BULLINGERIZING JAMES
Martin Luther called the Book of James the "Epistle of Straw," because he did not think it reflected the doctrine of grace. Today, ultra dispensationalists crusade to make "James" of none effect to Christians of this dispensation. Lamenting the blindness of those who cannot see that the statements of "James" are different from the ones in Romans through Philemon (Pauline epistles—of course), one proponent of the "Old Testamatizing James" movement calls those who apply "James DOCTRINALLY" to the body of Christ “Jack leg exegetes" (Dave Reese, Florida Fundamentalist, February 1985). He then proceeds to undermine James’ relevance to us under the guise of correcting the supposed error of Scofield’s "bungling footnote." His arguments fall into three categories:
Argument 1. James was written doctrinally to the twelve tribes—Jews!
Argument 2. Scofield’s footnote on justification is wrong!
Argument 3. James implying salvation by works.
Our James Written to Born again Jews Argument
. . . to the TWELVE TRIBES . . . -- James 1:1
. . . of his own will BEGAT he us WITH THE WORD of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." --James 1:18 [I would say that the new birth is very doctrinal!]
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of LIBERTY. -- James 2:12 (1:25)
Ultra dispensationalists are correct when they say that the Book of James was written to the twelve tribe -- Jews. What they do not tell you is that these Jews were born again, Christian Jews (1:18); Jewish Christians, who received grace (4:6), Jewish Christians, who belonged to the church (5:14), Jewish Christians, who were persecuted and scattered (James 1:1 with Acts 8:1, 4), Jewish Christians, who had the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ (2:1), Jewish Christians, who were able to receive the engrafted word, which was able to save their souls (1:21), Jewish Christians, who were the first fruits not the last fruits (1:18), Jewish Christians did not need to have works for salvation emphasized to them. They were James’ brethren (19 times), (James 1:2, 9, 16, 19; 2:1, 14, 15; 3:1, etc.).
The Scofield’s Footnote Error Argument
What doth it profit, my brethren though a man SAY he hath faith . . . -- James 2:14
. . . SHOW me thy faith WITHOUT THY WORKS . . . and I will SHOW thee MY FAITH BY MY WORKS. --James 2:18
SEEST thou how . . . -- James 2:22
YE SEE then how . . . -- James 2:24
Scofield, who is too dispensational for us as it is, says Abraham’s justification was before men, and our ultra dispensationalist friends have a conniption fit over his comment. If Scofield would have said that Abraham’s justification was by faith or by grace or even by God, Hyperdispy Dave Reese would have had a stroke. Our friend, Dave, cleverly assails poor Scofield with all the Scriptures that condemn attempts to justify oneself before men. Still since when is it okay to justify oneself before God (Luke 18:10 - 14)?
Since Scofield never said that Abraham sought to justify himself, that is a straw man argument and a circular one! Our friend, Reese, argues that such a justification before men had only two witnesses in Genesis 22:3. Yet, this is a recorded event before us and before the ones to whom James was writing. What are we all? Chopped liver? Don’t we count? One thing for sure, justification by works has to be demonstrated and SHOWN to someone. The context of chapter two is sufficient to convince the unbiased that James is looking for a demonstration or a SHOWING of saving faith (James 2:14, 18, 22, 24). God does not need your faith demonstrated before him. He knows whether you have it or not.
James’ Implying Salvation by Works Argument
Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. -- Luke 7:50
Now it was not written for his (Abraham’s) sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for US ALSO . . . -- Romans 4:23
Likewise ALSO was not Rahab the harlot JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, when she had received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD ALSO. -- James 2:25
BY FAITH the harlot Rahab perished not with them that BELIEVED NOT, when she received the spies with peace. -- Hebrews 11:31
For WHOSOEVER shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." -- James 2:10
It is unlikely that James thought the Saviour said to the woman, "Thy works hath saved thee," rather than, "thy faith hath saved thee." It is also unlikely that James would preface a legal plan of salvation with demands to keep it perfectly. For James to be ignorant of Abraham s imputed righteousness pertaining to US ALSO is a bit hard to swallow.
To understand James, we must consider the three types of faith that he mentions: dead faith (workless faith/antinomian faith—James 2:17); faith with works (working faith/living faith—James 2:18); and demonic faith (Charismatic faith—James 2:19). Faith with works is a show able faith, and James informs us (along with John the Baptist - works meet for repentance) that it is legitimate to expect deeds or works from real faith as those who believed, confessed, and showed their deeds (BEFORE MEN) in Acts 19:18. Gentile Rahab has the same record as Abraham in this respect. She believed first and then showed her deeds, and was justified by her works!
An unbelieving world and the "lose your salvationists" love to report Antinomian Baptists, who live like the devil; we need Christians, who are justified by works before God and men! AFTER SALVATION! Justification by God (Rom. 8:13), by faith (Rom. 5:1), by his grace (Rom. 3:24); by Christ (Gal. 2:17) for salvation. Justification by works in James does not demand the sharp dispensational distinctions that ultra dispensationalists are prone to force into the Scriptures, neither is that justification by works opposed to justification by faith. Each views justification from a different perspective—before and after salvation.
Paul rebukes works that precede faith while James rebukes a workless faith. There is no contradiction. Our friend would like to have it to be "faith plus works" in James, but James would have it to be—"FAITH THAT WORKS!"
-- by Herb Evans