"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?." (James 2:14)

James does not say that the man in today's verse has faith. The man himself says he has faith, but if he really had saving faith, he would have works also. His faith is a matter of words only, and that kind of faith cannot save anyone. Words without works are dead.

Salvation is not by works. Neither is it by faith plus works. Rather it is by the kind of faith that results in good works.

Why then does James say in verse 24 that a man is justified by works? Isn't this a flat contradiction of Paul's teaching that we are justified by faith? Actually there is no contradiction. Both are true. The fact is that there are six different aspects of justification in the New Testament, as follows:

We are justified by God (Romans 8:33) - He is the One who reckons us righteous.

We are justified by grace (Romans 3:24) - God gives us justification as a free, undeserved gift.

We are justified by faith (Romans 5:1) - we receive this gift by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are justified by blood (Romans 5:9) - the precious blood of Christ is the price that was paid for our justification.

We are justified by power (Romans 4:25) - the power that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead is the power that makes our justification possible.

We are justified by works (James 2:24) - good works are the outward evidence to all that we have been truly justified.

It is not enough to testify to a conversion experience. We must demonstrate it by the good works that inevitably follow the new birth.

Faith is invisible. It is an unseen transaction that takes place between the soul and God. People cannot see our faith. But they can see the good works that are the fruit of saving faith. They have reason to doubt our faith until they see the works.

Abraham's good work was his willingness to slay his son as an offering to God (James 2:21). Rahab's good work was betraying her country (James 2:25). The reason they were "good" works is because they demonstrated faith in Jehovah. Otherwise they would have been bad works, namely, murder and treason.

The body separated from the spirit is dead. That's what death is - the separation of the spirit from the body. So faith without works is dead also. It is lifeless, powerless and inoperative.

A living body demonstrates that an invisible spirit dwells within. So good works are the sure sign that there is saving faith, invisible as it is, dwelling within the person.