It’s common sense to pursue righteousness
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The verse that caused Martin Luther to call the Book of James “an epistle of straw” was likely the verse that asks the question, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” (James 2:14). Martin Luther was fighting the ideas that had moved the practices of his church away from the truth of the Bible. His fight would eventually lead to the beginning of the Protestant denominations.
Luther’s biggest fight was against the idea that certain “works” the church assigned people could ensure or even obligate God’s favor. The people had been taught to believe that the pope’s words were as valid as the words of Scripture. Many in Luther’s day couldn’t read, so they acted on flawed human ideas rather than the teaching of Scripture.
We face those same issues today. We all have an individual responsibility to know God’s word and will and make our choices according to what we know God has said.
When James wrote about faith and deeds, he wasn’t talking about “earning” righteousness through our works. James was teaching that a person who truly has faith will reveal their faith by their works.
How does righteousness work?
I often teach that righteousness is found in a life that is “right with God.” The most important thing we can do daily is make choices that honor God and allow him to pour his favor and blessings into our lives.
James described righteousness using this example: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:15–17). In other words, if our faith is only seen through what we say we believe, it’s less likely someone will believe what we say about our faith.
When a person is truly right with God, they will say and do the things that reveal a close relationship with God. People are drawn to God when they see him at work in the lives of his children.
James wrote, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:18–19). James was teaching his people that true believers don’t simply believe there is a God; they believe in, and on, the One true God as their King.
True believers don’t just believe the Bible has good ideas; they believe it is the foundation for all that is truth. True believers don’t just believe Jesus existed; they believe he lived and died to provide their eternal salvation.
Righteousness works when true believers live their faith in Christ and proclaim him as their Lord.
Righteousness has always been witnessed through obedience.
James then uses Abraham to further his point: “You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone” (James 2:20–24).
Abraham wasn’t found righteous because he knew God’s word; he was found righteous when he obeyed God’s word. All of us who have grown up in church, attended Sunday School and Bible study, and even read Christian blogs and articles like this can sometimes feel confident in the amount of Bible we have learned. According to James and Abraham, the righteous need to find confidence in the amount of God’s word that they have obeyed.
Who and what do you see as righteous?
It is humbling to realize that when Jesus began his earthly ministry, he didn’t choose the leaders of that day to be his disciples. He did, however, except for Judas, choose those who were righteous. They were fishermen who led their business with godly standards. Those men gave up a great deal to walk with Jesus. Some, like Matthew, a tax collector, were actually viewed as unrighteous by their peers. Matthew walked away from a lucrative job to know Jesus and learn from him.
Sometimes, we don’t see righteousness the same way God sees it. James said, “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26–26). God, in his great grace, rewards righteousness even in the lives of people whose choices were unrighteous. And all of us have made sinful choices at some point. Rahab is an excellent example of why God told us not to judge the righteousness of others.
What is righteousness that works?
Paul taught Timothy to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:11-12a). Common sense tells us that none of us will luck into righteousness. Paul quoted several lessons from the Old Testament when he said, “As it is written, there is no one righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10).
To “fight the good fight” literally means to “agonize the great agony.” We can pursue many things in this life, but Paul taught us that the good pursuit, the great “agony” of our lives, should result from running hard after righteousness.
What “works” are you busy with today that will bring God honor and glory and reveal your faith? Which works will simply use up your time rather than invest it in heaven’s treasure?
Our works don’t earn our salvation, but they sure do reveal we have been born again as a child of the King. It only makes good sense to pursue righteousness as our highest goal. If we run our best race, we will also fight the good fight. The trophy for completing that race is eternal.
