Author: Will

James 2:23 – Reckoned and Called

Posted on by Will

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called friend of God.

Truth to Learn

If you believe God’s word, your works will declare it.

Behind the Words

Back in verse eight of this chapter, we looked at the word translated “fulfill,” meaning “to finish or make complete.” In this verse, the word translated “fulfill,” however, is a different word. It is the word plēroō, which means “to fill-up” or “to make full.” It is the word used of filling a vessel with water to the very brim. James is not saying that the scripture was made complete but that it was fully demonstrated as being true.

The phrase “it was accounted” is one that we have looked at before. It is translated from the Greek word logidzomai, which is an accounting term, meaning “to make a conclusion based on an inventory.” It could be paraphrased as “to make an accounting,” or “to mark in a record.” Hence, it is often translated as “to reckon” or “to impute.” The word is expressed in this verse in the aorist tense and passive voice. The passive voice indicates that it was done to Abraham, and the aorist tense indicates that it was done at a single point in time in the past.

“Called” is translated from kaleō, which means “to call out loud.” It implies a personal message that is proclaimed. Once again we see the verb in the aorist tense and passive voice indicating that Abraham was proclaimed to be God’s friend at a single point in time in the past.

Meaning Explained

You may wonder why such a distinction is being made about tense and voice in these words. The reason is that they show us that even James believes that Abraham had a complete saving faith at the point in time when he was marked as righteous by God and proclaimed as His friend. Notice that it was not Abraham claiming that God was his friend, but God proclaiming that Abraham was His friend. The reckoning and calling were God’s doing, not Abraham’s.

James clearly declares that Abraham believed God, as declared in Genesis 15:6, and that at that time God declared him righteous. That’s when Abraham was saved. And, James’ point here is that his act of obedience many years later was a demonstration that his saving faith was real. In the previous verse the distinction was made between saving faith and walking faith. They’re not really two kinds of faith; rather, walking faith is a manifestation of saving faith.

Reading through the fourth chapter of Romans, we see that Paul presents a very strong case that Abraham was not reckoned righteous by God because of his works (his acts of obedience) but because of his faith. The act of declaring Abraham righteous is God’s act of grace, not Abraham’s act of obedience. Here, James is not arguing against Paul; instead, he is agreeing and proclaiming that Abraham’s faith was acted out in works as the proof that his faith was real.

Application

If you are truly saved, then it is your works of obedience to God’s Word which demonstrate it. Therefore, “So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and may glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 2:22 – Working, Walking Faith

Posted on by Will

You see that faith worked together with his works, and out of the works faith was perfected.

Truth to Learn

When we undergo trials in our Christian walk, our obedient works provide evidence of our faith.

Behind the Words

“See” is translated from the Greek word blepō, which literally refers to sight, but is often used metaphorically, as it is in English, meaning “to perceive” or “to understand.”

The words “working together” are translated from the Greek verb sunergeō. This word is made up of sun, meaning “together” and a form of ergon, meaning “work or toil.” Hence, the meaning is a reference to two or more things that work cooperatively together to achieve a common objective. In the current verse the word is in the imperfect tense indicating past continuous action.

Back in James 1:4 we looked at the noun teleion, which refers to “a state of completion.” The verb form of the same word is here translated as “was perfected.” James is saying that works demonstrate the finality or completion of faith. In other words, we could say that the final state of faith is good works.

Meaning Explained

When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we were saved by faith alone. But, as we walk through this life, like Abraham, we are constantly undergoing trials of our faith. Our responses to these trials, our works, are the proof of our faith. As we pointed out in the previous verse, Abraham’s salvation, his having been declared righteous by God, occurred some twenty to thirty years before he offered Isaac on the altar at Mt. Moriah. So what does James mean that Abraham’s faith was perfected by his works? The first thing we have to ask ourselves is, “What faith is he talking about?” Is he saying that Abraham’s salvation, his saving faith, was made complete by works? To answer that question, let’s look at what it says in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews:

By faith, being tested, Abraham offered up Isaac, and he having received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," reasoning that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

It is clear from this passage that James is not talking about Abraham’s saving faith, but his walking faith; “for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). When we believed in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, that was saving faith. As we walk through life, however, our faith is continually tested by trials. This is our walking faith. During these trials, our faith is tested, and it is proven when we obey through faith.

In response to James’ teaching here, John Calvin once said, “We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.”

Application

Is your faith being tested right now? Don’t despair! It doesn’t mean that God is mad at you. It means that God loves you and wants to make you more like His son. Give Him thanks for building your faith and show through your obedient works how much you love Him and that you truly believe Him!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 2:21 – Faithful Obedience

Posted on by Will

Abraham our father – was he not justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

Truth to Learn

It is our works of obedience to God which demonstrate that our saving faith is genuine.

Behind the Words

“Father” is translated from the Greek word patēr, which refers to a person’s biological father. However, it is also used to refer to any ancestor, and in a spiritual sense is applied to God. James’ use of the word here obviously refers to an ancestor, and since he was writing primarily to converted Jews, he refers to Abraham as “our” father.

Dikaioo is the Greek word translated “justified.” It is the verb form of the noun dikaios, which means “righteous” or “just.” The verb is expressed here in the passive voice, indicating an action that is done to the subject (Abraham). Thus, this word means that Abraham was “justified” or “made righteous” because his works proved his saving faith.

The word which is translated “offered” is anapherō, which is a compound word made up of ana, meaning “up” and pherō, which means “to bear” or “to carry.” Hence, it literally means to “carry-up.” It is a picture of a person carrying a sacrifice up to an altar and is, therefore, translated as “offered.”

Meaning Explained

This is James’ first example of someone who was “justified by works.” In Genesis chapter fifteen, we see Abraham having just rescued the people of Sodom, including his nephew Lot, from the armies of Chedorlaomer. That night, God spoke to Abraham in a vision. Abraham responded by complaining to God that He had not yet fulfilled His promise of a son for Abraham. God then reiterated His promise to Abraham that he would, indeed, have a son born to him and He took Abraham outside saying:

“Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:5)

Then in the following verse we read:

And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

That was the point in time when Abraham was saved, that is, declared righteous before God. However, it wasn’t until about fifteen years later that God finally blessed Abraham with his son, Isaac. Then, when Isaac was a teenager, God told Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice on Mt. Moriah. When Abraham was about to slay Isaac on the altar, God stopped him, having seen that Abraham was willing to be obedient to Him even in offering up his most cherished son.

James is telling us in the current verse that it was this obedient action regarding the offering of his long awaited, promised son that proved Abraham’s faith. In a very real sense, James says that Abraham was justified by works. That is, his action of obedience was the proof of his faith in God. God did not declare Abraham righteous at this point, because He had already done so, and once a person has been declared righteous by God, that person is forever righteous in God’s eyes. Abraham believed that God would make his descendants as numerous as the stars, and he proved his faith by being willing to sacrifice Isaac, believing that God could raise him up.

Application

Does your obedience to God demonstrate that you believe the blood of Jesus has cleansed you from your sin? Or are you still trying to earn or justify your salvation by doing good works of your own choosing or those prescribed by your church?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 2:20 – A Fool Without Works

Posted on by Will

But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is useless?

Truth to Learn

God calls all true believers to do good works.

Behind the Words

“Want” (“will” in some translations) is translated from thelō, which refers to the will of man (the determined will). It is a different word than boulomai (also translated “will”), which refers to the desirous will of man. Thelō includes active volition and purpose instead of just a simple desire. It is sometimes translated as “determine.”

The word “foolish” is translated from kenos, which simply means “empty.” James is most likely referring to a person who is empty of knowledge on this subject. In the New Testament a fool is someone who rejects God’s teachings. Here, James is simply saying that the person is lacking knowledge.

“Without” is the same word we saw back in verse eighteen, chōris, which means “separately, by itself, or apart from.” In other words, saving faith simply does not exist separated from good works.

“Useless” is translated from the Greek word argos, although some manuscripts have the word nekros, meaning “dead.” Argos is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and a form of ergon, meaning work. Hence, it refers to something that is not working, or that is idle and has no effect. It is useless.

Meaning Explained

Back in verse eighteen, James started this path of reasoning by using a hypothetical argument against a saving faith which is not accompanied by works.

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James is politely saying to anyone who doubts his assertion, that they are uninformed; they are empty and void of understanding. He simply states once again that faith without the evidence of works is not saving faith (it does not produce new life in Christ). It is useless faith, a faith that doesn’t work!

As pointed out earlier, the Greek word translated “without” really means “separate from.” James is emphatically declaring that true faith does not exist separate from good deeds. A genuine saving faith in the blood of Jesus Christ will always be accompanied by good works. The good works accompany salvation and are the evidence of salvation.

In the next few verses James is going to give a couple of examples of people who proved their faith through their works. In these verses, notice that neither Abram nor Rahab chose the works that became the evidence of their faith. The works were chosen by God for them to do.

Application

Do you ever feel the Spirit of God prompting you to do a good deed? It may be as simple as helping an elderly person who has a physical need, or it may be an opportunity to witness to someone about salvation through Jesus Christ. Whatever it is, your obedience is evidence of your salvation.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

James 2:19 – One God Faith

Posted on by Will

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Truth to Learn

Faith is necessary for salvation, but what you have faith in is crucial, and the proof of that faith will be your good works.

Behind the Words

The word here translated as “believe” is the Greek word pisteuō. The word translated faith in the previous verse is pistis. They both come from the same root word peithō, which means “to persuade or convince.” Hence, this literally means “you are convinced that …”

The expression “there is one God” in the Greek literally reads “God is one.” This is a fundamental truth of Judaism, Christianity, and the Muslim religion. The fact that there is a single, all-powerful God is foundational to the faith that many people hold, but you must believe more that this to be truly saved from your sins.

“Well” is translated from the Greek adverb kalōs, which refers to “a specific quality of goodness.” There is a different Greek word meaning general goodness, the word agathos. James is saying that specifically believing in one God is a good thing for someone to do.

The Greek word translated “tremble” is phrissō. This word literally means “to bristle,” as when one feels the hairs stand-up on the back of their neck. Hence, it refers to a physical response to a fearful situation and is thus interpreted as “to shudder or shake in fear.”

Meaning Explained

James has been talking about works being the evidence of saving faith. He also wants to show that simply having faith in something (believing in something), even something as noble as the idea of a single, all powerful God, is not enough. There are many Jews and Muslims who believe in a single, all-powerful God. There are even many church goers around the world who believe that God exists. But they do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that, as a man, He died on the cross to pay for their sins.

James is saying that even demons have faith. They believe that there is one supreme God and they tremble in fear because they know that he is a vengeful God, in addition to being a loving God. But, even though these demons believe in the one all-powerful God, they are not saved. They are destined for Hell. Having faith in God is important, even necessary for salvation, but it is not sufficient for one to be saved. One has to also believe that he or she, as a sinner, has been saved by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

James’ thesis in this section of his letter is that faith is good but what you believe in is supremely important. He is also saying that genuine saving faith will always be evidenced by works of love (good works).

Application

Do you have faith? Do you believe there is one supreme God? If so, that is good. Do you believe that you are a sinner and that you deserve eternity in hell? Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sin? I pray that you do!

Now, do your actions demonstrate your faith? James says these good works are the proof of your salvation. Do your words, your attitudes and your actions demonstrate what you believe? Do they demonstrate that you are a Christian, saved by faith?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 2:18 – Evidence in Action

Posted on by Will

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Truth to Learn

Good works are the evidence of our salvation.

Behind the Words

The word translated “someone” is the Greek word tis, which is an indefinite personal pronoun, meaning “some person” or “a certain person” or “someone.” James is using this device to present a rhetorical challenge.

“Show me” is translated from deiknuō, meaning “to show” or “to display.” It is used here in the imperative mood. The subtlety of the imperative mood is that it expresses action that is not taking place but which the speaker wants to take place. This is why it is most often expressed in English as a command. Hence, James is saying, “Your faith is not showing, therefore show me your faith …”

The word translated “without” is the Greek word chōris, which means “separately, by itself, or apart from.” So, James is not talking about a faith that does not have works, he is talking about a faith separated from its works. That’s a subtle distinction but one that I believe James is making.

“By” is translated from ek, a Greek preposition meaning “out of.” So, James is actually saying, “…I will show you my faith out of my works.” In other words, the works are the evidence of the faith.

Meaning Explained

James has just said that faith without works is dead. In order to show that he means that faith cannot exist apart from works, he carries the discussion one step further. He assumes that the reader is arguing that salvation is by faith alone. That is, faith and works are separate and faith is the only thing. James states very clearly here that the works are the evidence of the faith. He is not claiming that we are saved by works, rather he says that once we are saved, our actions and deeds will be the evidence of that saving faith.

James now uses a hypothetical person to make the challenge:

You think that faith is the only important thing in the Christian walk and works have no place in salvation. Therefore, show me the evidence of your faith in something other than works, and I will show you the evidence of my faith, which is my works.

The Apostle John expressed a very similar thing in his first general epistle:

Whoever has worldly possessions and notices a brother in need and yet withholds his compassion from him, how does the love of God remain in him? (I John 3:17)

Once again, let me state very clearly what James is and isn’t teaching. He isn’t teaching that we are saved by works, for we cannot earn our salvation; we are saved by grace through faith and faith alone. What he is saying is, if we are genuinely saved, the evidence of that salvation will be the way we treat other people, especially those brothers and sisters in Christ who have needs that we can fill.

Application

Is there evidence of your faith in what you say and do? Or, here’s another way of asking the same question, “If you were arrested today for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 2:17 – Works of Evidence

Posted on by Will

So also faith, if it should not have works, is dead by itself.

Truth to Learn

A living, breathing faith in Christ is always accompanied by good works, for these works are the evidence that it is a living faith.

Behind the Words

“So also” is translated from houtōs kai, which means “in this manner also.” These words directly tie what has just been said with what is about to be said. The two are tied together, not as a comparison or a contrast, but directly, saying one is just like the other.

The word translated “faith” is pistis. This noun is derived from the verb peithō, meaning “to win over” or “to persuade.” Hence, pistis refers to a moral conviction. It is used throughout the New Testament in reference to our faith in Christ.

Once again, “if” is from the word ean, which introduces a third class conditional clause (indicating that the clause is not currently true but there is a possibility of it becoming true).

The word translated “have” is echō, which means “to have in one’s possession.” The word itself implies that the possessing is a continual state of affairs.

“By itself” is from the Greek kath heautēs, meaning “according to itself.” That is, it refers to faith being by itself, without any additional properties or characteristics.

Meaning Explained

This entire section of the book of James is a very strong treatise on the proof of genuine faith through action. In the current verse he gets right to the point. If you claim to have faith and yet your actions don’t demonstrate godliness or Christ-likeness, then you don’t really have faith.

“But,” you may argue, “James doesn’t say the faith doesn’t exist, simply that it’s dead. So, I don’t have to do good works as long as I have genuine faith.” To that let me ask, if you have a pet that dies, is it still your pet? No. It was your pet, but now it is dead. It has ceased to be a pet.

Whereas there are some Christians who believe that you have to do deeds as penance for bad things you have done in the past, that’s not what James is talking about. He is not talking about deeds of contrition. He is saying that doing good deeds is the proof of your salvation, not the penalty for your sins.

Let me repeat what I have said before: James is not claiming that you are saved by works or that works are necessary to make up for sins you have committed. He is teaching that your good works are a result of your faith, that they are, in fact, the evidence of your faith.

Application

Each one of us needs to take a good look at ourselves (on the inside) and ask, “Do I do good works?” If the answer is yes, then we need to see if these good works are the result of our appreciation to God for having given us salvation, or an attempt to win His favor. If the answer is no, then we need to seriously investigate whether or not we’re really saved!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 2:16 – Are You Rich?

Posted on by Will

and one of you should say to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," but you would not give to them the things which are needed for the body, what is the gain?

Truth to Learn

True faith in Christ is made evident by what we do, not what we say.

Behind the Words

A form of the word legō is translated here as “should say.” It is expressed in the subjunctive mood indicating an action that is possible or probable.

“Go” is from the Greek word hupagete, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under,” but used here to denote a covert or secret action, and agō, meaning “to go.” Hence, this word means “to go away secretly” or “to get out of sight.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood indicating that the person talking (you) is giving a command.

The word translated “be warmed” is thermainō, meaning “to be heated or warmed.” And, the word translated “filled” is chortadzō, meaning “to be completely filled with food” or “to be gorged with food.” Both of these words are expressed in the middle voice (action done to the subject) and the imperative mood (command).

“Would … give” is from the Greek verb didomi, meaning “to give of one’s own accord and with good will.” This word is also expressed in the subjunctive mood indicating an action that is possible or probably.

“Things which are needed” is translated from “epitēdeios,” which refers to “the things which are necessary.” This is the only place in the New Testament where this Greek word in used.

“Gain” is the word ophelos which we looked at in verse fourteen. It refers to that which is heaped up, that is, the excess or the gain.

Meaning Explained

This is a continuation of the previous verse which said:

If a brother or sister is naked and should be lacking daily food,

James is saying that sending someone away with a blessing, someone who has needs that you can fill, is not an act of faith. James is making a case in these and the following verses that if you don’t put your faith into action then its lifeless faith.

I was in Chicago one evening walking down Michigan Avenue. There I was approached by a homeless woman asking for some food money for her and her two children. In the past I had not given money to street beggars because you never know if they are in need because of laziness or because of unfortunate circumstances, and who knows what they are really going to do with the money. So, I politely declined this young woman’s request for help and, as I walked away I thought, “I’ll just pray for her that her needs will be met.” Boy, did God ever convict me of that! Though I don’t have a lot, I am rich compared to her, and yet I was unwilling to help her out just because I didn’t want to possibly be taken advantage of. James would have been ashamed of me!

Sometime later I was in Portland, Oregon, sitting in my car in a parking lot. There, a man approached my car, so I rolled down the window. He said that he was on his way to Vancouver, Washington (about 30 miles away), that he had run out of gas, and had no money to buy gas. I readily gave him enough money to get well past Vancouver. Did I know for a fact that he was out of gas? No, but I didn’t have to deal with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit for being selfish and judgmental. I think James would have been proud!

James’ point, in these few verses, is that it’s easy to talk about how spiritual we are, but a living faith is faith in action.

Application

Unless you live below the poverty line, you have more riches than 95% of the world’s population. The problem with having money is that we never think we have enough. Compared to many others, however, we have great riches. One way of demonstrating our faith is by sharing our abundance with someone who has a lot less. Let’s not just talk about our faith, let’s put it into action every chance we get.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 2:15 – The Invisible Poor

Posted on by Will

If a brother or sister is naked and should be lacking daily food,

Truth to Learn

We often don’t even notice those members of our church having the greatest needs.

Behind the Words

“If” is translated from the Greek word ean, which is used here (along with the subjunctive mood of the verb) to denote a third class conditional clause. As we saw in the previous verse, this indicates the possibility of something being true but not assumed to be one way or the other.

Previously we looked at the word adelphos, meaning “brother.” Here we now have the feminine form of this word, adelphe, meaning “sister.” James is talking about a man or a woman who is a fellow Christian.

The word translated “naked” is gumnos, which can refer to someone who is absolutely naked or someone who has very little or shabby clothing.

“Should be” is not translated from the normal verb of being, but from huparchō. This is a word made up of hupo (or hypo), meaning “under” and archō, which means “to begin.” It refers to a condition of being and could be translated as “exists.” Hence, James is referring to a brother or sister who exists in a condition of having insufficient food.

Leipō is the word translated “lacking.” This word means “to leave” or “to forsake.” Used, as it is here in the passive voice, it means someone who is left without something.

The word “daily” is translated from ephēmeros. This is made up of epi, meaning “upon or over” and hēmera, meaning a day. It refers to that which lasts for only a single day. It is the word from which we get our English word ephemeral, meaning something that is fleeting or that lasts for only a short time.

Meaning Explained

James is using a grammatical device called hyperbole (which, in Greek, means “to throw over” or “to overstate”). He is stating an extreme case as if it were the general rule. Teenagers are masters of the use of hyperbole, saying such things as “I’m starving” or “You never let me do that.”

This verse, like several we have looked at previously, cannot stand on its own. It needs the following verses to make sense. James is using an exaggerated example to make a point about the difference between a faith in words and a faith in action. This verse could be interpreted as:

If one of our fellow Christians should be regularly dressed is shabby or inadequate clothing and does not even have enough food to feed himself, or herself, on a daily basis …

This is an example of James’ very practical writing style. He doesn’t talk about theological concepts in an abstract manner but in a down-to-earth, put-it-on-and-wear-it manner. That’s what makes this book so practical. It’s Christianity in action!

Application

In keeping with what James has been teaching us about the way we discriminate against the poor and lonely of our churches while favoring the rich and famous, let me give you a challenge. Next Sunday, look around your church and specifically note those who are poor and needy. It’s quite likely that you will see people who you have never even noticed before. They are the ones who need your mercy. What are you going to do about it?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

James 2:14 – Profitable Works

Posted on by Will

What is the gain, my brothers, if someone should say he has faith and not have works? Is that faith able to save him?

Truth to Learn

There is no evidence of saving faith unless it is demonstrated by works.

Behind the Words

“Gain” is translated from the Greek word ophelos, which is the noun form of the verb ophellō, meaning “to heap up.” James’ question “what gain?” is a rhetorical question as if he is a little impatient with his readers.

The word translated “brothers” is from adelphos which is made up of a as a connective participle and delphus, meaning “the womb.” Hence it literally means those who have the same mother. It is used throughout the New Testament to refer to those who are brothers and sisters in Christ.

The verb “should say” is translated from legō which literally means “to lay forth.” It is used to express a discourse between two people. The word is used here as part of a conditional clause. This is what in Greek is referred to as a third class condition where the if statement (the protasis) is possibly true but not assumed to be either true or false.

James uses the word “works” for the first time in this verse. It is translated from the Greek word ergon, which refers to “toil or work.” This word, as used here, refers to any action which is done for religious purposes.

Meaning Explained

What may appear here to be an abrupt change of topic is really a logical transition. James started out this chapter talking about not showing favoritism based on someone’s appearance, then moved on to telling us that we should love others as ourselves and that our actions should be a demonstration of our position in Christ.

Several verses back James introduced the notion of keeping the law. The actions done to satisfy the law are works and he alluded to the Judgment Seat of Christ where the works of Christians will be judged. So it is a very natural transition for him to now elaborate on Christian works.

But one might then argue that it is not our works, but faith that is central to our salvation. This is what the Apostle Paul teaches us in the book of Ephesians:

For by the grace of God you are, having been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, that no one should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9)

James is not arguing against salvation by faith alone, as it might appear if this verse is taken out of context. He is saying, as we shall see in the coming verses, that our works are the evidence of our salvation, rather than the source of it.

Application

The idea that we are saved by works apart from faith is nowhere taught in the New Testament. We cannot earn our salvation, because we can never measure up to God’s righteousness without faith. But salvation by faith in Christ does not entitle a Christian to live however he or she pleases. Our manner of life (our works) is the evidence of the saving faith that has already occurred.