What James 2:14-26 is really teaching - Todd McCauley

Pastor Jesse Johnson from the Immanuel Bible Church on Sunday, July 29th preached a message on James 2:14-17.  I listened to the entire message twice and felt compelled to make a few comments. Why? Because the interpretation of this passage didn't sit well with me and I wanted to clarify from my perspective. Listen, while I welcome posts from all of you guys, I don't necessarily agree with all the posts and this is one of them. While I have NO beef with Pastor Jesse, I do struggle with his interpretation of this passage. I've been a student of Scripture for over 35 years. While I'm no expert on Scripture, I do strive for accuracy and unbiased clarity.

I do agree with pastor Jesse when he states that this passage (James 2:14-17) is one of the most "misunderstood passages" in Scripture. He states that this passage is "highjacked" by Social Justice warriors as a mandate for the church to be involved in cultural transformation...which is naked manipulation. Wow!! that is a loaded condemnation. But let me also say that this passage is "highjacked" by those theological reformers who want to clean the shelves of "Fake" believers. I think that's where Jesse is coming from.

When it comes to understanding this passage there are 3 schools of thought. FIRST, there is the ARMINIAN school that states that the person that James is referring to (i.e. "the Someone", vs 14) WAS a believer but lost his salvation. He had "saving faith" but does not any longer". The SECOND school of thought is the REFORMED school that states that "the someone" referenced in this text is an unbeliever who merely professes to be a Christian but who NEVER truly excercised "Saving faith" in Christ. His "Saving faith" was just intellectual assent to the gospel and not "saving faith". The THIRD School of thought is the DISPENSATIONAL school of thought that teaches the "the someone" is, in fact, a believer who is not LIVING by faith, in other words, he/she is NOT behaving consistently with what he/she believes.

Pastor Jesse clearly advocates for the Second school of thought or the REFORMED view of this passage. The reason I say this is by how he interprets the 4 key words in this passage:
#1 Faith = Saving Faith, Trusting in the Gospel (i.e., Justification)
#2 Works = Changed life, New nature, Turned from Sin (Evidence/Assurance)
#3 Saved = Eternal life, delivered from Hell.
#4 Dead = Non-existent

In a nutshell, this is what he is teaching. If a person claims to be a Christian BUT gives no evidence of true faith in the way he lives, he/she was never saved.

I personally advocate for a DISPENSATIONAL view of Scripture and so my understanding of the 4 keywords differs from that of my REFORMED brothers.

#1 Faith = Trusting in and reliance on Christ
#2 Works = Obedience to the Word of God (Evidence only).
#3 Save = To preserve, rescue, deliver (James 1:21). Save does NOT always refer to entering Heaven (cf James 5:15)
#4 Dead = Useless, Inactive, Not vital, dormant.

In a nutshell, this is what I believe this passage to be teaching. if a person claims to be a Christian but gives no evidence of true faith in the way he lives, there are two possibilities. He may not be saved, or he MAY be saved, BUT he is not living by faith, practicing his faith. Zane Hodges writes, "... when faith stands all by itself because you fail to act on it, your inactive faith is as dead as your useless words to your destitute Christian brother. It has no life-preserving power at all!

Dr. John Hart writes, "James’s point is that just because someone believes in Christ does not mean he is going to escape the devastation of sin and its ultimate consequence of physical death. New Testament Christians must realize that physical death is still a serious penalty for sin (1 Cor 11:30). (1)

Christians CAN and DO live disobedient lives which do not have a consequence on them going to Heaven but does have an impact on the quality of life on earth and the quantity of reward in Heaven (2 Cor 5).

For Jesse and many other REFORMED Evangelical Brothers and Sisters, it's pretty cut and dry, You are EITHER a Saint or an Ain't. I agree with that premise of Saint or Ain't. But I would add that Scripture teaches that a Saint can act like an Ain't and still be a Saint in the eyes of God. But don't be fooled, disobedient Saints life WILL fall under the disciplining hand of God, his/her faith will not "Save" them from God's whooping.

Dr. Thomas Constable summarizes what I believe to be James' teaching in this passage:

" I believe what James wrote in verses 14-26 means this: Good works are not necessary to keep us from going to hell. However, they are necessary to keep us from falling under God's disciplinary punishment, that may even result in premature physical death. It is possible for a Christian not to use his or her faith, to stop "walking by faith." In such a case, his or her faith is of no practical use here and now. Therefore, we who are Christians should be careful to continue—day by day—to keep trusting and obeying God. It is possible for a Christian to exercise "saving faith" and then to stop "walking by faith." That is what James is warning us to avoid. He is dealing with sanctification primarily, not justification, here and throughout this epistle. This is Christian life teaching, not teaching how to become a Christian". (2).

Amen, my brothers.

1.  Dr. John Hart, Bible.org, How to energize our faith, reconsidering the meaning of James 2:14-26
2.  Dr. Thomas Constable, http://planobiblechapel.org/constable-notes/
3.  If you'd like to watch Jesse Johnson's message on James 2:14-17 for the sake of context, go to youtube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0OY5UJZIck