How can you believe in salvation by faith alone when the only occurrence of 'faith alone' in the Bible (James 2:24) says that salvation is not by faith alone?
James 2:24
ESV - 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Yasin A Wahid
The Holy Spirit through James is speaking about faith and how faith and works go hand in hand. The works of love and compassion for one another proves our faith and without this, our faith is null and void. That's why he said in James 2:18b, " show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works" ( works of the fruits of the Spirit )
Larry Truelove
Several assumptions are made by advocates of faith and works based salvation.
"Faith without works is dead" is interpreted to mean "the person without both faith and works is unsaved." In reality, it most likely means what it says in a nearby verse, that faith without works is useless. That is, faith without works cannot aid or help someone in need. Faith like this becomes stale and lifeless instead of helpful and invigorating.
Back to the original question. It suggests that the omission of a particular phrase completely negated a doctrine. In other words, it is supposed by some that a specific phrase must be present in order for a doctrine to be true.
frank venn
This actually begins at James 2:14. And the next two verses are the key.
Paraphrase, Ex. Churches, people in your community are hungry and with out clothing; yes, they have cell phone. But, you clame to be christians and you dont help them in their need. So, what good is it for you to be a faithful christian when you can only take care of your own needs!
Larry Truelove
We have to be careful about quoting from a paraphrase: it interprets. The text says, "if a man says he has faith" and not "if a man claims to be a Christian."
frank venn
If a man says he has faith, that is the same as a man who claims to be a christain. The question was refering to james 2:24 Asking how can we believe in faith alone, when james 2:24 says "salvation is not by faith alone." That verse has to be read in context with the whole chapter. Christians where not providing the needs of their own brothers and sisters. James 2:17 "i will show you my faith by my works!"
He saying as a christian you should help others. That includes individules and groups, "churches!"
Larry Truelove
Frank, I cannot agree. It says what it says, not what you wish it said.
And it does not say, "Salvation is not by faith alone." Salvation and justification are not identical terms. Check any dictionary and you will see.
Paul Josephs
The best thing you can do id go with what is said, not what you THINK is said. He speaks of.justification, not salvation. You are saved by faith alone but proved righteous by your actions. Jesus was perfect in every aspect involved im salvation but PROVED righteous by his time on earth.
Keep it simple and it will.lay itself before you.
frank venn
We are only saved by faith. Larry, i never brought up justification.
I agree with Paul Joseph, "proved rightious by your actions."
Larry Truelove
Frank,
I agree with you when you said "proved righteous by your actions." Works demonstrate our faith, at least outwardly and ultimately works are the fruition of our faith. And it is certainly true, in my view, that a man without works has a deficient faith. But that is different from saying he is unsaved. And I don't think James is saying that he is unsaved.
But when you said, "Asking how can we believe in faith alone, when james 2:24 says "salvation is not by faith alone.," it is clear that there is no such statement in James 2:24. I am making more than a trivial semantic point. There is a distinction in the meanings of the words justify and save.
A man is "not justified by faith alone" does not mean the same thing as "not saved by faith alone."
Ray Harris
not to freak anyone out by bringing up anything to do with the "D" word - dispensation - but if one takes a look at the opening lines of James' epistle ...
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting." KJV
you see who he is talking to. it's not to us today but to those Jews reassembling under the Kingdom Gospel during the coming tribulation prior to Christ's return.
it is much less confusing when you focus on what we SHOULD be focusing on as instruction for how to walk as a Christian in THIS time, the letters of Paul.
all Scripture is good FOR you. all Scripture is not written TO you.
Larry Truelove
Frank, Surely you're not suggesting that it has had no direct meaning for the past 2,000 years? That doesn't make sense.
There were Jews dispersed throughout the known world at that time, i.e. the Roman Empire. That's who the scattered Jews were. I can't see how the primary target audience would be someone in our future.
frank venn
Romans 10:10
For with the heart a person believes, resulting in rightiousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
However, works do represent our fruit. Not everyone is able to push through without a leader or motivator. "Sin" thats why Jesus did what we couldn't, cant, do.
That doesnt mean their not justified by their faith alone.
A child doesnt have to clean his or her room to love their parent, but they still love their parent. Eventhough, they're disobedient. They still belong to the parent.
frank venn
Romans 10:10
For with the heart a person believes, resulting in rightiousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
However, works do represent our fruit. Not everyone is able to push through without a leader or motivator. "Sin" thats why Jesus did what we couldn't, cant, do.
That doesnt mean their not justified by their faith alone.
A child doesnt have to clean his or her room to love their parent, but they still love their parent. Eventhough, they're disobedient. They still belong to the parent.
Ray Harris
looking further at it Frank, the question itself is loaded and incorrect. Paul speaks all throughout his Epistles and specifically in Hebrews when speaking of the line of the Fathers from Abraham to Israel to Moses: they were justified by their faith in the ultimate truth of the Lord and followed something they could not see but knew was real.
THAT is the gift you receive and your salvation hinges on acceptance or refusal of it. your behavior with it after justifies that faith.
Larry Truelove
Well I agree that healthy faith results in good works. Faith deficient in good work is "useless." (James 2:20) In other words unproductive. I draw the line against those who say such a person is unsaved or can't be saved if they do not have works sufficient for their satisfaction.
Danny Hickman
Faith without works is dead isn't speaking on "salvation," it's speaking about service. It's not about how a person gets saved. James doesn't need to tell saved people how to get or stay saved. He's telling them (and us if we care to know) what they (we) should do, how we should behave in light of what God has done for us. WE SHOULD HELP OTHERS! That's what he's talking about. It ain't even about salvation.
Some of us think every scripture is referring to something about salvation. Earning salvation, holding on to salvation, losing it, detecting it, inspecting it, and on and on... The context of the scripture in question is easy to follow. It's about church service, and I don't mean the organization called "the church." It's about what believers (the church) should do in service to the Lord.
You can cast out demons, feed the hungry, clothe people, visit the infirm, etc, etc, and not be born again. Helping people doesn't prove anything. By all means, HELP the needy!! But do it because you know they need you, not to prove anything about yourself.
You must be born again! You don't have to serve. In fact, you're wasting your time doing it if it's not done with a sincere heart. It's like calling people "dear sir" on this site when you really don't feel that way about a person.
Here's a saying: Love without sincerity is dead... Polite won't get you into the kingdom.. you must be born again!!
Danny Hickman
Ray Harris, we don't know who wrote the letter to the Hebrews. It could have been Paul. I don't think it was, but it could have been written by him. The writer didn't identify himself. If Paul wrote it, it's the only letter he wrote to a body of believers where he didn't tell them it was from him. The writer also says some things that contradict some things that Paul said elsewhere about himself. I don't know who wrote the letter, but I don't think it was Paul.