Was James a Heretic?

James

There are several statements in James’ epistle that are contrary to popularly held religious beliefs. Let us briefly consider these passages in light of what many churches teach today.

The Need for Obedience

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22).

God has given us His word with the expectation that we will practice those things that are taught in it. Jesus said that disciples are to be taught to “observe all that [He] commanded” (Matthew 28:20). His word equips us “for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Those who hear God’s word but do not obey it are deluding themselves, thinking that God is pleased with them despite their failure to do what He has instructed them to do.

The Severity of Sin

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:10).

Many scoff at the idea of sin or minimize the severity of it. They may classify certain sins as being severe (murder, rape, etc.) while others are inconsequential (“a little white lie”). Yet every time we sin, regardless of what sin it is, we “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2) and results in spiritual death (Romans 6:23). We are not to “continue in sin” with the expectation that God’s grace will cause us to be justified while we refuse to repent (Romans 6:1-2). No sin should be minimized. Instead, we must continually strive to keep sin out of our lives (1 John 1:5-2:1).

Faith and Works

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (James 2:17).

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).

The Scriptures define faith as more than just belief. The mere mental acknowledgement of the existence of God or the Lordship of Christ is not real faith. Even the demons believe to this extent (James 2:19; Matthew 8:28-29). True faith is an obedient faith. If we are going to claim to believe that Jesus is Lord, we must obey Him. Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). If one does not obey the Lord, he cannot rightly claim to have faith.

Not Saved by Faith Alone

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24).

It is common to hear people talk about how we are saved by faith alone. While we are certainly “justified by faith” (Romans 5:1), it is not by faith alone. As noted in the previous point, the faith we must have is an obedient faith. Though some claim that works have nothing to do with our salvation, this passage teaches otherwise. Paul wrote, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed…work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Jesus is “to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9).

We Cannot Be Friends of the World

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

Too many want to be like the world around them. Many religious leaders will promote a standard of morality (perhaps better described as immorality) that conforms with the standards of the world. Paul told the saints in Rome that Christians must not do this: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). He warned the Corinthians against being “unequally yoked together” with the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, KJV). By joining with those who are opposed to God, we also become enemies of God.

One Can Fall Away

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).

Many want to believe the “once saved, always saved” doctrine. Yet this is not taught in the Bible. The Scriptures plainly teach that a Christian can fall away and be lost. James described one who “strays from the truth” (James 5:19), which means he was once in the truth before he left it. We can fall from grace (Galatians 5:4). However, while James reminded his readers of this fact, he also pointed out that one who falls away can be restored. When Simon sinned after obeying the gospel, he was told to “repent…and pray” so that he could “be forgiven” (Acts 8:22). If a Christians falls away today, he must do the same, otherwise he stands to forfeit his salvation.

Conclusion

James’ words are very clear on these topics. We need to accept what he has written rather than the false doctrines prevalent in the churches of men. Remember what the apostle John wrote:

We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6).

Though many in the religious world teach things that are contrary to what James wrote in his letter, it is not James who is the heretic.


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Comments

  1. The late R.T. Kendal in his book “once saved always saved” said, unless you have been accused of Antinomianism you probably haven’t really preached the gospel!

    We are saved by grace, through faith, according to Ephesians 2.8, not something self generated, eg, not our own work or wit, but a gift from God, and of course verse 9, Not of works lest anyone should boast.
    If you say we are saved by works, how can you ever rest in Christ? You will always live partly in fear. If you can lose you salvation, how can you be resting in the finished work of Christ achieved for you on the cross. We are saved through His work, not ours!
    The protestant reformers believed this and staked everything on it, in an age when the Catholic church had perverted the gospel to keep people in fear, for their own power and abuses.
    I believe what the reformers discovered at that time and believe that we should take heed not to let those core truths be tampered with.
    Sola fide.
    Sola gracia.
    Solus Christus.
    Solus Scriptura.
    Soli Deus Gloria.
    I also believe that we are saved by faith unto good works, and as James says, faith which doesn’t produce good works is dead.

  2. Those who opposed the Catholic church during the Reformation period were right to do so, but they went too far in the other direction. Salvation is not possible without the grace of God, but we cannot be saved if we do not obey the Lord (Hebrews 5:9). Faith does not just produce good works in us. The good works are part of the faith and we cannot be saved without them (James 2:24).