Do James and Paul disagree about faith and works? | September 27, 2026
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What is the central question about James and Paul’s views on faith and works?
Today is September the twenty seventh. Do James and Paul disagree about faith and works? Well, let's see what James actually says. James 2, from 14 to the end of the chapter. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it?
How does James define the relationship between faith and works in verses 2:14‑26?
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, one of you says of them, Go in peace. Be warm and eat your fill, but you don't supply the them their bodily needs. What's the good of that? faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. Some will say if you have faith. I have works. Show me your faith apart from works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one, you do well. Even the demon believes. And shudders. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is worthless? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and by works faith was brought to completion.
Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says Abraham believed God. and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. And he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works, not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road, just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith. Without works is also dead. Now in this section, because of the way James phrases some of his statements, many have accused James of disagreeing with Paul. Paul says salvation comes by faith. They say James says salvation comes through works. They misunderstood James. James says that those who claim to have faith
Will show that faith. By their works. It's a lot like Be doers of the word. Not just Hearers of the word. He says get up, get busy, do something. James says good theology is important. But even the demons believe that there's only one God. And in believing it, they shudder. He talks about Abraham. He makes the point that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. That's what Paul says. But James goes on to say that Abraham illustrated that faith in God when he offered Isaac his son. To God. Rahab the prostitute had faith that God was going to defeat Jericho. But it was her works. It was when she protected the spies who were spying out Jericho, hid them on her rooftop, and then let them out through her window so that they could get away.
from the leaders of Jericho. That is what saved her. Just as the body without the spirit is dead. Faith without works is dead. Now let's read the passage from Paul that many would look at. Let's read Romans three says. Twenty one to thirty one.
Romans three verses twenty one through thirty one, New Revised Standard Edition. But now irrespective of law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. They are now justified by the provided by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, who God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by His blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed. It was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous, and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law?
Why does James use Abraham and Rahab as examples of faith demonstrated by works?
By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold behold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, Gentiles also, since God is one, and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith, and the uncircumcised through the same faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means, on the contrary, we uphold the law.
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