Faith and Works (14-18): James teaches the consistent truth of Scripture that salvation is by faith.[1] But he raises a pastoral concern regarding the character of one’s faith. If a “believer” does not obey the Lord, especially, in His command regarding love and mercy (2:8, 13), that faith is suspect. This is because saving faith always produces obeyers of Christ (John 3:36), not transgressors against Him (2:8, 12). James rejects the ridiculous idea that saving faith can exist without these works. Faith always behaves a particular way; it always obeys the Lord.[2] While faith should never be confused with works (the two are distinct),[3] faith always produces works.
Demonic Orthodoxy (19): Knowing the truth is not the same as practicing the truth. Even condemned demons know sound theology. The difference between demons and believers is one of attitude and disposition. We respond to the Lord with a willing and worshipful obedience (Rom. 12:1-2).[4] While following Christ isn’t always easy (Luke 13:24), it is what all true believers are volitionally committed to (Matt. 16:24-25). We are doers of the Word (1:22).
[1] This is what Jesus taught (John 3:16; 6:29, 35, 40) and the apostles also (Acts 10:43; 16:31; 20:21). Paul also forcefully argues that justification is by faith alone (Rom. 3:26, 28; 4:5; 5:1; Gal. 2:16; 3:24).
[2] Faith always passes the duck test: if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck. So it is with faith. A believer responds obediently to the Lord, esp. in His command for love and mercy.
[3] Faith is the cause and works are the effects. Genuine faith yields works, not the other way around. Hence, good works and repentance are always the fruit (not the root!) of salvation (Matt. 21:43; Luke 8:12-15; 13:5-9; John 15:1-8; Gal. 5:22-23). Those who trust in Christ are saved (John 3:16; Rom. 1:16; Eph. 2:8; 2 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:9), and those who trust in Him always repent and obey and produce good fruits. Works, then, are the evidence of faith not the prerequisite or the precursor to saving faith. Why, then, is the gospel message so often a call to repentance (Matt. 4:17; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38)? Because there are many pretenders (Matt. 3:8-10; 21:28-31) who are not born again and the Lord knows the hearts of men (John 2:24) that only those who genuinely believe will repent and abide in His word (John 8:31), obey and love Him (John 14:15). Passages like this address the libertines/antinomians. Others address the legalists (e.g., Romans and Galatians) who must be warned against self-righteousness, but even these passages call for holiness.
[4] Demons did as the Lord commanded (Mark 1:23-26; 9:25-26), but never with a willing/worshipful attitude.