Soteriology - Does James Say Man is Justified by Works?

One of the most popular verses in Roman Catholicism is James 2:24 where it is written: "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone?" Why does James appear to contradict Paul and other writers of the New Testament?

It is because Paul is dealing with the nature of justification and James is dealing with the nature of faith. James is not teaching "how one is justified." He is contrasting two kinds of faith, living genuine faith vs. dead spurious faith. That is why he gives three illustrations of living faith, Abraham, Rahab and the human body.

James wrote "You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone" (Jas. 2:24). The Greek word for justify also means vindicate, to defend or uphold. So James is saying: "You see then that a man is vindicated (or defends and upholds his living, saving, God-given faith) by his works and not only by a mere profession of faith. The word vindicate could also mean to clear from suspicion. In no way is James teaching that sinners are justified by works because he has already made the point that salvation is a gift from God according to God's will not the will of man (1:17-18).

James is asking professing Christians, who have not shown evidence of their new life in Christ, to "show me your faith" (Jas. 2:18). But faith is invisible to man. It is an unseen relationship between man and God. Since faith cannot be seen, the best way to prove one's faith is to be "doers of the word and not merely hearers" (Jas. 1:22). Those who do the word of God will live a righteous life in obedience to God. That is why James said: "I will show you my faith by my works" (Jas. 2:18). James is saying justifying faith will be evidenced by works.

Paul, on the other hand, is dealing with false teachers who said you must have faith plus obey the law. (Gal 1-3).

Both agree that justifying faith precedes and produces works (Eph. 2:10). This is, of course, also in harmony with Jesus who said to His disciples: "go and bear fruit" (John 15:6). He said when you bear fruit you "prove to be My disciples" (Jn. 15:8). When there is no fruit, it is an indication that you are separated from Christ. The parallel is worth noting. Just as works do not produce justification, the fruit does not bring the tree into existence. The fruit reveals whether the tree is alive or dead. Jesus also taught a tree is known by its fruit (Matt. 7:16-20).

We could also say - Just as fish swim and birds fly, converted sinners pursue sanctification by doing the works God created them to perform (Eph. 2:10).

Faith alone justifies, but faith that justifies is never alone. Faith gives evidence of its existence by righteous living. Anyone who claims to have a right relationship with God will live a life of good works. Sanctification is thus, the observable evidence that justification has been granted.

You can see in this passage that James is concerned for professing Christians who have a dead faith which is idle, barren, and unfruitful (Jas 2:17). He is saying that dead faith cannot justify anyone and it is useless (Jas. 2:20). Only genuine faith is alive and bears fruit.

Faith without works is the faith of the devils, mere intellectual assent without repentance.

We can see from these passages that the Bible must be studied inductively, that is, not to prove our theology but to develop our theology. Mormons try to prove their baptism for the dead with 1 Cor. 15 but Paul was not teaching on the topic of baptism. In the same way, Catholics try to prove their theology on Justification by works with James 2:24, but James was not teaching how to be justified, he was teaching on the nature of faith.