Should I Care About Being Justified In The Eyes Of Men?

James 2:17-26, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 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. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

A man emailed me yesterday and asked me to explain James 2. Here is what I told him... 

James chapter 2 is one of the most debated passages of Scripture, but it need not be. Notice that Abraham was justified by "works" in verse 21 when he offered up Isaac, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" What saith the Scripture? Genesis 15:6, "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." The Apostle Paul cites and refers to this passage in Romans 4:1-7. So, Abraham was saved in Genesis chapter 15, by faith alone in Christ. But if you read Genesis, Abraham didn't offer up his son Isaac until chapter 22 (seven chapters later).

The answer is simple, Abraham was justified in the sight of God by faith in chapter 15. His faith was validated outwardly in the eyes of the world in chapter 22, when he offered up Isaac in obedience to the Lord. In Romans, Paul addresses the root of the believer's salvation, which is justification by FAITH alone.

But in the Epistle of James, the apostle addresses the justification of the believer's faith in the eyes of men, which is by works. 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." Since God can see our heart, we are justified by faith in His sight. Since men cannot see our heart, they need to see our works to justify our faith. Of course, many unsaved false prophets do good works, so this can be misleading.

Also, notice in James 2:18 that he says "shew me" and I will "shew thee" my faith by works. James didn't say I will shew God, he said, I will shew you my faith by works. 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." James said faith without works is dead, but even a dead faith is still faith. There are many believers today whose faith is dead. They have fallen by the wayside (Luke 8:13). Other are choked by the cares, riches and pleasures of the world (Luke 8:14). Their faith is dead while they live. The lost hellbound world have no faith in Christ at all.

I hope that helps my friend.

He replied by asking, “isn't justification before men useless? Like I don't care what people think about me, I would rather be (and I am by simply believing the Gospel) justified before God than being justified before men.” Here is my second reply...

Kindly, you may not care what men think about you, but God absolutely does. 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.” If we don't live holy lives, God does not get glorified.

And also, our poisonous testimony may cause lost sinners to spend eternity burning in Hell. Hebrews 12:15, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;" Millions of unsaved people won't step foot into a church today because of hateful, bigoted, hypocrites, like the religious phonies at Pensacola Christian College and Bob Jones University. The world is always watching us as Christians. God cares what they think.

So, you see dear reader, just as the Apostle James said in James 2:24, a man is justified by both faith and works—BY FAITH in the sight of God, and BY WORKS in the sight of men.

Here are some helpful YouTube videos by Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold explaining James 2... 

How to explain James 2 “Faith without works”
(Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold)

Faith Without Works is Dead - James 2 Updated
(Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold)