When laid side by side, Romans 3:28 and James 2:24 stir up a lot of questions, not to mention a lot of controversy.
Here is what Paul has to say about justification:
“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Romans 3:28)
Now compare that with what James has to say about justification:
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24)
The careful and close reader of these passages wonders, “Are Paul and James in conflict or in agreement? Are they enemies or allies?”
To show that James and Paul are allies with one another rather than enemies combating one another, consider this fictional dialogue between the two. In this fictional dialogue imagine that they’ve each just written their respective letters of James and Romans and are sitting down to read what the other has written before they send it off.
James: Paul, I’ve just read in Romans where you say “we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law,” what is your focus in that statement?
Paul: I’m focused on the root of justification, what theologians in centuries to come will call the instrumental cause of justification. And funny you should ask me about that, because I’ve just read in your letter where you say, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” what is your focus in that statement?
James: I’m focused on the fruit of justification, what theologians in centuries to come will call the primary evidence or consequence of justification. I’d imagine that people will find it a bit odd that we use the same word to focus on two different things. In what sense are you using the word “justified”?
Paul: I’m using justified in its “legal” sense, as in the legal declaration that God makes about our status before Him, namely that a sinner by faith in Christ is declared by God to be righteous. How about you, in what sense are you using the word “justified”?
James: I’m using justified in its “practical” sense, like when we say, “wisdom is justified by her deeds.” In that sense, we don’t mean wisdom is legally declared righteous by her deeds. We mean that the deeds of wisdom give practical evidence of the reality of wisdom. The deeds don’t declare wisdom to be wisdom, they demonstrate that wisdom is in fact wisdom. Now Paul, when you write this section in Romans what is the main question that you are seeking to answer?
Paul: I’m seeking to answer the question “What saves us? Is it faith or works?” How about you, what’s your driving question?
James: The question you’re seeking to answer is a good and necessary one, but I am seeking to answer a different question. My question is “what kind of faith saves us? Is it a faith without works? Or a faith that works?”
Paul: James, it seems like you’re combatting some serious error in your argument, what error would that be?
James: I’m seeking to combat the Antinomian, who regards works too little, by denying that the roots of faith necessarily produce the fruits of good works. It seems you’re combatting a serious error as well, care to explain?
Paul: Not at all. I’m seeking to combat the Legalist, who regards works too much, by affirming that our works can somehow merit the grace of God. I noticed that, you used Abraham as an example to make your case. I did the same thing. I was pointing out the occasion when Abraham was declared righteous namely by faith. How does your example of Abraham function in your argument?
James: I’m using a different episode in Abraham’s life to make a different point. I was pointing out the occasion when Abraham demonstrated his faith, namely through his works, through the obedience of faith.
Paul: I’m glad to hear that were in total agreement, even though we’re addressing different questions and combating different errors.
James: Me too. Time to send off the letters. I can’t imagine anyone getting confused by what we each have to say.
In summary, there is no conflict between James and Paul. They each have a different focus, a different question they’re answering, a different error they’re combating, one is looking at the roots of salvation, and one is looking at the fruits of salvation.
James is concerned that we have a faith that works, not just talks a big talk, or thinks big thoughts, but a faith that bears much fruit.