James 2:19, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
Most religious people quote the last half of this verse, without considering the first half. James 2:19 does not mention believing on Christ for salvation, and James 2 is not about salvation, but living the Christian life. How does believing in one God profit the brother or sister who is in need of help? James 2:16-17, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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?” Where is the evidence of one's Christian faith?
When I attended Campus Church at Pensacola Christian College in 2021, I was sleeping in Walmart's parking lot. The hotel where I had made reservations a month prior, cancelled my entire stay without warning because they were greedy, and wanted to make more money over the 4th of July weekend. I had locked in a $55 per night rate, by booking the reservation in advance for a 30-day stay at the Woodspring Suites Hotel in Pensacola. Local hotels over the 4th of July weekend were charging $450 per night! I know because that is what the Super 8 Hotel in Pensacola wanted to charge me. I would NEVER pay that much for a hotel room!!! So I slept in Walmart's parking lot. Those ungodly hotel owners will answer to God for leaving me homeless, for their utter greed, which was cruel and evil.
To add insult to injury, when I told Pastor Jeff Redlin at Pensacola Christian College (PCC) about my situation (at the 4th of July picnic at Campus Church), he cold-heartedly walked away from me. I saw the startled look on his face when I told him that I was sleeping in Walmart's parking lot, but he couldn't have cared less. Jeff Redlin is a horrible pastor! Sadly, individual people don't matter at PCC, the cult system always comes first. PCC has a horrific pattern of expelling students, showing no mercy, not giving second chances, abusing people and ignoring individuals who need their help. SHAME on Pensacola Christian College!
That is what the Bibles means when it says “faith without works is dead.” Faith without works is of no benefit to the brother or sister who is naked or destitute of daily food. Faith is of no benefit to the hurting brother who is homeless sleeping in Walmart's parking lot. Jeff Redlin's faith is DEAD. PCC's faith is DEAD. They are saved, but the faith that they have is idle faith.
James 2:20-24, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
In Genesis 15:6 Abram (later to be renamed Abraham) believed the Lord and it was counted (imputed) unto him for righteousness. Abraham was saved by faith alone without works, which is the only way that anyone has ever been saved:
Romans 4:1-7, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”
The preceding Scripture passage could not be more clear that Abraham was NOT justified by works in any way, shape or form. Abraham believed the Lord, and his FAITH was counted for righteousness in the sight of God.
Isaac hadn't even been conceived yet when Abram got saved in Genesis 15:6. But seven chapters later in Genesis chapter 22, we read the story of Abraham who went up a mountain to sacrifice his young son, Isaac. The angel of the Lord stopped Abraham before he could finish. God was testing Abraham's obedience as a believer. It was by this work that Abraham's faith was validated in the sight of men, not God.
Carefully notice what the Apostle James says in James 2:18, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” Do you see? James said: “I will SHEW YOU” my Christian faith by my good works; and you can SHEW ME your Christian faith by your own good works. James is not talking about being justified in the sight of God, which is what Paul speaks about in the Epistle of Romans. James is talking about being justified in the eyes of men. Look what the Bible says:
1st Samuel 16:7, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
There you have it dear friend. Man looks on the OUTWARD appearance, which is why the only way humans can be justified in the sight of other humans, is by our outward behavior and works. That is why we read in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” This is why James said that faith without works is dead, in the sight of mankind.
But God CAN see into the depths of our heart of hearts; therefore, we can be justified by faith without works in the sight of God. Amen and amen.
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