Wednesday after the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on August 28, 2024 by under
Scripture: James 2:14-26 (NKJV)
2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 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? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 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. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 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. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Devotion
There are those who read today’s Scripture lesson and say, “What about the Apostle Paul’s statement that we are saved by grace through faith? What about Ephesians 2:8-9?” What’s it going to be, faith or works? Paul or James?
The context is all-important. St Paul was writing about those who believed they could work their way into heaven. They thought that, if they maintained their own laws, followed their own script, and did the right things, they would be guaranteed a place with God. Paul was attempting to undo this false belief by emphasizing God’s grace, explaining we can do nothing to earn God’s favor. When He brings us to faith in His Son Jesus Christ, it is totally His doing.
James, on the other hand, was pointing out that faith and works do not stand in opposition to one another. It is through works that faith proves and demonstrates itself. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that good works are motivated and accomplished. Therefore, Paul and James were preaching to two different audiences. Paul was correcting those who said salvation comes by keeping the works of the Law. James was dealing with a group that said, “I’m already saved, therefore I can live the way I want.” It was Martin Luther, another great fighter for “faith alone,” who also said: “Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone.”
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain that which Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
