A Close Look At James 2:17. Faith Without Works Is Dead

We are told in James 2:15-17, 4 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. In chapter 2 of the book of James, he’s addressing a few issues within the church. One of those had to do with certain people who claimed that all they needed to be called children of God was faith. At first glance, it sounds like their statement is consistent with biblical Truth but their understanding of faith differed from the Biblical definition of genuine true  faith. Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit did say that by the works of the law shall no man be justified. But those individuals misinterpreted Paul’s words and used it for a license to do whatever they wanted. They were claiming in essence that all one needed was faith alone , which sounds like it is parallel to Paul’s declarations. But the difference between their understanding of faith and Paul’s were not the same. Paul never mentioned a faith that was alone , but a faith that was authenticated by a renewed life. So we will see how James is going to refute their claims as he explains the effects of genuine faith, see video above Scripture References: Matthew 8:1-3 John 5:1-9 Luke 17:5-10 Isaiah 55:11 Galatians 5:22-23