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When James writes about dead faith in James 2:14-26, many people think he is referring to faith that does not exist. But this is not the message of James. What is dead faith? It is useless faith. It is faith that does exist, but is not accomplishing what God wants or desires for it. Despite what many teach, dead faith is NOT non-existent faith any more than a dead body is a non-existent body.

I have written elsewhere on James 2:14-26 and the often-heard statement that “even the demons believe” (James 2:16). This passage is also discussed in my book, (#AmazonAdLink) What is Faith?

To properly understand James 2:14-26, it is also important to understand three key terms in the passage.

Three Key Terms in James 2:14-26

The three terms are faith, save, and dead. These three key terms in James 2:14-26 help bring clarity to this much-debated text.

The word faith is defined as the belief, conviction, or persuasion that something is true (see Faith).

The word save is defined as “deliver” (see Salvation). It does NOT refer to gaining forgiveness of sins so we can escape hell and go to heaven when we die. It instead refers to some sort of deliverance, usually from some sort of temporal calamity, such as sickness, enemies, physical death, etc.

And the word dead means to be separated from the life, purpose, or goal which God planned or intended (see Death).

With these three terms in mind, the troublesome text of James 2:14-26 becomes much clearer.

The Context of James 2:14-26

The context of James 2 also helps us understand what James is saying.

The immediately preceding context is that the church is showing favoritism to some of the wealthier members. The rich receive more attention and better seats at fellowship meals than do the poor (James 2:1-13).

Following this, James continues to address how the poor and needy in the church are treated. James says that when it comes to helping the poor and needy in their community, faith is not enough. It is not enough to tell someone that you believe God can clothe them and provide for their needs. It is not enough to promise someone that you will pray for them.

Such faith in God, while real and genuine, does absolutely nothing to clothe the poor or feed the hungry (James 2:15-16).

What good is it, James asks, if you tell the poor that you believe God will clothe them, and you tell the hungry that you have faith in God to feed them, but you yourself don’t do anything to feed or clothe them?

Will your faith do anything to feed or clothe the poor and hungry? No, it won’t.

If you are genuinely concerned about the poor and hungry in your midst, it is fine to believe that God can do something about it, if you also believe that God is going to do something about it through you.

Faith, by itself, is worthless when it comes to helping the poor.

Note that James is not saying anything whatsoever about faith in Jesus for eternal life.

This is not the point of this passage. He is talking about how our faith in God to feed the hungry and clothe the poor should lead us to feed the hungry and clothe the poor.

If you believe God can meet these needs, but you yourself do nothing to meet them, then your faith is dead and worthless. This does not mean that your faith does not exist. It does exist. But your faith is separated from its intended purpose.

God wants our faith in Him to spur us to step out and do things that turn our faith into action.

When we pray for something, God then wants us to seek to become the answer to our own prayers.

When we tell God that we believe He can do something, He turns to us and says that He will do it through us if we step out in faith and let Him. Faith in God is not us “letting go and letting God” but is us “stepping up and taking action” trusting that God will work in and through us to accomplish His work in this world.

So what is DEAD faith in James 2:16, 26?

So the word dead in James 2:16, 26 is a symbolic way of referring to faith that is not accompanied or empowered by works.

Dead faith is real faith. It does exist.

But dead faith is nothing more than faith that is by itself (James 2:17). All James is saying is that if the Christian life is going to be powerful and effective, both faith and works are needed. To save our relationship with other Christians and to accomplish God’s work in this world, both faith and works are needed (See Dillow, (#AmazonAdLink) Reign of the Servant Kings, 187-194; Zane Hodges, Dead Faith: What is it? (Dallas: Redencion Viva, 1987); John Hart, “How to Energize Our Faith: Reconsidering the Meaning of James 2:14-26,” JOTGES (Spring, 1999).

At the end of this section, James illustrates this point by equating faith and works with the body and the spirit (James 2:26). Just as a body without the spirit is dead, so also, faith without works is dead.

When a person’s spirit leaves their body, does this mean that the body does not exist, or that it never existed? No, of course not. The body is still there, even after the spirit departs. But the body is no longer accomplishing the purpose and goal which God intended for it.

So also with faith and works. If a person has faith, but they do not have works, this does not mean that their faith does not exist, or that it never existed. No, the faith is still there, even though the works are not.

But in such a situation, faith is not accomplishing the purpose and goal which God intended for it. The faith is dead. The absence of works is not allowing the faith to carry out God’s plan and purposes in the world. This is the meaning of James 2:14-26.

James 2:14-26 has nothing to do with eternal life

I cannot emphasize enough that James 2 has nothing whatsoever to do with the gaining, keeping, or proving of eternal life.

James 2:14-26 is not teaching that if a person fails to have good works, then this proves that they do not have eternal life. The question of eternal life is not in view at all.

Instead, James is telling us that rather than just pray for someone, or bless someone, or tell someone that God can provide for their needs, it is we who should (#AmazonAdLink) answer our own prayers, seek to be a blessing to them, and provide for the needs out of our own pocket or pantry.

Only in this way does our faith get put into practice and fulfill the plans and goals of God.

So what is dead faith? Dead faith is NOT non-existent faith. Dead faith very much exists.

People who have dead faith truly do have actual and real faith. But their faith is inactive and useless. It is not accomplishing what God wants their faith to accomplish in this life.

So do you believe God can help others? Great! Now go out and do something about it, and actually help those whom God places in your life.

Understanding the Gospel requires us to properly understand the key words and terms of the Gospel. Take my course, "The Gospel Dictionary" to learn about the 52 key words of the Gospel, and hundreds of Bible passages that use these words.

This course costs $297, but when you join the Discipleship group, you can to take the entire course for free.

You can also get a copy of my book, (#AmazonAdLink) What is Faith? on Amazon.

This Video Taught me What It Means to Have “Faith Like a Child”

By Jeremy Myers

4 Comments

Sometimes people think that “faith like a child” means living in ignorance. Children don’t know much, right? They just believe without any facts or thinking or logic. So this must be what it means to have faith like a child.

I agree that in some ways, faith like a child means taking God at His Word and just moving on.

But at the same time, God gave us brains, and desires that we use them. He invites us to reason with Him (Isa 1:18).

So if faith like a child doesn’t mean living in willful ignorance, what does it mean to have faith like a child?

This video clues you in to part of it:

I am convinced that faith like a child does not mean ignorance like a child.

No, to have faith like a child means to view life like a child.

How does a child view life?

Like the girl in the video, children have a tenderness of conscience. They are emotional.

But this doesn’t mean that to have faith like a child you need to have emotions like a child. No, it’s more than that.

Children are full of wonder and awe.

Children are creative and imaginative.

Children are playful and fun-loving.

As adults, we get bored with flowers, bugs, and sunsets. We lose delight in talking with others about nothing. We are jaded and disinterested.

Adults hold grudges, harbor fears, and stay angry.

Adults refuse to forgive. Adults remember slights.

I think one of the things that attracted people to Jesus is that He was “child-like.” Does this mean He lacked wisdom and understanding? Far from it! No, Jesus was “child-like” in that He was full of the wonder of life, the hope for humanity, and the beauty of creation. Jesus lived in awe.

And awe is contagious.

Do you want to have faith like a child?

Having faith like a child has absolutely nothing to do with not asking questions. After all, have you ever known a child who doesn’t ask LOTS of questions?

No, having faith like a child means having an “imagination” like a child.

Those who have faith like a child will hope, dream, forgive, create, trust, and love. Live life to the full. Be excited. Be adventuresome. Be tender of heart. And always ask lots and lots of questions.

So think! Reason! Question! Ask! But also imagine, dance, sing, laugh, and play! Then you will have faith like a child.

Did Martha actually believe what Jesus said in John 11:25?

By Jeremy Myers

32 Comments

We are all familiar with the story in John 11 of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11 and the little conversation that Jesus had with Martha before He raised Lazarus.

Here is how I have usually read John 11:39-44:

Scene: [Mary and Martha are upset with Jesus because they had sent a message to Jesus that Lazarus was sick (John 11:2), and Jesus had not come. Now, four days after Lazarus has died (John 11:39), Jesus decides to finally show up. Mary couldn’t bear to face Jesus, but Martha went out meet Him (John 11:20).]

Martha: Too bad you didn’t get here five days ago … when Lazarus was still alive … when we called you to come. I’m angry at you, but I still believe that God is with you (John 11:21-22).

Jesus: Your brother will rise again (John 11:23).

Martha: (Rolls her eyes and thinks, “What a terrible thing to say at a funeral. How does that help me now?”). Of course he will, in the future resurrection along with everyone else (John 11:24).

Jesus: I’m not talking about the future resurrection event. I am talking about me. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though he dies physically, will then live physically, and will never die for all eternity. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26).

Martha: Absolutely! Of course I believe that (John 11:27).

Scene: [Jesus goes and raises Lazarus from the dead. Big party ensues (John 11:41-44).]

Is that pretty much how you have understood this event, and especially the answer that Martha gives to Jesus in John 11:27?

Recently, I have begun to wonder if I have been reading this text wrong all along.

John 11:27 and John 21:15-17

What got me wondering is the little conversation Jesus has with Peter at the end of John, where Jesus asks Peter three times “Do you love me?” and Peter answers three times, “Yes, you know that I love you” (John 21:15-17)

We all know, of course, that the first two times Jesus asks Peter this question, Jesus uses the word “agape” for God’s divine love, but Peter answers with “phileo,” which is brotherly love. The third time, Jesus uses “phileo” also, indicating to Peter that he knows that Peter’s love will never be perfect, and that’s okay.

But what got me thinking was that with the first two questions, even though Peter said “Yes” what he was really saying was “No.” Jesus asked, “Peter, do you agape me?” and in saying, “Yes, I phileo you,” Peter was actually saying, “No, I do not, cannot, and will not be able to agape you. But I do phileo you, and that’s the most I can honestly offer.”

The night of Jesus’ crucifixion gave Peter a glimpse into his own soul, and he knows what resides there, and so he answers Jesus honestly.

Anyway, the fact that Peter says “Yes,” but actually gives a modified “No” made me wonder if Martha wasn’t doing something similar in John 11, for if you look at the text carefully, she does not say that she believes what Jesus asks her. Instead, she states her belief in something else entirely, and in fact, a few verses later, when Jesus tells her to have some men roll away the stone, she proves that she did not believe what He said, because she argues with Jesus about rolling away the stone! This is where Jesus reiterates to her what He told her previously, that He was the resurrection and the life. If she had truly believed Him, she would not have argued with him later in the chapter.

A New Reading of John 11

So now, I am wondering if John 11 could be read this way. The setup is the same, but the results are much different:

Scene: [Mary and Martha are pissed off because they had sent a message to Jesus that Lazarus was sick (John 11:2), and Jesus had not come. Now, four days after Lazarus has died (John 11:39), Jesus decides to finally show up. Mary couldn’t bear to face Jesus, but Martha went out meet Him (John 11:20).]

Martha: Too bad you didn’t get here five days ago … when Lazarus was still alive … when we called you to come. I’m angry at you, but I still believe that God is with you (John 11:21-22).

Jesus: Your brother will rise again (John 11:23).

Martha: (Rolls her eyes and thinks, “What a terrible thing to say at a funeral. How does that help me now?”). Of course he will, in the future resurrection along with everyone else (John 11:24).

Jesus: I’m not talking about the future resurrection event. I am talking about me. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even though he dies physically, will then live physically, and will never die for all eternity. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26).

Martha: That’s kind of crazy talk. Look, I believe you are the Christ, the promised Jewish Messiah. Isn’t that enough? (John 11:27).

Scene: Jesus says nothing, but looks at her with love filled eyes. They travel to the tomb of Lazarus. Jesus weeps. The people wonder why Jesus, if He loved Lazarus so much, couldn’t have healed him from his sickness (John 11:37).

Jesus: Take away the stone from the tomb (John 11:39a).

Martha: Are you okay Jesus? He’s dead. If you wanted to say your final goodbye, you should have done that four days ago when we called you. By now he stinks. Let him rest in peace (John 11:39b).

Jesus: Didn’t I tell you that I am the resurrection and the life? You didn’t really indicate that you believed me, but now I am going to show you that it’s true. Tell them to roll the stone away (John 11:40).

Scene: [Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Big party ensues (John 11:41-44).]

There is something compelling to me about this reading, but the main problem I have with it is that it messes with my understanding of John 20:31.

But what about John 20:31?

In the past, I used to think that John 20:31 was teaching that believing that Jesus is the Christ was the same thing as believing in Jesus for eternal life. But now I am not so sure.

Maybe, if this alternative reading of John 11 is true, then an alternative explanation for John 20:31 is also required.

Maybe John 20:31 is not teaching that believing that Jesus is the Christ is the same thing as believing in Jesus for eternal life, but rather, believing that Jesus is the Christ helps lead a person to believing in Jesus for eternal life.

This, after all, seems to be what happened to Martha.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will have eternal life. Do you believe this?”

She said, “No, but I believe you the Christ.”

Based on this belief, Jesus went on to show her that as the Christ, she could also believe in Him for eternal life.

Remember, at that time, most Jewish people thought that the Messiah, the Christ, would just be another human being with a special connection to God. They did not believe the Messiah would actually be God incarnate. Maybe Jesus is trying to move Martha from belief in Him as the Messiah to belief in Him as God in the flesh?

This also may explain why the apostles went about preaching what they did in book of Acts (see Acts 5:42; 9:22; 17:2-3; 18:5, 28).

Anyway, I am just curious what all of you think about that. Let me know!

It’s impossible to believe the entire gospel

By Jeremy Myers

15 Comments

I began these three posts on the gospel by saying that “You don’t have to believe the entire gospel to receive eternal life.”

Hopefully after reading the previous two posts (Gospel 1 and Gospel 2), you can see why my statement is true.

If the gospel is Jesus Christ and all truth is related to Him, then it is impossible to believe the entire gospel. The most we can do is believe certain truths of the gospel. When we say we “believe the gospel” or “believe in Jesus” this is a shorthand way of saying that we believe certain truths of the gospel. Since each person is at a different place in their theological development and their walk with God, it is likely that each person believes a different set of gospel truths.

In fact, it is quite likely that there are billions of people on earth today who believe certain truths of the gospel, and yet have not received eternal life.

Why not?

Because they haven’t yet believed the part of the gospel which pertains to eternal life, namely, that eternal life is given to those who believe in Jesus for it (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47).

One gospel truth is that we are sinners. And most people believe this truth. But nowhere does Scripture say that believing we are sinners results in receiving eternal life.

So also with the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Countless millions of people believe that about 2000 years ago, there was a man named Jesus who lived in Israel, preached sermons, performed miracles, was crucified on a cross, was buried, and rose again three days later from the dead. But — are you ready for this? — although these truths are extremely central to the gospel, nowhere does Scripture say that those who believe these things have received eternal life.

Many of those who believe these wonderful truths about the gospel, have not yet believed in Jesus for eternal life, but are instead, believing in themselves, their good works, their “being a good person”, their religious activity in a particular church, or a whole variety of others human ideas about how to receive eternal life.

It is one of the greatest tragedies of church history that millions of people can believe hundreds and maybe even thousands of gospel truths, but not believe the one truth which is found at the very heart of the gospel, which is that God gives eternal life to anybody and everybody who simply and only believes in Jesus Christ for it.

Though one does not need to believe the entire gospel to receive eternal life (and nobody can believe all of it anyway), one of the central truths at the heart of the gospel which must be believed is the truth about God’s absolutely free offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Eternal life is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

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Is Theological Certainty Possible?

By Jeremy Myers

19 Comments

A reader recently sent in the following question:

I’m currently involved in a discussion and was asked this specific question:”Do you have an absolute certainty that when you die you will go to heaven?” What is your take, if you have the time?

Here is my attempt at a response, but I would love for you to weigh in on this subject in the comment section below…

Whew! What a question. In years past I would say “Yes.” But in recent years, I am not sure what “absolute certainty” even means.

To have absolute certainty about anything, you must also have absolute certainty about a whole series of other ideas that lead up to and support the one idea you are trying to have certainty about.

I suppose, if I were pressed, I would say that faith is like an “on-off” switch. It is not a dimmer switch. So you either believe something or you don’t. But in any single belief, there are often a multitude of other beliefs which lead up to it. Maybe you believe all the links in that chain up to the belief in question, or maybe you don’t. So if all the links in that chain are switched “on” then you can be said to have absolute certainty in that belief. But if all the links are not switched on, then you probably do not have absolute certainty.

[Read more…]

What is dead faith? (James 2:14-26)

Three Key Terms in James 2:14-26

The Context of James 2:14-26

So what is DEAD faith in James 2:16, 26?

James 2:14-26 has nothing to do with eternal life

This Video Taught me What It Means to Have “Faith Like a Child”

Did Martha actually believe what Jesus said in John 11:25?

John 11:27 and John 21:15-17

A New Reading of John 11

But what about John 20:31?

It’s impossible to believe the entire gospel

Is Theological Certainty Possible?

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