As promised in this post ( You are in-fact saved by Works! ) a more comprehensive looks at the relationship between faith and works.
I’m beginning a new series on Works, inspired by Charles Spurgeon’s sermon titled Fruitless Faith. Although I’ve never based a series on minister’s sermon before, this topic feels especially powerful and important, so I’m diving in supervised. While I’ll continue to write other entries about works and faith from my own perspective, this particular series is best entrusted to a seasoned voice like Spurgeon’s for now.
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”—James 2:17
As Christians, we anchor our hope in the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, the words of James 2:17 challenge us to examine the nature of our faith. Is it a living, transformative faith that bears fruit, or is it a hollow belief that fails to impact our lives? In this blog, we’ll explore the profound truth of James’ teaching, reconcile it with Paul’s emphasis on salvation by faith alone, and discover how a living faith, evidenced by works, reflects the heart of the gospel.
At first glance, James 2:17 seems to contradict Paul’s declaration in Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith… not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Martin Luther, in his zeal for the gospel, even questioned James’ place in Scripture, fearing it undermined salvation by faith alone. But as the sermon excerpt reminds us, the Holy Spirit cannot contradict Himself. Paul and James are not at odds; they view the same truth from different angles, both pointing us to the unchanging words of Jesus: “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).
Paul emphasizes the source of salvation: faith in Christ’s finished work, not our own efforts. James, however, addresses the evidence of that faith. He warns against a superficial faith—a mere intellectual assent that lacks life. As the sermon states, “No man is saved by persuading himself that he is saved.” True faith is not just believing facts about Jesus, like the demons who “believe—and shudder” (James 2:19). It’s a faith that transforms, producing works that reflect a heart surrendered to Christ.
James’ point is clear: faith without works is dead. But this doesn’t mean works earn salvation. As the sermon powerfully notes, “After we have done all, if we could do all, we should only have done what we were bound to do.” Our good deeds can never merit salvation; they are simply the natural outflow of a living faith. Imagine a tree: faith is the root, and works are the fruit. The fruit doesn’t make the tree alive, but a living tree naturally produces fruit. Similarly, a faith that saves is active, producing works that demonstrate its vitality.
Jesus Himself taught this principle. In John 15:5, He says, “I am the vine; you are the branches… he who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.” A branch connected to the vine will bear fruit as a result of that connection. Likewise, when we abide in Christ through faith, our lives will reflect His love, obedience, and service. Works are not the cause of salvation but the evidence of a heart transformed by grace.
Paul and James are like two sides of the same coin. Paul, writing to combat legalism, stresses that salvation is a gift received by faith, not earned by works (Romans 3:28). James, addressing complacency, warns against a faith that claims allegiance to Christ but produces no change. The sermon beautifully reconciles them: “The faith that saves is not a historical faith, not a faith that simply believes a creed and certain facts… It is a faith which produces works which saves us; the works do not save us.”
Consider the example of Abraham, whom James cites in 2:21–23. Abraham was justified by faith (Genesis 15:6), but his faith was “completed” by his works when he offered Isaac (James 2:22). His obedience didn’t earn God’s favor; it proved his trust in God. Paul, in Romans 4, uses Abraham to show that justification comes by faith apart from works of the law. Together, they affirm that saving faith is a living trust in God that naturally expresses itself in action.
A critical point in the sermon is that works have no merit before God. “The question of merit between the creature and his Creator is not to be raised,” it declares. Our good deeds are like a servant paying what is owed—there’s no basis for boasting. This guards against pride and keeps our focus on Christ’s sufficient sacrifice. As the hymn cited in the sermon says, “The best morality is love of thee.” Our works flow from love for Christ, not a desire to earn His approval.
This truth frees us from the burden of performance. We don’t serve to gain salvation but because we’ve already received it. Ephesians 2:10, right after Paul’s words on grace, says we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Works are God’s design for our lives, a response to His grace.
So, what does a living faith look like? James gives practical examples: caring for orphans and widows, showing impartiality, and controlling our speech (James 1:27, 2:1–9, 3:1–12). It’s loving our neighbor, forgiving others, and sharing the gospel. It’s small acts of kindness and bold steps of obedience. These works don’t save us, but they show that our faith is alive, rooted in a relationship with Jesus.
The sermon warns that a faith without works “will only deceive, and cannot lead us into heaven.” This is a call to self-examination. Are our lives marked by the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness (Galatians 5:22–23)? Do our actions reflect the One we claim to follow? If our faith is dormant, James urges us to stir it up, to draw near to Christ, and to let His life flow through us.
As we reflect on James 2:17, let’s embrace the beauty of a faith that works. Ask God to reveal areas where your faith may be “dead.” Are there actions He’s calling you to take in obedience? Stay connected to Jesus through prayer, Scripture, and worship. A living faith flows from intimacy with Him. Look for opportunities to serve others, not to earn salvation but to reflect Christ’s love. As the sermon quotes, “The best morality is love of thee.” Remember that salvation is by faith alone. Your works are a response to God’s grace, not a requirement for it.
James 2:17 is not a contradiction of the gospel but a loud call to live out our faith authentically. True faith, rooted in Christ’s death and resurrection, transforms us, producing works that glorify God and bless others. Let’s hold fast to the words of Jesus: “Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). And let’s live out that faith with boldness, knowing that a faith that works is a faith that shines His light in a world in need.