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James 2:14 initiates a discussion about faith without works and features a striking statement by James that even demons acknowledge and tremble “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”, (James 2:19). The faith of demons is futile, despite their trembling at the truth they recognize. Individuals who claim to “believe” in God without demonstrating faith exhibit a belief akin to that of demons.
James illustrates the importance of works in demonstrating mercy “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”, (James 2:13) by posing a hypothetical question about the value of faith without works and questioning whether such faith can save a person “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”, (James 2:14). If faith is not accompanied by works, it cannot rescue a person in need, such as a brother or sister lacking clothing and daily food “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,”, (James 2:15). If a person of faith does not address the need, those in need remain lacking “and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?”, (James 2:16). Such faith is lifeless on its own—it is ineffective in meeting someone’s needs “Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.”, (James 2:17).
In faith, if it has no works, it is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17).
James presents another scenario in James 2:18: someone might argue that individuals demonstrate their faith in various ways (some through works and some without). James refutes that scenario, reminding his audience that faith without works is unproductive “But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20). Before asserting the futility of faith without works, James speaks to the hypothetical individual in his example (evident by his use of the singular pronoun, while addressing his audience in the plural). James challenges those who believe in one God: even the demons believe that much—and they tremble “You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19). The demons do not alter their behavior—they do not meet needs or show mercy to others—despite their understanding of who God is.
By highlighting that even demons hold certain beliefs about God, James suggests that someone who has faith but fails to demonstrate it through works is essentially as useless as those demons in a practical sense. One’s faith does not alleviate the needs of others, but the works do “and one of you say to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ yet you do not give them what is necessary for the body, what good is it?” (James 2:16). One’s faith does not extend mercy to others, but the works do “For he shall have judgment without mercy, who has shown no mercy; and mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13).James further reminds his readers, whom he has already identified as brothers who have faith in Jesus Christ, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons” (James 2:1). He also points out that Abraham was justified by his works when he offered Isaac as a sacrifice, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” (James 2:21), and that when Abraham took that action, the Scripture was fulfilled, which said Abraham had been justified by belief in God, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (James 2:23, quoting Genesis 15:6).
James is keenly aware that Abraham had been justified by faith in Genesis 15:6 more than a decade before he offered Isaac (in Genesis 22). Abraham had been declared righteous by God long before that act of sacrifice, and Paul affirms that Abraham was justified by his faith (Romans 3:28—5:1) and not by works. So, James is clearly talking about a different kind of justification. When he refers to the fact that the demons believe and tremble, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19), James is not talking about justification before God (or God’s declaring the person righteous). Instead, James is talking about an evident or useful righteousness that people can see, a righteousness that shows mercy, “For he shall have judgment without mercy”Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:18).
James adds that it would be foolish to think one could demonstrate faith without works “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20). If James is referring to justification by God rather than justification before people, then he and Paul are directly in conflict with each other compare James 2:24 and Romans 3:28. Paul’s context is considering how one becomes righteous before God “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28), and James discusses how one puts that to practical use. We show our faith to other people by showing mercy “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment.” (James 2:13) and meeting needs “and 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?” (James 2:16).
Profit? », (James 2:16).
The demons believe and tremble «Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. », (James 2:19), yet they don’t show people mercy or meet needs— their knowledge of God doesn’t result in changed behavior. James expects more from those who are brothers and have believed in Jesus Christ «My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. », (James 2:1).
