Justification Part 3 James Chapter 2 Part 1

Justification is Yahweh's imputation of that righteousness which His righteousness rightly requires Him to require of us. Imputation simply means that Yahweh credited us with Yahshua Messiah impeccable righteousness the moment we trusted Him as our Saviour.

Since justification is solely by faith alone in Yahshua Messiah alone and by grace alone, should we not expect it to be challenged historically; that is, again and again as time goes by? Let me state that another way: if there is only one way for a man to be just before Yahweh, would you not expect challenges to that truth?

The gospel of Yahshua Messiah is always at risk of distortion. It became distorted in the centuries leading up to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. It became distorted at countless other points of church history, and it is often distorted today. This is why Martin Luther said the gospel must be defended in every generation. It is the center point of attack by the forces of evil. They know that if they can get rid of the gospel, they can get rid of Christianity.

The Reformers believed and taught that we are justified by faith alone. Faith, they said, is the sole instrumental cause for our justification. By this they meant that we receive all the benefits of Yahshua Messiah’ work through putting our trust in Him alone.

We have been exploring the significance of Justification. Is it by Faith Alone or as the Roman Catholic Church tells us that Justification includes Baptism and other rituals?

In our last study we looked at Paul as he had to set Peter and other disciple’s straight there in Galatians. In today’s study we are going to take a look into the writings of James.

In this part of the Justification study, I will attempt to show from the text and context:

That the faith spoken of in James 2:14ff is always the faith of a Christian, not the initial faith of an unsaved sinner in response to the Gospel, nor simply an "intellectual" faith that does not save.

That in reference to this faith, James is not addressing the eternal destiny of his readers, rather their effectiveness and productivity in this life.

That James’ intention is practice: he is encouraging Believers to practice their faith via good works.

That Believers dare not minimize good works, nor make them irrelevant.

That James and Paul are in complete agreement that…

justification (forensic/heavenly) before Yahweh is by faith alone in Yahshua Messiah alone, and,

Justification (practical/earthly) before men is by faith-life-produced works.

This section of Scripture, James 2:14-26, is used by Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc. to support the idea that works are necessary for salvation. 

James begins this topic by distinguishing between true faith and false faith.

True faith is fiduciary. Mere mental acknowledgment is ascentia. Fiduciary is a heartfelt trust in someone or something. Ascentia is mental acknowledgment, intellectual awareness of the existence of something – the way the devil acknowledges Yahweh’s existence.

True faith (fiducia) has works. False faith (ascentia) has no works.

We behave based on what we believe. So, we can tell what is in a person by what he or she does or says.

Matthew 12:34, “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”

This is why it says

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Yahshua Messiah, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Galatians 5:22–23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com