Faith Without Works is Dead
James 2:14-26 has become one of the most debated passages in Scripture. Many interpret it as a litmus test for salvation—arguing that either works are necessary to be saved, or that true saving faith will always produce a lifetime of consistent good works.
This leaves so many people wondering whether they are really saved or not. “Are there enough works to justify that my faith is real?”
But is that really what James intended? I don’t think so.
The Question That Started It All
James begins with a pointed question: "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" (v. 14)
When James asks "What good is it," he's asking, "What profit or benefit is there?" The answer is clear: none. Faith without action doesn't profit the believer or anyone around them.
But here's where we often go off track. When we see the word "save" (Greek: sozo), we automatically assume James is talking about salvation from hell. I don't believe that's his focus here.
What Does "Save" Really Mean?
Look back at James 1:18-21. James writes to believers who have already been given "birth through the word of truth"—they're already Christians. Then he says to "humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."
Is he talking about salvation from hell? No—he's already confirmed they're born again. He's talking about experiencing salvation in their daily lives. When we align our actions with who we are in Christ, we begin to experience our salvation from our spirit outwardly through our souls (mind, emotions, and will) and bodies.
Here's another dimension: As we trust Jesus and take action, we're saved from the negative consequences of sin. Sin never fulfills or satisfies—it always leaves us feeling worse.
Tony Evans puts it perfectly:
"James is not talking about a sinner who needs to get to heaven but rather a saint who needs heaven to work through him!"
This is the crucial first insight: James isn't explaining how to get to heaven but how to have heaven work through you.
Dead Faith: Useless, Not Nonexistent
James illustrates his point with a practical example:
"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" (v. 15-16)
Everyone knows that wishing someone well without meeting their actual needs is worthless. James applies the same logic to faith:
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (v. 17).
Here's a critical distinction many miss: When James says faith without works is "dead," he doesn't mean it's not faith at all. He’s saying it’s unprofitable in that moment.
Philosophers teach that "A cannot be non-A." You can't say an apple is not an apple. You can't say faith is not faith.
James is saying unprofitable faith is still faith (a person is still saved because salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone)—it's just that a person’s faith is dead (flat, not being exercised) in that moment.
Consider these examples:
If I believe it's better to give than to receive, but I see someone in need and don't give, does that mean I don't believe it? No. It means my belief was unprofitable in that moment.
If I believe I should love my wife sacrificially like Christ loved the church, but I choose to be selfish, does that mean I don't believe that truth? No. It means my belief is not being exercised in that moment.
When we walk by faith in dependence on Christ, it leads to action. That action is profitable—we experience our salvation, and it benefits those around us.
The Objector's Challenge
In verse 18, James introduces an objection. Understanding this section requires knowing that the original Greek text has no quotation marks—translators must determine where they belong, and scholars disagree.
The most contextually sound reading suggests the objector's words extend through verse 19:
"You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder."
This makes sense because verse 20 begins with "You foolish person"—the natural point where James fires back at the objector.
The objector argues that faith and deeds aren't linked. He points to demons as proof: they believe the core truth that God is one, yet they don't perform good deeds. His point? Right beliefs don't always produce corresponding actions.
Abraham and Rahab: Faith Made Complete
James responds by citing Abraham and Rahab from the Old Testament.
"Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did" (v. 21-22).
Notice James doesn't say Abraham always had perfect faith. Genesis records Abraham's impatience—sleeping with his servant to "help God" provide the promised son. We see multiple mistakes throughout his journey.
Does this mean Abraham didn't have saving faith? If this passage proves you need good works to be saved, then Abraham failed. But Scripture tells us "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (v. 23).
There were times when Abraham's faith and actions didn't align—his faith was dead, flat, or unprofitable in those moments. But when he trusted God enough to sacrifice Isaac, his faith and actions worked together. It was profitable—saving him from the consequences of disobedience and justifying him before others.
Abraham was already God's friend before the Isaac incident, but now others could see he was God's friend based on how God provided when Abraham walked by faith. He was justified before men—they witnessed the outworking of his faith and salvation.
This is how it's meant to work after we trust Jesus for salvation: we exercise faith by taking the steps He guides us toward, and His power and life flow through us. It's no longer dormant and useless—it's being carried out to completion, and we experience salvation working through our lives.
The Motion-Sensor Illustration
Think about motion-sensor lights in your home. The lights exist, the power is connected, but until you take a step, you won't see the lights activate.
You could stand at the door with faith that the lights are there and faith that power is connected, but you won't see those lights turn on by faith alone—it's useless, not profiting you. You must take action, then the power kicks in and activates the lights.
We can have faith in Jesus for salvation and have received His life and power dwelling in us, but it could be sitting dormant. When we have faith that Jesus is leading us to take specific action and we step out, His power kicks in and flows through us. Our faith becomes visible to others—useful, profitable, and impactful.
"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead" (v. 26).
Heaven Working Through You
This passage isn't about second-guessing whether you're saved based on your track record of good works. It's not about sinners needing to get to heaven—it's about saints needing heaven to work through them.
If you've put your faith in Jesus but aren't following through in action, you're missing out on God's power working in and through you. You may have eternal life secured for heaven one day, but you're missing that eternal life working through you right now. It's not benefiting your life or the lives of others.
Your Next Step
How is Jesus wanting to work through you today? What is He leading you to get involved with that you've been ignoring?
Whatever it is, if you have faith that Jesus is leading you there but you're not following through in the power of the Spirit, it isn't profiting you—and it certainly isn't profiting those Jesus wants to serve through you.
Let's walk by faith and allow Jesus to lead us into His actions. Let's get involved in what He's doing in our communities and around the world. Let's experience heaven being manifested through us, transforming lives around us.
Let's see faith in action.
