the believer's life, to God's glory. cp. Gal 2:20,21