This coming Lord’s Day we are returning to the Epistle of James. Our sermon will come from James 2:21-26. The most remarkable feature of this passage is what the Lord’s brother says about being “justified” in verse 24: “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” Now, when we lay this verse up against what the Apostle Paul said about being “justified,” we seem to have a problem: “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight,” and, “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law”—Romans 3:20, 28. It is certainly obvious why some have been confused by this ostensible conflict between Paul and James. But, as we will begin to see on Sunday, the problem is only apparent. In fact, both of these inspired authors are saying the same thing about salvation, yet from different perspectives. Paul and James are responding to different questions regarding salvation and faith in Christ.

As we have seen previously in our studies, James is deeply concerned about the justification of a professing believer’s claim to have faith in Christ. Recall his rhetorical questions in 2:14. James has on his radar screen those members of the Church who provide little, if any, compelling evidence that they belong to Christ at all. They say they have “faith” in Christ. But what is the proof of this claim? How is such a claim justified? And by raising such piercing questions it is clear that, indeed, there should be some evidential support for a person’s profession of faith.

So, this week we will get acquainted with this critical passage. And we will allow the Lord’s own brother to teach us a thing or two about the blessed harmony there is between the Gospel of a works-free salvation, and the gracious life-transformation that inevitably results.