Now
James addresses faith and deeds. It cannot be stressed to strongly that there
is absolutely no conflict between what James's says and Paul's teaching on
salvation by faith. It is clear from Paul's letters that any concept of a faith
that made no difference is completely alien to him. James is saying the same.
Faith
makes a difference. So if there is no difference in someone's life, then there
is no evidence of any useful faith either. Atheists are keen on caricaturing
faith as something that is independent of evidence. This is garbage, and the
Bible is the most realistic book there is.
Faith
shows itself in deeds. Words that have nothing to back them up are worthless.
Faith without works is dead. Biblical belief shows itself in actions, it is not
a mere intellectual assent, nor saying a formula, nor an emotional response.
All these things may be involved, but if the faith is genuine it will produce
fruit.
The
demons know that there is one God, but it does them no good. Abraham is the
father of faith, the archetypal example of how faith works. His faith showed itself
in his willingness to sacrifice Isaac.
Then
James quotes the example of Rahab. Her actions overcame her unrighteous life
style (that of a prostitute). Faith and deeds go together.
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