FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT IS NOT ACCOMPAINED BY ACTION, IS DEAD (James 2:14-17)
James is describing the man who has nothing but a profession of faith. He is speaking about a say-so faith that is not backed up by good works. Such a faith is worthless. It is all words, and nothing else. A faith without works is not real faith at all. It is only a matter of words.
What James is emphasizing is that we are not saved by a faith of words only, but by that kind of faith which results in a life of good works. Works are not the root of salvation, but the fruit; they are not the cause, but the effect. We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.
James is describing the man who has nothing but a profession of faith. He is speaking about a say-so faith that is not backed up by good works. Such a faith is worthless. It is all words, and nothing else. A faith without works is not real faith at all. It is only a matter of words.
What James is emphasizing is that we are not saved by a faith of words only, but by that kind of faith which results in a life of good works. Works are not the root of salvation, but the fruit; they are not the cause, but the effect. We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.
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