James 1:21-2:26 This passage of scripture has been misunderstood. The point is really quite simple. The hearer/doer dichotomy really works if you understand that knowledge/assent dichotomy. The point is simple, James is not saying that a man is not justified by Faith alone or Assent alone; however, what he is saying is quite simple if one understands the different usage of the word faith. In the Bible the word faith can mean the doctrines that are believed in or can also mean the act of believing.
But, someone might say in James 2:18 it says show me your faith without works and why will show you my faith by my works. What does this mean? For the Christian it is important to know that a man is justified by Faith alone. Faith is the minds act of assenting to the propositions understood and in this instance the gospel doctrines understood. Paul often speaks of the justification before God while James speaks of the justification before others. The question is how might someone know that I am a Christian? How might I show someone that I am a Christian? First, let me ask this how did you know what the Gospel was? Again going back to James 1 we are born again by the word of God. Simply speak one must be shown the truth before he can believe it, likewise, one must show someone what he believes before anyone might know he or she is a believer or what a Christian is.
Going further into this passage James continues and presents to us two examples of those who were Justified by faith and works. This passage is not about the justification before God (that is by faith alone) but this passage is about the justification before others. So Abraham and Rahab were shown to be vindicated by what they believed through their works. The question is what works are these? I am going to say that the works that James speaks of is the work of Faith not some sort of 'good deed' in which someone walks an old lady down the isle. How do you know this? What tips you off that this is so? Read Matthew 7:21-29. Notice anything similar? Remember the hearing and doing dichotomy from James? Well Jesus also has same dichotomy the only difference is that Jesus says anyone who hears His words and does them is a wise man. Just a few verses prior to this Jesus says to people who Had works that they were workers of iniquity and Jesus says those who do the will of God will be the one's who will enter heaven.
Now this leads to sever other words. What is the will of God and how might we do the Scriptures? In John 6:40 we see that Jesus says, "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." So we see here that the will of God is that we believe in Christ the one whom God has sent. This is very important to know this. But how do you know if you are not studying and reading God's word? Now to continue on to the next question how might we do the Scriptures? We do the Scriptures when we hear God's word and we believe what God has said concerning His son Jesus Christ. Christ is the redeemer who has alone atoned for the sins of His elect alone. It is these people whom Christ came to redeem and save by His righteousness alone. The elect hear his voice and they follow. John 6:28-29 tells us that this is the work of God that we believe in Him. There we have it folks. This is the connecting board showing us that what James is distinguishing by faith and works is really a set of doctrines which we have vs. the act of believing.
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