James 2:17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Also see
James 2:20,
26
The reason why James said that Faith without works is dead, and then used as an Illustration of a Brother being in need :
James 2:14-17
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Notice, He says if a brother or sister be naked and destitute. He is speaking about a spiritual relationship as brothers and sisters in the Lord. How could we know of one who is in the like family of faith in such dire need, and act complacent about it ?
John makes a similar point
1 Jn 3:14-18
14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love
the brethren. He that loveth not his
brother abideth in death.
15Whosoever hateth his
brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for
the brethren.
17But whoso hath this world's good,
and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Its amazing how many of the opponents of James who say He is promoting a works orientated salvation, can read this of John, who basically is saying, if we see a brother in need and don't be moved to aid them, how that is giving evidence of one being void of the Love of God in them, and lacking of evidence of having been passed from death unto life. Basically He is saying, that they are not born again themselves.
So James as well as John knew that certain evidences accompany Salvation or conversion, of which is Love to the Brethren or Sisters, not in word only, but also in deed and in truth. That word deed in
I Jn 3:18 is the greek word ergon and means:
work ! It is translated work 152 times !
Loving our Spiritual Brethren is an evidence of having been born Again
1 Jn 5:1
1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat
loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1 Jn 3:14
14We know that we have passed from death unto life,
because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Ye see that ? Loving the brethren, not in word only, but in deed or work, John says is an evidence of having passed from death unto life. Just as believing is says Jesus here
Jn 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation;
but is passed from death unto life.
And so that is all James is saying, Faith without works is lacking evidence of being that Faith which is Born of God. Which makes it a dead faith, or the Faith of a person who is alienated from the Life of God.
One more crucial point here. This Faith that is born of God will also be Characterized by belief in the Truth, the True Gospel, the True Christ with an accurate knowledge of who He is and what His work accomplished on the Cross and for whom it was for.
2 Jn 1:1
The elder unto
the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but
also all they that have known the truth;
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