The concept of faith is a cornerstone of the Christian life. The sinner is saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), the believer is called to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), and without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Indeed, the Bible posits that whatever is done apart from faith is sin (Romans 14:23). But what kind of faith truly saves a person? Is it necessary to perform good works to be saved? How can one be certain they are exercising true, saving faith?
In his epistle, James addresses these critical questions by identifying three distinct kinds of faith. Through his incisive teaching, only one emerges as genuine and life-giving.
Dead Faith: Words and Knowledge Without Action
James begins by challenging the notion of a faith that is professed with the lips but is absent in deeds. “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” (James 2:14). He illustrates this with a poignant example: if a brother or sister is in desperate need of food and clothing, and a believer merely offers well-wishes—”Depart in peace, be warmed and filled”—without providing for their physical needs, what good is that? “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).
This “dead faith” manifests in two primary ways. Firstly, it is a faith where words are a substitute for works. Kind and pious sentiments are offered in place of tangible acts of love and compassion. Real faith, in contrast, responds to the basic necessities of others with action.
Secondly, faith is dead when knowledge is not accompanied by practice. A person may possess a wealth of knowledge about biblical doctrines but fail to apply them to their life. This stands in stark contrast to the examples of faith we see in Scripture. Noah, acting on his belief in God’s warning, built an ark (Hebrews 11:7). Abraham, in obedience to God’s call, left his homeland for an unknown destination (Hebrews 11:8). Their faith was alive because it acted upon the knowledge they had received from God. Knowledge is a necessary component of salvation (1 John 5:20), but when it remains purely intellectual, it is a dead and profitless faith.
Demonic Faith: Belief and Emotion Without Surrender
James then introduces a startling concept: even demons have faith. “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19). The faith of demons is not insignificant; they believe in the existence of God, the deity of Christ (Mark 3:11-12), the reality of a place of punishment (Luke 8:31), and that Jesus will be their ultimate judge (Matthew 8:29).
What, then, characterizes this “demonic faith”? It is a faith where emotion replaces action. Demons are not indifferent to the truths they believe; they “tremble.” Similarly, a person can be deeply moved by a sermon or stirred by a pressing need, yet fail to act upon the Word of God afterward. This emotional response, without a corresponding change in behavior, is not the hallmark of genuine faith.
It is crucial to note that emotion itself is not wrong. Feeling the power and reality of God’s Word is an important part of the Christian experience. However, when these feelings do not translate into a transformed will and tangible works, the faith is no different from that of demons, who believe but remain in rebellion.
Dynamic Faith: A Living, Active, and Life-Changing Force
The final and only true form of faith James presents is what can be termed “dynamic faith.” This is a faith that is real, powerful, and manifests in a changed life. “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20).
Dynamic faith is, first and foremost, based on God’s Word. As Romans 10:17 states, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” It is a faith that receives the “implanted word” (James 1:21). The object of our faith is paramount; no amount of belief directed at the wrong thing will avail.
Crucially, this faith is dynamic because it inevitably erupts into action. James points to two powerful Old Testament examples: Abraham and Rahab. Abraham was “justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar” (James 2:21). Here we see that “faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect” (James 2:22). His action fulfilled the Scripture that declared his belief was accounted to him as righteousness. His works were the visible evidence of his inner faith.
Likewise, “was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?” (James 2:25). Rahab’s faith was a complete, three-part response. She had intellectual belief: “I know that the Lord has given you the land” (Joshua 2:9). She had emotional belief, stating that the people’s “hearts melted” in fear (Joshua 2:11). But her faith became dynamic when she acted, hiding the spies and saying, “I have shown you kindness” (Joshua 2:12). Her actions of receiving and protecting the messengers were the outward proof of her genuine faith.
This dynamic faith engages the whole person. Dead faith may touch only the mind. Demonic faith involves both the mind and emotions. But dynamic faith captures the mind, the emotions, and the will. The mind understands the truth, the heart desires the truth, and the will acts upon that truth. The “good works” that result from this kind of faith are not to be confused with the “works of the law” (Galatians 2:16) or “dead works” (Hebrews 9:14), but are the natural outflow of a heart transformed by God.
Conclusion: The Spirit of Faith
James concludes with a powerful analogy: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Works are to faith what the spirit is to the body. The spirit animates the body, giving it life and movement. In the same way, works are the animation, the visible manifestation, of a genuine, dynamic faith. It is this living, active faith that bears fruit for the glory of God and provides the assurance of true salvation.
