CAN FAITH DIE?

The Protestant Reformer Martin Luther (16th Century) is famous for many things.  He might have become infamous had he been successful at taking the "book" (or letter) of James out of the New Testament canon (or approved collection of New Testament scripture).

Luther was so taken (and rightly so) with Paul's teaching on "justification by faith + nothing" (cf. Romans 3:21-4:12) that he could never fully get his head and heart around James' statement that "you see that a man is not justified by works, and not by faith alone" (cf. James 2:24).  Such a glaring contradiction threatened the heart of the Gospel, Luther reasoned, and thus James was wrong and his letter should be taken out of the Bible.

WHY BOTH PAUL AND JAMES ARE RIGHT

What Luther missed in his passion for a grace-oriented gospel was two things: (1) James' use of the word "justified" and (2) James' point in the 2nd chapter of his letter.

Let's start with (2) - James' point in the 2nd chapter of his letter was not to explain how a person received the gift of righteousness before God, but rather how a person could prove or demonstrate (or "justify") to others that he/she is a friend of God.   Like Paul, James uses Abraham as his example.  James 2:23 - "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness and he (Abraham) was called a friend of God."  The first part of James' quote there is from Genesis 15, where Abraham was given righteousness by simple faith (without works).  The second part of James' quote (he was called a friend of God) comes from Isaiah (41:8)!  Isaiah, 1200 years later reflecting on Abraham's life, concluded Abraham was God's friend because Abraham obeyed God in sacrificing Isaac on Moriah.  In other words, Abraham proved he was God's friend by obeying (or exhibiting works).

So we can understand (1).  James is not using "justified" in the same way Paul uses it.  James is using it to speak of being "justified" in the eyes of others who are wondering whether or not a Christian is a "friend" (or obeyer) of God.  How do you justify such a claim of friendship?  By works.  By obeying.

Paul, on the other hand, in Romans 4 speaks to "How someone is declared righteous in God's sight."  How?  By simply believing that God's promise (about what Jesus did on the cross about sin) is GOOD!  Simple faith leads to the gift of righteousness, or justification before God, being given.

In fact, there is no conflict between Paul and James.  They are simply speaking about different kinds of justification, and are both right.

WHY WE SHOULD LISTEN TO JAMES

When you read James 2:14-26, you find some arresting statements.  One is, "Faith, without works, is dead."  This raises the question, "Can a Christian's faith die?"  James answers, "Yes...if it is not active, if it is not responsive in obedience to God."  Our simple faith gains us the gift of righteousness (Romans 4), and our growing faith makes us useful  to God (James 2).  But when a Christian becomes unresponsive to God -- at that is certainly possible, or much of the NT Letters' exhortation to faithfulness is superfluous -- than one's faith can die, become useless, and one's friendship with God can be (rightly) called into question.

The point?  As a Christian, like Abraham, you are called to move beyond the point of initial faith and the gift of righteousness to a life of living faith and obedience.  In Genesis 15, Abram was given righteousness.  In Genesis 15-22, Abraham grew in his faith.  In Genesis 22, he obeyed God even when it seemed unreasonable to do so...and he proved that his trust in God was alive, and that he was indeed God's friend.

So...is your faith alive?  Are you God's friend??