Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
June 15, 1967
NUMBER 7, PAGE 6b-7a

"Can Faith Save Him?"

Kenneth A. Frazier

The above question was asked by James in chapter two and verse fourteen of his book. Phillips translation of the New Testament expresses it this way "Can that sort of faith save him?" If you put this question to the average member of a denomination in our day they would undoubtedly reply in the affirmative. "Yes! faith can save him."

Such a question and answer is meaningless unless we understand the kind of faith James has under study. It is a faith without works, or as Phillips gives it, faith without action. Now what is the difference between this kind of faith described by James and the kind of faith described in the Methodist discipline? There we are told that the doctrine of justification by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort. Faith without works and faith only are one and the same.

So whatever answer James gives to the question "Can that sort of faith save him? would also apply to the Baptists and the Presbyterians, as well as the Methodists.

The Constitution of the United Presbyterian Church says "Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;" The Baptist church manual says that justification including the pardon of sins and the promise of eternal life is bestowed on man "... solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood."

Having established the fact that the Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians teach justification by faith only, the next step is to ask "DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACH JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ONLY?" Let's get out our New Testaments and search diligently. Get out your concordance and look up every use of the word only or the word faith or the word alone or the word solely and see if you can find them connected together as the above church manuals say. Now it is not fair to the Lord to say "But this is what he means!" when you read a passage that teaches justification by faith. I believe we are justified by faith alone. When you find the New Testament scripture that says we are saved by faith only please call me or write me and give me the passage.

Back to our question. "Can faith save him?" Hear James' answer: "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (Vs. 17) PLEASE, PLEASE notice the word alone in the verse. This is the same word used by the Presbyterians to modify the kind of faith that they believe will save a man. Yet here James says that faith being alone is DEAD! This ought to settle once and for all the matter man's being saved by faith only.

As to what will save a man James also answers that. He says "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (vs. 22) James is simply saying that faith that obeys is the faith that saves. Paul wrote about the gospel: ...made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" (Rom. 16:26c) Why is it so difficult to take just what the Lord said in Mark 16:16? "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. The Lord commanded faith and action before salvation. He commanded faith and baptism. Peter commanded repentance and baptism before remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) Isn't this the same as what James taught?

The example of Jesus himself is used by the writer of Hebrews to stress the importance of obedience. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" (5;8,9)

Jesus wasn't made perfect by faith alone and neither can we expect to be.