We won! We won the Super Bowl!
Every year since 1967, fans have shouted this phrase with excitement. But let’s be real—who actually won the Super Bowl? Who is this “we” y’all are talking about? These fans weren’t out there on the field, running routes, making tackles, or calling plays. They weren’t in the front office, on the medical staff, or even the people cleaning up after the game. So… what’s with the “we”? Who can truly claim, “we won the Super Bowl”?
I might be reaching a bit, but in essence, this is the point James is making with these verses about faith and works. He’s drawing a clear line between real, active faith and empty faith—a purely intellectual faith. James isn’t speculating on whether faith saves—he’s defining what kind of faith saves.
In today’s Scripture, James presents a hypothetical conversation with someone—let’s call them a fan. This person argues that faith and works don’t have to go together, that perhaps, faith is just a personal thing that looks different for everyone. James shuts that down immediately, saying, “I’ll show you my faith by my works” and “Faith apart from works is useless.” You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Put your money where your mouth is.” That’s the kind of vibe James is bringing here.
In other words, real faith shows up in real life. It makes a difference. It changes things.
Real Faith Impacts Us and Others
James isn’t comparing different levels of spiritual maturity here; he’s distinguishing between real faith and a faith that’s merely intellectual. He’s pushing back against this intellectual faith—a faith that stays in the head but never changes the heart. He even takes it up a notch by saying, “Even the demons believe—and shudder.” That’s a wild statement. And they don’t just believe it—they tremble in fear because of it. Demons know exactly who God is. They believe in Jesus. And yet, that belief has little value for them. It’s intellectual, not transformative.
Here’s where the context is key. Like we talked about last episode, Paul and James aren’t contradicting each other—they’re just tackling different issues.
David Platt puts it well when he says, “I don’t picture James and Paul standing toe-to-toe with each other with contrary understandings of the gospel. Instead, they are standing back-to-back with each other, fighting two different enemies and together defending a unified understanding of the gospel.”
Paul is saying, “You can’t earn salvation.” James is saying, “If you’re truly saved, your life will show it.”
Paul and James aren’t in opposition. And they’re both right. They’re just looking at faith from two different angles. There’s a difference between intellectual faith and transforming faith. Paul emphasizes faith over works to make it clear we can’t earn salvation. James isn’t arguing with him; he’s just defining what real faith looks like. True faith isn’t passive—it produces fruit. It reflects who God is. It’s empowered by the Holy Spirit.
James is writing to believers, pleading with them—real faith does something. It changes you. It transforms you. If it doesn’t, then what kind of faith is it? Hear me, James is not saying works save us—he’s saying true, saving faith produces works through us. It’s ridiculous to James to even think otherwise. John affirms James’ position in 1 John 2: “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” A faith that doesn’t move a person to action? To walk like Jesus? That’s like a fan claiming a championship ring just because they watched the game from their couch.
Faith Shown Through Action
To drive his point home, James gives two examples—Abraham and Rahab. Both of them demonstrated the nature of their faith with how they lived. What they did. Their faith wasn’t just words; it showed up in their radical obedience and bold actions. Their works didn’t save them, but their actions proved the authenticity of their faith.
Here’s the bottom line: Our faith declares us righteous before God, but our works show that righteousness to the world. And here’s something we don’t talk about enough—our obedience also strengthens our own faith. Good works, born from a real relationship with Jesus, give us assurance of our salvation. They’re those “But God” moments, where we look back and think, “Wow, I wouldn’t or couldn’t have done that without Jesus.”
The New Life in Christ: Walking in Good Works
I, outside of Christ, would have fumbled the opportunities in that trial.
I, outside of Christ, would have fallen into that temptation.
I, outside of Christ, would have ignored that commandment.
I, outside of Christ, would worry way more about myself than the vulnerable.
I, outside of Christ, would not have shown mercy there.
Redundant, I know. Sorry. But do you see what I’m getting at? Now, do we always show up as believers and knock it out of the park? Heck no. But do we keep showing up? Heck yes.
When we step up and contribute—when we live out our faith—we’re partnering with the Holy Spirit for our good and God’s glory.
Saved for Good Works
Consider Ephesians 2:8-10. Verses 8 and 9 are famous: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Can I get an Amen…
But why do we so often stop there—verse 10 is huge: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Saved by grace.
Through faith.
For good works.
What good works is God calling me to walk in? What good works has He prepared for you?
ESV Study Bible. (2010). Crossway Books.
Platt, D. (2014). Exalting Jesus in James. B&H Publishing Group.
From Talk Scripture: Real Faith Works Part 2 | James 2:18-26
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