Bible Basics

Faith Made Complete

In his discussion of Abraham’s justification, James says, “Do you see that faith was working together with his works and by works faith was made perfect?” (James 2:22). The phrase “made perfect” means “to consummate, to complete, to finish.” Notice it was “by” (ek “out of”) works that faith was made complete as Abraham obeyed the command to offer up Isaac on the altar. Through his obedience, “faith was working together with his works.” The imperfect tense of the verb is highly significant for it shows faith was continually exercising itself, the result being Abraham’s justification. It is important to understand that neither faith nor works operating alone can justify. Salvation requires “faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6). I recently received a response from a man who writes, “Professed faith which does not produce good works is not faith at all. It is a dead thing.” But James says, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jas. 2:17). It is not a dead “thing;” it is a dead “faith.” A faith that does not produce good works (obedience) is still faith, it’s just an incomplete faith – a dead faith. Works alone will not save you, for we are not perfect law keepers. But neither will a dead faith that will not obey. “You see then that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24).

                                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

Bible Basics