When we look at the book of James, it sounds like James may be saying “good works save.” James 2:14 says, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” After reading this we wonder if faith saves or works? Or at best, is faith plus good works what saves us?

Any time we have a passage that seems a little confusing, one thing we can do is use cross references. Finding a cross reference is finding another passage that talks about the same thing in a clearer way, so we can understand that passage. 

If we go over to Ephsians 2:8-9 we see the apostle Paul address this question. Is it faith or good works that save us? Paul is clear that it is “not by works” that we are saved, and that “you have been saved through faith.” So the question is, is James disagreeing with Paul? 

The problem we have here is that we think James is asking the question “is it faith or good works or a combination of the two that saves?” This is not the question James is asking. James is asking, “what does real faith look like?” This is a totally different question.

James is not saying that good works save us. James is saying that good works are proof of salvation. He is saying that anyone who has real faith doesn’t just say it. Real faith is fruitful and produces good works, or as I like to say it, God works.

Some of the key to understanding is in the word “justify” used in James 2:14-25. Justify does not mean save. Justify means to render a favorable verdict. So for example, James says, “Abraham believed in God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” In other words, Abraham’s belief is that which saved Him.

James is saying that good works are proof of salvation.

But how would we know, how would Abraham know that he was saved? What was the proof? The proof was the works he completed. The works didn’t save him, the works showed he was saved. Like I like to say, “christians don’t do good works to be saved, they do good works because they are saved.” It was the same for Abraham.

Note what James isn’t questioning “does faith save?” James specifically asks, “does that faith save?” The word “that” is referring to a fruitless faith. It’s a faith that says, “I am a Christian” but a person who also has no idea how to worship or follow Christ. James is saying that there is no such kind of Christianity. Real christianity, real faith, trusts Jesus for salvation, and real faith changes us.

Think About It

Are you trusting in faith, works, or a combination of them to save you?

Do you realize that salvation is by faith alone?

Do you understand that fruitless faith is not faith because it doesn’t trust in God to change you?

Do you have a real faith that is a fruitful faith?