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NASB | James 2:14 ¶ What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 2:14 ¶ What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient--genuine faith produces good works.] |
Bible Question: I've read the commentaries listed on Biblegateway and tend to agree with the statement he wants Christians to have faith that works. What do you think. |
Bible Answer: Here is a commentary: *The demonstration of a living faith in acts of love 1. (14) The principle established: true faith will have works with it. a. James thinks it impossible that someone can genuinely have saving faith with no works; but one can say he has faith, but show forth no good works - can that kind of faith save him? b. These were Jewish Christians who discovered the glory of salvation by faith; but now, having been freed from works-righteousness, they have gone to the extreme of thinking that there is no need for works at all. c. James does not contradict Paul, who insisted that we are saved not of works (Ephesians 2:9); James merely clarifies for us the kind of faith that saves - we are saved by faith, not works, but saving faith will have works that accompany it. i. Paul also understood the necessity of works in proving the character of our faith; For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10); This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. (Titus 3:8) d. "But James has quite another thing in view, even to shew that he who professes that he has faith, must prove the reality of his faith by his works. Doubtless James did not mean to teach us here the ground on which our hope of salvation ought to rest; and it is this alone that Paul dwells upon." (Calvin) i. As the saying goes: faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone. * Commentary from Blue Letter Bible |