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.