Bible Study There are two justifications for Christians

[MisterE]

James 2.24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone (NET Bible)

ὁρᾶτε ὅτι ἐξ ἔργων δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος καὶ οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως μόνον.

Lets start with a corrected translation first before looking at one of the details

You see that a man is justified by works, and not only justified by faith.

James is saying that a by-faith justification is not the only kind of justification there is. There is also a by-works justification. The former type is before God; the latter type is before men.

The key to understanding this verse is the Greek adverb only (monon), which does not qualify the word 'faith' because the form would then have to be mones. As an adverb, however, it modifies the verb justified that is to be supplied in the second clause.

There is no justification that is by-faith PLUS works. You have two justifications that James is writing about.

 

[for_his_glory]

To say faith without works is dead is the same as saying faith without love is dead for the works we do unto the Lord are our labor of love for others as in Matthew 25:34-40. It's the same labor of love Christ did for us. Faith is action and if it has no fruit it is a false faith. James is not speaking about one who has faith, but one who claims to have faith. It's like giving lip service, but the heart is empty and void of God. Just because one claims to have faith doesn't mean they do, especially if there is no fruit to judge in them as that is how we judge one another, Matthew 7:15-23. We are saved by faith (Christ Jesus) through that of Gods grace (favor) as we can not earn it, but confess it.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 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. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

[Who Me]

There is no justification that is by-faith PLUS works. You have two justifications that James is writing about.

There is only one justification and that is recieved by faith.
James is attacking those who either have no faith or who sit on their bums doing nothing good.
Read the whole passage to get the context:-
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.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[e] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

 

[MisterE]

21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[e] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

Yes, Abraham was justified when he offered up Isaac, but he had been a believer for years before that. This the justification before men. Same with Rahab. She was a believer before the spies came to her apartment. Her justification/vindication was before men. She was also justified before God years before the spies came.

Your faith justifies you before God and your works justify you before men. Those whose works demonstrate their justification by faith would be another way of saying it. But, people are not justified/saved by works before God.

I wrote: The key to understanding this verse is the Greek adverb only (monon), which does not qualify the word 'faith' because the form would then have to be mones. As an adverb, however, it modifies the verb justified that is to be supplied in the second clause.

That is why James says there are two justifications. Research the adverb and what it modifies.

 

[Free]

Even without understanding the Greek and believing that James is talking about one justification, based on the typical translation of James 2:24, one can still come to the correct conclusion with proper study of the immediate context and by looking at Romans 4. James and Paul use the same passage about Abraham and appear to come to contradictory conclusions, but that is because each is using a different meaning of justification (if James is considered to be addressing only one meaning).

 

[miamited]

Hi Who Me

I agree with your position that there is one faith, but whether our faith is true or not is known by our deeds. I believe that's what James was saying. He tells one who has faith without deeds to show it, ... but how can he? There are no deeds and no one can read his heart and mind. But he then says I will show you my faith through my deeds. The deeds don't save or bring us the faith that promises eternal life, but they are, after one has come to that faith and received that promise of eternal life, the evidence of what that life looks like when it's lived out in the world.

 

[MisterE]

Even without understanding the Greek and believing that James is talking about one justification, based on the typical translation of James 2:24, one can still come to the correct conclusion with proper study of the immediate context and by looking at Romans 4. James and Paul use the same passage about Abraham and appear to come to contradictory conclusions, but that is because each is using a different meaning of justification (if James is considered to be addressing only one meaning).

James is definitely referring to two justifications. The grammar requires two justifications as well as the context.

 

[Dave...]

There is only one way to be justified. It was impossible for us, but possible for God.

Evidence of a genuine faith is not justification. Justification is evidenced by a genuine faith. That faith is evidenced by good works. That evidence is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of the believer. For what do you have that you didn't receive?

God's standards, every man has failed. If you sinned once, you failed.

Dave

 

[MisterE]

There is only one way to be justified. It was impossible for us, but possible for God.

If you are referring to justification as a reference to being saved, then I agree. But you need to reword it so you don't contradict James 2.24. Based on your post I assume you are not trained in Greek.

 

[follower]

In English God Says IF you DO what TORAH SAYS, I (GOD) Justify you ....
In English God Says IF you DO NOT do what TORAH SAYS, you are unjustified.

 

[Christ_empowered]

If you love Jesus Christ keep His commandments.

((Paraphrase))

 

[Free]

In English God Says IF you DO what TORAH SAYS, I (GOD) Justify you ....
In English God Says IF you DO NOT do what TORAH SAYS, you are unjustified.

Where does God say that?

 

[Dave...]

If you offended the Law at one point, you've offended it at every point. Who passed?....tic....tic....tic...tic...tic...tic...NNNNNNNBuzzerNNNNNN. Give up? Jesus did.

Dave