Gospel Prism

Justified by Works?

It is very easy to see how someone can read James 2:24 and be utterly confused when it comes to understanding justification.  James 2:24 reads: “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.�  This seems to be in direct contradiction to Paul who writes in Romans 3:28: “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.�  So what is going on here?

In comparing those two verses, there is a major distinction.  James refers to faith alone while Paul simply refers to ‘faith.’  Also, Paul distinguishes works as ‘works of the law’ whereas James merely says ‘works.’  A few notes then on these two distinct differences:

1. James’ ‘faith alone’ seems to refer to a specific type of faith as mentioned in the previous verses.  This faith alone was a faith that produced no works at all (v. 14).  It is a hypocritical and uncompassionate faith that favors the wealthy over the poor based on their financial stature (v. 15).  In fact, in verse 16 James goes onto say that this faith is dead (v. 17).  He also calls this type of faith a useless faith (v. 20).  In many ways we can see that this faith, what he calls ‘faith alone’ is actually no faith at all. Faith is never bereft of works.  It cannot be or it is no faith all, which is the same message that Paul gives about faith.  For Paul there is an “obedience of faith� (Romans 1:5).  Faith works or expresses itself through (Galatians 5:6, 17).  Paul and James are essentially saying the same thing but happen to look at faith and work from different angles.
2. ‘Justify’ is a confusing term in light of Paul and James’ understanding of the word.  For Paul, justification is the sinner’s declaration of righteousness through the work of Christ at the moment of salvation.  However, James sees justification through the lens of the last day, when a sinner, in living a life of faith that produces works, is justified by Christ’s atonement.  So it is not that James believes sinners are justified on the basis of their works.  Calvin notes: “…as Paul contends that we are justified apart from the help of works, so James does not allow those who lack good works to be reckoned righteous.�

Neither Paul nor James allows for a person to simply live as though they can live the life of faith without any distinguishing characteristics of that faith.  Yet, neither Paul nor James ever argue that those works of faith actually provided the basis of one’s justification.  To me, that’s good news both ways and makes me want to worship God, not for my work, but for His work in me.