Discrimination & Salvation Actions

God Does Not Discriminate in Salvation

Discrimination against the poor violates the demand of love for the neighbor, which is the centerpiece of
Jesus’ referral to the greatest Law.

The believers to whom James writes are acting in direct contradiction to this central demand of God’s law.
James suggests that their actions suggest that they are among those people who may be “deceived” about the reality of their relationship to God.

Discrimination in the Church Is Wrong James 2:1–7

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
James insists that a person who has faith in this Lord of glory, should not show favoritism. The word favoritism, translated “receive the face,” means to make judgments about people based on external appearance. James applies this principle to differences in dress that reflect contrasting social/economic situations.

James gives an example of the favoritism: Two people, distinguished from each other by their dress. One is wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, the other, poor, enters the church, and is treated drastically different because of economic status. The poor person is treated with disdain, and even contempt.

James now explains why such favoritism is wrong. Favoritism is wrong because it contradicts God’s own attitude, as revealed in His gracious election to save fallen mankind. 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

God’s choice of the poor to inherit His kingdom is evidence of His regard for them. It demonstrates
and magnifies how wrong Christians are to discriminate against these very poor people. James’ reason,
then, for prohibiting discrimination against the poor is that it manifests an attitude contrary to that of God.

James moves from the practices of the rich and of the economic sphere to the religious realm: The rich are
‘slandering the noble name of Him to whom you belong.’

James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy Name  by the which you are called?

Since favoritism violates the command of love, which is the heart of kingdom law, the final conclusion James draws follows as a matter of strict logic: believers who show favoritism are convicted by the law as guilty.

Personal Salvation Always Displays Clear Actions

The chapter opens with a direct address to the readers, “my brothers,” raising the question of the efficacy of a faith unaccompanied by deeds.

An objector protests that faith and deeds need not always go together (v.18a). James’ first response is practical: only by deeds can faith truly be demonstrated. James is not arguing that works must be added to faith. His point is that genuine biblical faith will inevitably be characterized by works. Trying to add works to a false faith is an exercise in futility. Only by “accepting the implanted word” (1:21) and experiencing the inner transformation that it brings can any of us produce works pleasing to God.

James caps his response to the objector (you is singular), by comparing his faith to the faith of demons. What James says here is similar to his point of departure in v. 14. In both situations, faith involves a verbal profession by demons that does not go beyond words.

The demons perfectly illustrate the poverty of verbal profession in and of itself. James might be implying, as demons, knowing something of the true God, yet lacking true faith: still shudder in fear of judgment, & so ought people whose verbal profession is not followed up with actions.

But James is not content simply to mention Abraham’s “works” in general: he makes particular reference to one of the most famous episodes in Abraham’s life—the offering of his son Isaac (Genesis 22). James qualifies faith as the ultimate cause of the works through which Abraham was justified.

Paul & James Agree

If a sinner can get into relationship with God only by faith (Paul), the ultimate validation of that relationship takes into account the works that true faith must inevitably produce (James).

The spirit is the life principle that animates the body; without the spirit the body ceases to be. In the same way, James suggests, faith that is not accompanied by works ceases to be.

“O it is a living, busy active mighty thing, this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good things incessantly. It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has already done this, and is constantly doing them. Whoever does not do such works, however, is an unbeliever. He gropes and looks around for faith and good works, but knows neither what faith is nor what good works are. Yet he talks and talks, with many words, about faith and good works.” ~Luther