James 2:22

Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;

"The literal meaning here is, "faith cooperated with his works";[48] and here is the key to understanding all that both Paul and James wrote on this subject. Faith and works are coordinates, cooperation, being in the very nature of cooperation, operative upon a common level. One may only marvel at a view which asserts that "We are not to suppose, however, that it was Abraham's faith plus his works which now brought about his justification."[49] Of course, that is exactly what we must not merely suppose, but receive as gospel truth. Lenski was certain that Abraham did not really perform the works indicated, "The reference is to a faith which produces its proper fruits."[50] This, of course, is the old device of making the faith actually "the doer" of the justifying works; but such obedience as that exhibited by Abraham was rendered, not by his faith, but by Abraham, his works appearing in this verse as a factor in addition to faith, working together with his faith, "cooperating" as the text has it. A similar thing was in view on Pentecost, when Peter commanded that believers "have themselves baptized," making their obedience something for which they were responsible and were required to have done (see comment on Acts 2:38 in this series).

And by works was faith made perfect ... Here is the clinching argument that faith "without works" is imperfect, utterly unable to save. Inherent in this is also the truth that works are not merely something that genuine faith "does," but something in addition, something needed for the perfection of faith. Once more there comes to view the overall theme of "perfection" with which the epistle is concerned throughout. Lenski rejected the ASV rendition of this clause, saying that "It leaves a wrong impression?[51] Despite this, there is no acceptable rendition by which this could legitimately be replaced. We must receive and accept the words as they stand in our versions. Why it should be considered an incongruous thing that Abraham's faith should have been "made perfect" by his works of obedience, when the New Testament flatly declares that even the Son of God himself was "made perfect through obedience" (Hebrews 5:8,9), must ever remain an unqualified mystery. This is one of many indications of how bitterly this section of the word of God has been contested and denied.

[48] R. V. G. Tasker, op. cit., p. 68.

[49] Ibid.

[50] R. C. H. Lenski, op. cit., p. 594.

[51] Ibid., p. 592.