I just wanted to add a quick note so as not to come across as a heretic.
After sleeping on it, I was reading through James 2 again and I noticed vs. 10-13.
"12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty."
Also, James does not say that you are justified by works "of the Law".
In vs. 10 he says "For whoever keps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it."
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The examples James gives of works are not "works of the Law" but simply action out of faith. (Abraham sacrificing his son, and Rahab receiving messengers and letting them out the back door.)
OK. So it would appear that James understands that the Law condemns us and that saving faith produces actions. What I have a hard time with is vs. 21 - 24
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he..." and "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."
But Paul says "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." RMNS 11:6
Remember Paul was a Pharisee, so I assume he understands the arguement of works based righteousness, though he certainly doesn't agree with it.
It seems clear to me that Paul's understanding and arguement is both clear and logical. Grace and works are mutually exclusive. It is either a "free gift" or "wages". It can't be both.
Did James just have poor word choice? He was a fisherman by trade, not a scholar. Is he describing the "sanctification" process? Can the greek word James used which is translated "justified" (δικαιόω) be interpreted as "a process of perfecting" as in sanctification in this context and as "justfication" in Pauls context (ex. Galatians 2:15-21).
Is James simply saying that saving faith is faith that produces fruit or is James blurring the lines between justification and progressive sanctification?
The question remains, but I just wanted to make it clear that I have considered alternatives and am not completely throwing James under the proverbial bus.
1 comment:
James is one of those books I love and hate at the same time. It causes me to think way, way too much. And then to evaluate my behavior; always a humbling experience.
One of the fascinating things is the man who wrote it. He was Jesus' half brother. What kind of "Oh man, I was really wrong" moment did he have?
Your questions are great because they cause you (and me) to think deeply about the grace of God.
I look forward to the dialog. When you ask,
"Is James simply saying that saving faith is faith that produces fruit or is James blurring the lines between justification and progressive sanctification?"
I think that the former is correct, not the latter. I think James' book is often difficult because of it's simplicity. The faithful should behave like it. We often take that further than the text allows.
Great post.
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