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"BY WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED" "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:24) This is one of the most misunderstood verses in all the Bible. Taken out of context regularly by Campbellites and Charismatics, the verse is used to teach that a man cannot be saved by grace through faith alone, although Ephesians 2:8-9 states that he can. According to such false teachers, it is faith plus works that justifies a man before God, and not faith only. The trouble with this private interpretation is that the context is NOT referring to a man’s position BEFORE GOD, but rather his position before his fellow man. A careful reading of the whole chapter, especially beginning at verse fourteen, makes this clear. The point of the passage is that genuine faith will produce some genuine works, and that one’s FELLOW MAN will see these works and know that it’s real. If he sees no works, then he knows he’s dealing with a hypocrite. The whole passage deals with our testimony and fruit before men. That’s why verse twenty-four says “Ye see then HOW that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” It’s not a general statement that men are justified by works, but rather a SPECIFIC statement on HOW a Christian is justified before his fellow man by having works that prove his faith. HOW is a man justified before God? Obviously, by being washed in the blood of Christ. HOW is a man justified before his fellow man? "by WORKS a man is justified, and not by faith only." No lost person will ever see the works of a Christian and say, "That man is really washed in the blood of Christ!" However, he might very well say, "That man really lives it. He's no hypocrite." That's the context of James 2. "Ye see then HOW that by works a man is justified (before MAN) . . . and not by faith only." (before GOD) It's not a doctrinal statement about salvation; it's a practical statement about the testimony of the believer in this world. That's HOW a man is justified by works. The word "HOW" is one of the most important words in the chapter. The example of Abraham is actually given. Please note the wording:“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2:21-24) This refers to the actions of Abraham in Genesis chapter 22, yet we know that Abraham was justified BEFORE GOD seven chapters earlier in Genesis chapter 15. In Genesis 15, Abraham believed God’s promise about multiplying his seed as the stars of heaven and was given God’s righteousness: “And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Gen. 15:4-6) THAT (Gen. 15) was Abraham’s justification BEFORE GOD, but his faith in Genesis 15 was not confirmed by any outward works, so his outward works in Genesis 22 SHOW that he really did believe what God promised in Genesis 15. Romans 4:2-3 makes this clear:“For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Clearly, Romans 4 is saying that Abraham was justified by BELIEVING, yet James says that he was justified by works, yet this is not a contradiction. Please read both passages carefully with key words emphasized: “For IF Abraham were justified by works (so, he wasn’t), HE hath whereof to glory; but not before God (HE would get the credit). For what saith the scripture? Abraham BELIEVED God, and IT (the belief, the faith, not any works) was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Rom. 4:2-3) “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, WHEN HE HAD OFFERED ISAAC his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and BY WORKS WAS FAITH MADE PERFECT? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then HOW that by works a man is justified (before his fellow man) and not by faith only (before God)” (James 2:21-24) Instead of James contradicting Romans, it simply shows how that true faith produces outward works, or fruit, which is what Abraham’s faith did when he offered Isaac. Had Abraham refused to offer Isaac, then he would have proved that he did NOT believe what God had promised, but Hebrews 11:19 says that his actions proved that he even believed “that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” after he had sacrificed him. So, James’ point is that true faith, when tested, always produces works. If it doesn’t, it's dead. Abraham was justified by faith in Genesis 15, and he proved it in Genesis 22, which is also called justification, since inward faith naturally produces outward works. It’s a classic case of Philippians 2:12-13: “. . . work OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh IN you . . . ” So, not only are the heretics wrong for using James 2:24 to teach a works-based salvation; many of the brethren are wrong for applying the entire book of James to the tribulation as though it applies to nothing going on today. James 2 applies to everything going on today in the lives of every believer on the planet. But understanding and explaining that takes time and work, so it’s easier to just say that the book of James is for the tribulation Jews and then pretend that that’s a “deeper” position to take that most wouldn’t understand. No, Genesis 15, Genesis 22, and Abraham, have nothing to do with the tribulation, yet Paul and James seem to contradict one another with their statements regarding Abraham’s justification. This apparent discrepancy is resolved, not by applying anything to the tribulation, but by reaching an understanding of the scriptural relationship between faith and works, as we’ve just attempted to do. Righteous faith produces works, and righteous works prove faith. That’s why faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Now, once that is understood, there’s nothing wrong with exploring ways in which some of James’ words might play out in the tribulation, since the book is addressed “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1), but relegating the whole book of James to the tribulation instead of explaining James 2:24 with scripture is only a cheap cop-out and is unworthy of any serious consideration, much less paper and ink. God gave us the book of James to stress the truth that righteous faith naturally produces righteous works, a theme that holds true throughout the Bible, and “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” had a special need to realize this, so the book is addressed to them, but the truth is for ALL believers. We diminish the power of this truth in our lives when we make the foolish claim that James is a tribulation epistle and not for us. ALL of God’s word is “for” us (II Tim. 3:16-17), and we should make the most of all of it, instead of seeking to discard every passage that challenges us beyond our comfort level.