The moralist would say “yes”. They would argue that, so long as you are sincere and your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, surely the deity that you believe in will treat you kindly in the afterlife. A mixture of faith and good deeds will be “good enough” for a fair god.
A surface reading of James 2:14-26 seems to indicate that the teachings of Christianity are generally in line with this moralist position.
However, as we explore other passages in the New Testament, such as Ephesians chapter 2, we are assured that salvation is actually granted as a free gift of God, received by faith (vv.8,9). The change in a person's behaviour, yielding good works, comes subsequent to and as a result of saving faith in Christ Jesus (v.10).
These passages teach that a person does not perform good works in order to be saved but rather performs good works because they are saved.
Let’s examine whether this is James’ key point in 2:14-26.
What James is not teaching
Firstly, then, it is important to note that James cannot be teaching that salvation comes to mankind through a combination of faith and works. That assertion is most clearly dismantled by the Apostle Paul in Romans chapters 3 and 4.
In these two chapters, Paul is answering the question on what grounds God can justify mankind. The word “justify” used in Romans 3 and 4 (and also in James 2) is referring to the action of God in declaring a person to be righteous. This is a vital component of salvation because God cannot have true fellowship with anyone who is not pure, holy and righteous in His sight (Habakkuk 1:13).
In answering this question of justification, first of all Paul entirely rules out the possibility of justification based on works, saying in Romans 3:20 (ESV):
“For by the works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight”
There is no room in Scripture for a person to earn merit and favour with God by their attempts to lead a moral life. On the contrary, our actions are the precise reason why all mankind stands guilty before God “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23).
On what basis then can a person be justified by God? Paul gives the clear answer; God justifies independently of works and on the basis of faith in Christ. That is to say, God justifies on the grounds of faith, and faith alone. Paul states in 3:26 that the grounds for justification are clear and unique:
“… that He [God] might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (emphasis mine)
Then in chapter 4 of Romans, Paul demonstrates that justification by faith alone is not a new concept but is seen throughout the Bible. And to strengthen his argument, he highlights two titanic figures of the Old Testament: Abraham and David.
Concerning Abraham, Paul quotes from Genesis 15:6:
“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (v.3 ESV).
Then he quotes David’s own words from Psalm 85:2:
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (v.7).
Paul shows that Abraham, the patriarch of Israel, and David, the greatest king of Israel, were both justified, not on the grounds of their works, but by faith alone. The fact that justification is by faith alone is therefore testified in Old Testament Scripture.
The conclusion is clear. We cannot earn salvation based on our good works. It comes through faith in the Lord Jesus alone.
Since Scripture speaks with one voice on each doctrine or issue, James could not be contradicting in 2:14-26 what the Apostle Paul was teaching in Romans 3-4.
What James is teaching
Having established what James 2:14-26 cannot be teaching, it becomes clear that Christianity does indeed stand out from all moralistic religions, teaching that salvation is by faith alone. James is making the point that faith in Christ produces a life of godliness and faithfulness, and, yes, good works.
This new life of faith is ordained by God (Ephesians 2:10), purchased by Christ (Titus 2:11-14) and empowered by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-23; Romans 8:13, Philippians 2:13). It is therefore inevitable that both good works and an aversion to sin will be characteristic of the life of a believer (see also 1 John 3:9).
The question James is answering in vv.14-20 is this: “what sort of faith produces no good works and has no effect on a previously sinful way of life?” His answer: “not a faith which saves” (v.14) “but rather, a faith which is dead” (v.17).
James then gives his reasoning by showing the unbreakable link between true, living and saving faith, and the subsequent demonstration of it by good works.
“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (2:18 ESV)
Subsequently, James mentions that there may be some who profess a form of faith but, without the evidence of the Christian life, he asserts they are more akin to demons than those who are blessed by God:
“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?” (vv.19-20 ESV).
These strong words of James teach that a person’s salvation is evidenced not by an empty profession of faith but by the reality of a changed life (see also Matthew 7:21-23 and 1 John 3:9).
In a similar manner to Paul in Romans 3 and 4, James then highlights two characters from the Old Testament in vv.21-26 to strengthen the assertions and reasonings he made in vv.14-20. He draws on the examples of Abraham and Rahab, who both demonstrated their faith by their actions. James shows that when Abraham had faith in God he was justified in a one-time, gracious act of God. But how did Abraham go on to show the reality of his justification by faith? He lived a life of devotion to God by good works (v.21). A similar principle is seen in the life of Rahab.
James concludes in v.26 by stating that a Christian life of good works is as vital to faith as the spirit is to the body. When there is the absence of the spirit, the body is dead. Likewise, when there is the absence of good works, faith is dead. When a person is truly born again, the result of their justification is a heart of devotion to God, the reality of which is demonstrated through a life of good works.
