The apostle Paul addresses the Galatian assembly in regard to a serious doctrinal error which he refers to as "another gospel" that he did not preach. He states that some among them "would pervert the gospel of Christ" (Gal. 1:6,7). He describes the Galatian error in two forms. The first is the teaching that obedience to the law is mingled with faith as the ground of the believer’s justification; the second, that the justified believer is made perfect by keeping the law. In regard to this error Paul states, "If any man preach any other gospel unto you than ye have received [as he describes in this epistle], let him be accursed" (1:9). And he strongly repeats the statement as if to warn believers of this dangerous doctrine which, no doubt, is misleading to souls seeking true salvation.
What then is the true gospel of Jesus Christ that the apostle Paul preached? We read in this very Epistle to the Galatians:"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified…. I am crucified with Christ:nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain" (2:16,20,21).
Again, in chapter 3 of Galatians we read:"But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:for, The just shall live by faith. … If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. . . . For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (verses 11,21,22,26).
If the reader can clearly understand these portions of Scripture, then he may ask why there appears to be a conflict in the Epistle of James, chapter 2:"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? . . . Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works" (verses 14-18). The key to these verses is the word "say"’:"Though a man say …" The subject of James 2 is how one distinguishes a true believer from the mere professor. This chapter does not give the criteria for obtaining salvation as so many people have grossly misinterpreted it to mean.
The Holy Spirit in the Epistle of James shows how we can recognize the true believer in Christ on the basis of his works or the fruit of the Spirit in him (Gal. 5:22,23). It is a method for man to use in assessing genuine salvation rather than a method of salvation itself. In this very chapter, James 2, we find statements as to the true way of salvation:"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor [or humble] of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?" (verse 5; see also Matt. 5:3 and 19:16-26). Also, "Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness" (verse 23).
James 2:22 states that the works of a true believer, like Abraham, reveal the true faith of the believer. We read in Gen. 15:6 that Abraham believed in the Lord and it was imputed as righteousness unto him; and this occurred some 40 years before he offered up Isaac his son. So we ask, what particular work or how many works would be imputed as our righteousness? The Scriptures know no such language! On the contrary, it is written, "They that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Rom. 8:8). And it is written, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6).
The Lord Jesus illustrates the relationship of faith to works so clearly in Matt. 5:16 when He says:"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." It is important to notice here that the "Light" is the Lord Jesus dwelling in the believer by faith as it is written in John 1:4, "In Him [Christ] was life; and the life was the light of men." We know that only those who have trusted in Him have that Light. So James 2 is saying that either your light or faith is hid (see Matt. 5:14-16), not being accompanied by works, or that there is no light, faith, or spiritual life at all, which is indicative of the unbeliever.
It is imperative that we do not confuse our new birth with Christian service or walk. Our new birth is based solely upon the finished work of Christ and His shed blood (see John 19:30). James 2:14-26 is indicating that our faith in Christ and consequent justification are always evidenced by our spiritual walk and outward service for Christ. The Galatian error, as it is with so many today, was in failing to make this vital distinction between our new birth by faith in Christ and our Christian walk once we are saved.
Let us consider the following analogy in connection with new birth:Suppose we place a lifelike doll beside a living baby. Readily we see the true life signs such as breathing, crying, laughing, kicking, seeing, hearing, etc. God’s Spirit has produced life in this fashion just as He has provided for our new birth in Christ Jesus (John 1:12,13; 3:5). True, the devil has many good imitations, but there is only one source of life, both physically and spiritually, and both are the gift of God.
Furthermore, what is born can never be unborn. Some will say, "True, but one can die." That is only true of our natural birth and that is our doing, not God’s. God is the God of the living (Luke 20:38), not willing that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9). He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11). Those that are born again spiritually can never die. This is a promise from the Lord Himself:"Whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die" (John 11:26). He also said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). The true believer also has the confidence and joy that Christ is the Good Shepherd (John 10). He does not lose sheep. He recovers His stray sheep either in life or in death. The term "sheep" in Scripture is always descriptive of the believer, and once a sheep, always a sheep.
We may lose our crown or rewards just as it is so in this life, but that never changes our birth status. Once a son or daughter of man or God, so is it always. There is no record in Scripture of God deserting His own. "If we are unfaithful, He abides faithful, for He cannot deny Himself" (2 Tim. 2:13 JND). There is no record of believers being removed from Christ’s body, nor is there a record of the Holy Spirit ever removed from dwelling in a believer.
However, the believer’s judgment is carried out both in this life and at the judgment seat of Christ (see 1 Cor. 11; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:7). On the one hand it is true that "There is … no condemnation [or judgment] to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1); but at the same time God chastens His sons in this present life (Heb. 12:5-11) and will also review the lives of all of us at the judgment seat of Christ. The Corinthian fornicator was judged in like manner. His flesh was given over to Satan, but his spirit was preserved in the Lord (1 Cor. 5:5).
In all of the gospel accounts of the Lord Jesus Christ healing the sick He never said, "Thy faith and/or works have healed or saved thee," On the contrary, it was always, "Thy faith hath healed or saved thee." In James 5:15 we read, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." It is His work and our faith in Him that heals and saves.
James 2:19 which states that "the devils also believe and tremble" is also grossly misapplied by the "Christ plus works" advocates. For we read in Matt. 8:29 and 25:41 that the demons know Jesus is the Son of God and they know (believe) that a final judgment is awaiting them. They have good reason to tremble just as the unrepentant sinners will tremble when they stand at the great white throne of God’s final judgment. The demons believe because they have seen God’s wrath and they know He will fulfill His word.
What James is saying here, I believe, is that merely believing in Christ Jesus as a matter of knowledge or history will not save a person. There are many in that category today! There must be a true repentance of sin, a trusting in the shed blood of Christ alone to save. Anything in addition to or short of this fact becomes the curse of "another gospel." There must be evidence of the new creature in Christ in order for there to be peace. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).
Many would-be professing Christians today are what James is describing. They know the historical and social Christ, but not the saving Christ. There is no apparent change in their daily habits or lifestyle. Beware! These signs serve as a warning that one may not be saved at all.
In closing, we would appeal to the unsaved reader that it is faith in the finished work of Christ alone that determines our salvation, and none of our own efforts. We urge you, trust in Christ alone, today!