Justification

We are often told by many religious people that the book of James is proof that there are things we must do in order to be saved or in order to assure our salvation. They tell us that we must do things to "make grace available". I have heard it said that God, "only helps those who help themselves" and such like.

Does james stand in contrast to the Pauline epistles? Here is my take on the oft misunderstood passage, of James 2:24. Look at these two seemingly contradictory verses...

Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

The above verses seem to stand in opposition to each other. How can both be true? The answer is that there is a semantical range of meaning for many words in the new testament. Many of the errors we tend to make when reading our bible is in assuming that a word means the same thing every time we come across it. This is not so, and a simple look at the biblical uses of the word "justify" makes that obvious. There are two types of justification in the bible when speaking of man. Understanding that will help you a great deal.

There is god justifying man and there is man justifying himself. god justifies man through imputed righteousness received through faith. Man justifies himself through works. That is the justification spoken of in James. the justification in James 2:24 is Not man receiving justification from God because of works. It is man proving or showing his faith by his works.

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

This verse is speaking of God justifying man and no man will attain it by works.

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

This is how we attain God's justification, through faith. This is saving justification.

Luk 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

Here a man is attempting to justify himself by trying to illicit a particular answer from Christ.

Luk 7:35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

Here wisdom is justified.

1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Here Paul speaks of Christ being justified.Do you see how justify is not always synonymous with salvation?

Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Both of the verses above about Abraham are true, because the definition of the word justify is different in each case. James speaks of man justifying his faith by his actions. It is showing what you believe by what you do. Don't let people tell you that there is anything you have to do to be saved. God did it all for you. James calls us to demostrate our faith by our actions, as in "faith working by love." God justified us when we believed. That is the only justification we need for salvation.

(for more on this topic, see a book by Michael Pearl : Justification and the book of James)