How about a little
context. In
James 2:14, we read of one who
says/claims he has faith but has no works (to
evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a
bare profession of faith. So, when James asks, "Can
that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an
empty profession of faith/dead faith. So, when James asks, "Can
that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an
empty profession of faith/dead faith. *So, James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to
show the reality of the faith
professed by the individual (
James 2:18) and
demonstrate that the faith
claimed (
James 2:14) by the individual is
genuine. Simple!
In
James 2:21, notice closely that James does not say that Abraham's work of offering up Isaac resulted in God accounting Abraham as righteous. The
accounting of Abraham's faith as righteousness was made in
Genesis 15:6,
many years before his work of offering up Isaac recorded in Genesis 22. The work of Abraham did not have some kind of intrinsic merit to account him as righteous, but it
showed or manifested the genuineness of his faith. (
James 2:18) That is the "sense" in which Abraham was "justified by works." He was
shown to be righteous.
In
James 2:22, faith made perfect or complete by works means bring to maturity, to complete like love in
1 John 4:18. It doesn't mean that Abraham's faith remained dead in
Genesis 15:6 until many years later, after he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22. It also does not mean that Abraham was finally saved based on the merits of his works after he offered up Isaac on the altar many years later in Genesis 22 either.
When Abraham performed the good work in Genesis 22; he
fulfilled the expectations created by the pronouncement of his faith in Genesis 15:6. In
James 2:23, the scripture was
fulfilled in vindicating or demonstrating that Abraham believed God and was accounted as righteous. Yet Abraham was still
accounted as righteous based on his faith (
Genesis 15:6)
not his works (
Romans 4:2-3)
long before he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22.
In
James 2:24, James is not using the word "justified" here to mean "accounted as righteous" but is
shown to be righteous. James is discussing the
evidence of faith (
says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works -
James 2:14-18) and
not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (
Romans 4:2-3) Works bear out the justification that already came by faith.
Greek/Hebrew Definitions
Strong's #1344: dikaioo (pronounced dik-ah-yo'-o)
1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2.
to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
In
Matthew 12:37, we read - "For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned." This is because our words (and our works) reveal the condition of our hearts. Words/works are evidence for, or against a man being in a state of righteousness.
God is said to have been
justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (
Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. Notice that the NIV reads,
“acknowledged that God's way was right.." The ESV reads,
“they declared God just.” This is the "sense" in which God was “justified.” He was
shown to be righteous.
Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is
justified/vindicated/shown to be right by her deeds."