"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

Living and fruitful. Not all living trees are fruitful!

(the introductory part of the bible study notes for bible study in KL)

The Epistle of James                                                   14 Sep 2012
Study 6: ‘Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (2:14-26)

The specific problem James is dealing with: believers in Christ have fallen into a common and real problem… their faith has no works.
- The reality of this problem is stated in many places: Mt 13:1-12, Lk 13:6-10, 2Pet 1:5ff.
- "... add to your faith... they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." If you don't add to your faith these things, then you shall be barren and unfruitful. That's plain enough.
- James is not wasting time with the hypothetical, or dealing with those that are spiritually dead, asking them to bear fruit!
- Many believe that such  a situation is not possible, and insist, “without fruit, such are not even God’s children, they are spiritually dead! Period.” However, the Scriptures declares such notion as fiction and fairy tale.
- That’s why we have this passage in James dealing with this real problem among the 'beloved brethren.'

1. Avoid these common and popular errors:

a. Dead faith is NOT false faith or no faith, but faith without works; a dead man isn’t a false man (e.g a piece of log!) or no man, but a real man without life. A fruitless tree is not a dead tree or a false tree, but a real tree without fruit! Get this basic clear in your mind.
- James is dealing with God’s children, therefore those who can and ought to bear fruit but are not. He deals with those whom he addresses as “brethren… beloved brethren.”
- He is not dealing with those still dead in trespasses and sins, exhorting them to prove the genuineness of their faith with works. That would be like asking the dead to perform some acts to show that they have life, and are not dead! Only a foolish man expects fruit from a dead lifeless tree!
- “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance” (Lu 3:8 ) can only be addressed to the children of God. Whoever would ask the dead to bring for fruit worthy of repentance?

b. James is NOT dealing with justification of a condemned man before God by their faith!!! That’s a heresy in itself! James is dealing with BELOVED BRETHREN!!!
- Justification before God is not by faith, man's act of believing. It is the just (justified by God) who shall live by faith – i.e. faith is an effect and fruit of justification, and therefore CANNOT POSSIBLY be the instrumental means of justifying the condemned before God.  Faith evidences the justified state of a man by God’s free and sovereign grace; YES, faith is the instrument to EVIDENCE the justification that has occurred by God's free and sovereign grace.
- Justification of a man under condemnation of sin and death before God is by God’s free grace alone (the manner) based on the righteousness / blood / faith of Christ alone (the basis)

- Imputation of a man's faith to him is NOT NOT NOT the same as the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to him!!! v23. Very many are completely oblivious of their confusion and delusion on this!!!
- James is dealing with the fruitlessness in God’s children – their faith is not accompanied by works, and are therefore unprofitable, like a living but fruitless fig tree. No one expects fruit from dead trees! Only the mad do!
- “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Tit 2:14. But that’s not seen in some believers - and that's not a hypothetical problem. And James deal with that specific problem in this passage.

c. The popular notion of justification by faith alone is completely repudiated by “ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only (alone).” Both works and faith justify a man in the same way. How do they justify a man?
- Both certify/demonstrate/evidence/vindicate that he is a justified man by the free and sovereign grace of God based on the righteousness/ blood/ faith of Christ alone. - It is like saying, both breath and activities evidence the presence of life already bestowed.
Avoid these plain errors or your understanding will be MESSED Up, and be held bondage to lies.

blah... blah... blah...

p/s
Faith without work is like a tree without fruit.
Faith without work is not like a tree that does not exist!
Faith without work is not like a dead tree.
Faith without work is like a living tree without fruit.
Faith without work is faith alone... without accompanying fruit.

Faith alone is faith ALONE
Faith alone is not no faith
Faith alone is not false faith
Faith alone is faith without works.
And James says believers DO HAVE SUCH PROBLEM.

'Faith alone is NOOOOOO good,' says James.
Abraham's faith is accompanied by works.
Even Rahab's faith is accompanied by works.

'Follow them, beloved brethren,' says James!