*Editor’s Note: This blog post is a portion of Pastor Austin McCormick’s sermon manuscript from a message titled “Faith Without Works is Dead, Pt.3.” The author was greatly helped by the commentators Matthew Poole and Francis Turretin in arranging these four points. For a more thorough examination of the differences between Paul and James on justification, the author encourages readers to consult Poole and Turretin.
In James 2:21, James uses the word “justified” for the first time in his letter. And within this part of his argument, he teaches that we are “justified by works” three times. Upon an initial glossing of this phrase we have an apparent, although not an actual, contradiction to Paul’s teaching in Romans 3:28 that we are justified by faith alone. I have intentionally called this an “apparent” contradiction because the phrases themselves initially seem to contradict one another. But when we consider them in their respective contexts, we should be able to discern that they are not actually contradicting one another. Rather, their teachings perfectly harmonize. Let us then look at four contextual factors that help us see that Paul and James are not at odds with one another.
I. Different Contexts
II. Different usages of “faith”
III. Different usages of “justify”
IV. Different types of persons
Summary
Paul teaches that an ungodly person is declared “not guilty” through the instrumentality of faith alone, which rests in Christ alone.
James teaches that a believer is proven “not a pretender” when they produce good works that flow from their union with Christ, and not by a mere profession only.
Use #1: We need both Paul and James on justification.
Use #2: We should unwaveringly affirm that the Scriptures cannot be broken, that there are no faults or errors in them, and that they are the very words of God Himself, who cannot lie.
Austin McCormick is a Pastor of Covenant Baptist Church (Clarksville, TN). He holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Spurgeon College, a M.A. in Pastoral Studies and a M.Div from Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. By God’s free and sovereign grace, Austin was saved early in his adulthood. He is married to Rachel, and together they have three children: Geneva, Benjamin, and Bristol.
