Not By Faith Alone

James 2:24-3:1 - You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

James 2:21 - Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

Hebrews 11:31 - By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Luke 20:47 - They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

Conclusions:

• Apart from its context, James 2:21 might seem to contradict the Biblical teaching that people are saved by faith and not by good deeds
• But James means only that righteous action is evidence of genuine faith—not that it saves, for the verse that he cites to substantiate his point says, “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness”
• Furthermore, Abraham’s act of faith recorded in Genesis 15:6 occurred before he offered up Isaac, which was only a proof of the genuineness of his faith
• As Paul wrote, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
• Faith that saves produces deeds
• The prostitute Rahab is a designation describing her way of life prior to her newly found faith; also a testimony to God’s boundless grace that can reach down and redeem and raise any sinner to eternal dignity
• Because a teacher has great influence, he will be held more accountable
• The teachers of the law took advantage of widows by fraud and schemes for selfish gain
• The higher the esteem of men, the more severe the demands of true justice; and the more hypocrisy, the greater the condemnation

Application:

• Does your faith produce deeds?
• Have you been redeemed and raised to eternal dignity?
• As a teacher, you will be held more accountable.
• Do you take advantage of people for selfish gain?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible