James 02
Prejudice and the Law of Love
Jas 2:1 My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
Believers were commanded not to show bias toward those who were wealthy or poor. This type of social status prejudice was divinely forbidden in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 19:15).
The Greek word for "faith" is τὴν πίστιν (tain piston), an accusative feminine noun with a definite article, meaning the belief system that was given to the believer as a gift from God in order to persuade him into the body of Christ. These messianic Jewish believers were only saved because God had persuaded them to accept this gift.
These Jewish messianic believers were persuaded and convinced that Jesus was glorious, meaning that He was the Shekinah Glory (the visible presence of God). He was Lord, meaning deity. He was the Christ, meaning the Messiah. He was the virgin-born-God-man predicted in the Old Testament Who was to become the Lamb of God to take away the sins of both Jews and Gentiles.
2:2 For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,
The Jewish messianic believers were guilty of catering to the rich and wealthy who visited their synagogues.
2:3 do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?
Those who were finely dressed were most likely wearing shiny silk clothes from China and India. These clothes were a status symbol, indicating that the person wearing them was wealthy and expected special treatment. The Jewish messianic believers even gave them special seating in the synagogues. Those in poverty were to stand up, give them their seats, and sit on the floor. This was very similar to the anti-semitism of Nazi Germany, the colony of India's Ghandi, and the civil rights movement of Rosa Parks in 1960's America.
2:4 If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?
If the Jewish messianic believers continued this practice, then they have become evil judges who were making human viewpoint decisions. These types of decisions were dirty menstrual rags to God, because these types of decisions build up the satanic world system.
2:5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
The believers living in poverty will receive special spiritual blessings during the coming Millennial Kingdom, because they were not poor in faith, but rich in faith. They were rich in the gifts of God. Those believers in poverty are actually princes and heirs of the future Millennial Kingdom. They were actually co-heirs of the wealthiest kingdom which will ever existed. They may look poor on this world, but they are royal heirs and will co-reign with the Lord Jesus Christ when He returns.
2:6 But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?
James was not a seeker-friendly pastor. He bluntly pointed out their sin. Many of these Jewish believers had spiritualized their guilt away. They may have been doing what they thought was best for the church, or what was best for their children. When Israel was rebellious in the wilderness, they informed God that He was not doing what was best for their children. God loved their children, so He brought their children into the Promised Land and allowed all of their parents to die in the wilderness. God had to protect these children from their parents!
The Greek word for "oppressing" is καταδυναστεύω (katadunasteuow), a present active indicative verb, meaning to continually bring someone down with their power, wealth, or influence. These wealthy people were continually using their bright silk clothes and flashy money to keep the poor in poverty.
2:7 Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?
Blasphemy means to call what is good evil and what is evil good. For example, the Word of God judged homosexuality as a crime of capital offense, but the liberals call it same-sex marriage. Fornication and adultery is glorified on television, but it was another Mosaic capital offense. These three types of sexual sins destroy the family unit and bring down nations. It causes the electorate to vote for a more liberal type of political leader who will wink at their sins. In turn, these liberal political leaders will invoke liberal laws upon the public.
The wealthy Jewish were using their wealth and power to blaspheme the name of Jesus. Many wealthy Jews and Gentiles today use their wealth and power to blaspheme the name, or character, of the Lord Jesus Christ. The media has produced many movies, books, songs, and plays that blaspheme the name of Christ. The name of Christ is blasphemed when it is taught that He is to be less than the God-man, when salvation is proclaimed by works, or when humans elevate their human opinions above the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God.
2:8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
The royal law is not the 10 Commandments or the 613 commandments of the Mosaic Law. The royal law is the law which was pronounced by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The royal law was pronounced by Jesus in Mark 12:28-31. He took one of the original 613 commandments from Leviticus 19:18, and made it the royal law. Keeping the royal law does not give one salvation. However, it does demonstrate to the angels and to the satanic world system that one loves Christ. One who loves Christ will love his neighbor as he loves himself.
2:9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.
The "if" is a Greek first class condition, meaning "Since you show prejudice". The Jewish messianic believers were guilty of showing prejudice to the wealthy visitors of the synagogue. They were committing a sin and stepping outside of the fellowship of God.
2:10 For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
There are 613 Mosaic laws. They are all inclusive. If a man breaks only one of them and he keeps the other 612, then he is guilty of all of them. The rabbi taught that if one keeps the Sabbath, then he keeps the whole law. James, speaking by apostolic authority, disagrees with this rabbinic man-mad philosophy.
2:11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.
According to Jesus, one commits murder by being angry at his neighbor. One commits adultery by looking at a pretty woman in lust. If one has one bad thought, then he is guilty of breaking the whole Mosaic Law. If he is guilty one time of not doing what God desires him to do, then he is guilty of breaking the entire Mosaic Law.
In conclusion, dishonoring the poor is just as sinful as murder or adultery, which were capital crimes in the Old Testament.
2:12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.
The Jewish messianic believers were commanded to speak and act as ones who will one day be judged by the Law of Messiah at the Judgment Seat of Christ. They were not to be judged by the Mosaic Law, which became inoperative at the time of Christ. They were to be judged by the Law of Messiah, which were the imperative commands of the New Testament. The Mosaic Law pointed out to man that he was a sinner doomed to the Lake of Fire. No one could keep it, except for Christ. The Law of Christ is New Testament doctrine. A believer keeps these laws not for salvation, but because he loves Christ. He demonstrated to the world his love for Christ by keeping these laws. The Law of Christ gives believers freedom from the Mosaic Law, which demanded their death.
The one who keeps the Law of Christ will not be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment. Everyone there will be declared guilty and sentenced to eternal death in the Lake of Fire. The ones who keep the Law of Christ will be judged at the Bema Seat of Christ. At this judgment, the believer will either receive rewards, or be denied rewards, depending upon his work for Christ. Those who love Christ know and apply Bible doctrine.
2:13 For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.
The believer who shows no kindness will lose his rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The believer who shows kindness will receive rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Faith and Works Together
2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?
When James writes "my brothers and sisters," he is writing to Jewish messianic believers who were scattered in local synagogues and churches throughout the Roman Empire. He is not writing directly to modern Christians who are living today, but there is application for them. The important concept of this verse is that it is written to believers. Many modern Christians use this verse to show that one must perform good works in order to be saved. If this is so, then James is contradicting the Apostle Paul, who wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast." However, there is no conflict. Paul was writing about justification, the doctrine of salvation. James was writing about the life of the justified.
James asked a question, that in the Greek, demands a negative answer. The question is "if one continually claims to have faith but produces no divine viewpoint works, then does he really have faith?" The answer in Greek demands a "no" answer. If one does not show good works, then he may be a professing Christian, one who professes Christ, but he is really not saved.
Can this type of faith, professing faith, save him? Again, the Greek question demands a negative answer. Professing faith will not save anyone.
2:15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,
This would be a believer who is living in poverty. James was the pastor of the Jerusalem Messianic church, which was filled with believers living in poverty. However, he had some wealthy members in his church as well.
2:16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?
The wealthy Jewish messianic believers were responsible for helping out the needy in their local synagogue. They could not become a super-duper-saint and say, "Do not worry. God will meet your needs." God had placed wealthy messianic Jewish believers in these synagogues in order to help the ones in poverty meet their needs.
It is important to note that it is the job of the local church to feed, shelter, and clothe the poor in their church. They are not to feed, shelter, and clothe the poor in their city who are not members of their church. When churches feed the poor outside of the church, then they may be feeding the enemy. They may be feeding their opponents. They may be feeding the members of the satanic world system.
2:17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.
Those who do not produce divine good works are professing believers who have dead faith, a faith which will not save them.
2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.
The Greek word for "but" is ἀλλά (alla), a transition conjunction meaning a sharp contrast, such as "but there is a big difference." Faith is invisible and it cannot be seen. However, if a person has faith, he will demonstrate it by performing divine good works.
2:19 You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.
James is perhaps quoting the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear O Israel, the Lord God is one." This is fundamental to Jewish Orthodox faith. James and the Holy Spirit approve of this doctrine because it is a good and true doctrine. However; demons believe this doctrine as well, and it makes them tremble. The Greek word is φρίσσω (prissow), a present active indicative verb, meaning that the demons continually tremble and shiver when God approaches. Their hair stands up in fear of God. The Holy Spirit used this word only here in Scripture. The point is that one can believe this doctrine and it does not save him. It is not evidence of faith, because one can profess the Shema and even believe it. If a person truly believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, then there will be an outward evidence of his salvation.
2:20 But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?
The Greek word for "empty fellow" is ὦ ἄνθρωπε κενέ (ho anthrope kene), meaning a man who is empty, hollow, foolish, worthless, and good for nothing. James was not a seeker-friendly pastor. He was calling his readers "foolish men who are hollow, worthless, and good for nothing." The question that he asked these foolish men was "would you like me to give you evidence that faith without works is useless?"
2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
This Greek question demands a yes answer. Abraham was justified by faith, but the visible evidence of his salvation was his works. "Justified" means that God has declared a man "not guilty" of his sins and he is welcome to live as a citizen in God's eternal kingdom. It does not mean that the man is innocent. It just means that God has declared the man to be "not guilty."
God had promised Abraham a son through Isaac. If Abraham sacrificed Isaac on the altar, then for God to keep His promise, He would have to raise Isaac from the dead. "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." The minute Abraham believed, he was credited with righteousness. This verb is in the Hebrew Kal Perfect stem, meaning that the belief was a one-time completed action of the past. This justification took place immediately at the time of the belief in Genesis 15:6, and it was a completed action of the past. It was a done deal. Then later on in Genesis 22, Abraham offered Isaac on the altar to God, demonstrating that he had faith that God would raise Isaac from the dead. It is possible that all, many, or some of the angelic beings, both good and bad, observed this demonstration of faith.
The Greek word for "justified" is δικαιόω (dikaiow), an aorist passive indicative verb, meaning that Abraham received the justification as a one-time completed action of the past. According to the Greek grammar, Abraham did not justify himself by his works. Abraham received the justification the moment that he believed. The "act of offering Isaac" demonstrated visibly to others that he was already justified.
In conclusion, Abraham was already a believer in Genesis 12. God declared him justified in Genesis 15. Abraham demonstrated his justification outwardly in Genesis 22.
2:22 You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.
Faith and works work together. Once one believes, he will demonstrate his faith by producing divine good works. The production of divine good works does not save the believer. It demonstrates to the outside world that the believer has been saved. If there is not a man around to observe a man's divine good works, there is the witness of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There are possibly other angels and demons who also demonstrate the divine good works of the individual. Believers perform good works not to gain salvation, because they are already saved for eternity. Believers perform divine good works, because they love Christ.
2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
James quoted Genesis 15:6 to show that Abraham had already been justified in the aorist passive indicative tense way before he offered Isaac. The aorist tense proves that this justification was a one-time completed action of the past. The passive tense means that Abraham did not justify himself. God did the justifying. The justification occurred at the instant of belief.
Before Abraham believed, he was an enemy of God. He did not understand God, he did not seek God, and he even hated God. However, after the Holy Spirit changed his personality and made his dead spirit alive, then Abraham believed and became friends with God.
2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
One who is "saved by faith" will produce divine good works as visible evidence of his faith.
2:25 And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?
When Rahab believed, she was instantly saved and justified. Her faith was seen visibly when she protected the Israelites. This was an act of treason against her own family and her own people. Protecting the Israelites did not save her, it only demonstrated her faith.
2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
When the spirit separates from the body, the body dies. When faith does not produce divine good works, then the faith is that of a professing Christian. It is not saving faith.
Lordship salvation misuses this verse to support their false teaching that one must make Jesus the Lord of their life to be saved. The only condition of salvation is in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved." One must simply believe that Jesus is Lord and Christ, meaning deity and the messianic King predicted in the Old Testament. Once one believes, he is then justified in the aorist passive indicative tense, meaning that the saving process was a one-time completed action of the past completed by God Himself. There are carnal believers who believe, but produce little or no divine good works. However, they are still saved, because they believed. They will not lose their salvation, but they will lose many rewards in heaven. They may be disciplined on this earth. They may suffer the sin unto death.
Dr. John F. MacArthur, a major supporter of Lordship Salvationt, wrote, "These four verses contain ten commandments, all given in the form of Greek aorist imperative verbs." (John MacArthur, p. 201)
He adds, "Together they form one of the clearest calls to salvation in all of Scripture. James, then, demands of unbelievers, in response to the divine call, submission, resistance, fellowship, cleansing, purification, misery, sorrow, trials, seriousness, and humility." (John MacArthur, p. 204)
What MacArthur is saying here is that these four verses in James support his Lordship Salvation view. He wrote that if you combine all ten of the commands that are all in the aorist imperative tense, then they give the "clearest calls" to salvation." If one does these ten things, then he will receive salvation. This is works salvation. The believer does not have to do these ten things to gain salvation. All one has to do is "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved." Notice that "belief" is not even in MacArthur's list! What James is saying that if a person believes, then he is commanded to do those ten things, not for salvation, but because he loves Christ.
Here are some points to consider about some of the mistruths of Lordship Salvation:
1. Not all who claim to be saved are actually saved, as there are professing believers, whom Jesus calls "tares and wheats."
2. Walking down an aisle or reciting a sinner's prayer does not save. Only true belief in the heart is what saves. It is possible that one could have believed in the heart before they walked down the aisle or recited the sinner's prayer meaning that they could have already experienced salvation.
3. All believers begin their lives as spiritual babes.
4. Spiritual maturity occurs through studying the Word of God.
5. The spiritual growth may not occur immediately.
6. It takes time for spiritual growth to occur.
7. Not all believers will progress to spiritual maturity. They will become carnal believers. (1 Cor 3:1-3)
8. Some believers who were progressing could fall into reversionism. (Heb 5:11-13)
9. All of those who experience the new birth will produce some kind of divine good work in their life, even though it may be imperceptible to his fellow man.
10. If a believer is living in unconfessed sin, then God the Father will discipline His children. He will not take away their salvation, but He will spank them, or even bring them home. (1 Cor 5:1-5)
11. If a believer is living in sin but is not receiving discipline from God, then he may be a professing believer. (Heb 12:1-8)