How Does James 2:14-26 Impact Our Faith?

(By Pastor Mark Fontecchio)

Question: How does James 2:14-26 impact our faith?

Answer: “It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone.” These words came from John Calvin in 1547 as he responded to Canon 11 of the sixth session of the Council of Trent. These same words have been repeated often and indiscriminately applied to James 2 with great detriment to the Body of Christ. The confusion that ensues concerning the gospel of grace has become an epidemic.

Properly understood, James 2:14-26 should be an encouragement for believers to press on toward maturity in Christ while living for the coming Kingdom of Christ. This can be readily seen in the context that surrounds the immediate passage. In verse 13 the subject is judgment, and then in verse 14 James once again addresses his audience as brethren (James addresses them as brethren fifteen times in this epistle). The only judgment that believers will face is the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:11-15). Again, the following context is the same. James once more addresses them as brethren and refers to judgment (3:1).

The seriousness of the issue cannot be overstated. Instead of being correctly understood as an exhortation to live in light of the coming Judgment Seat of Christ for believers, James is taken to be a proof text for casting doubt on the genuineness of faith of an untold number of believers in Christ. Assurance of salvation is undermined and fear can set in. Immature Christians (1 Cor. 3:1-4) can become stunted in their growth because of the constant bombardment of men questioning their salvation. Certainly there is a time for making sure the gospel message is clearly understood and received, but immature believers need encouragement to grow and to be taught about the future hope we have in Christ (Titus 2:13). They need to be taught about the importance of being useful to others (James 2:14-16).