Henry Krabbendam - James - World Evangelical Alliance

active faith is not faith and therefore can never be shown. On the other hand,
true faith is operative by definition and will be displayed! It can never “‘exist’
in isolation from ‘works’” (Cargal, 125). The latter are not “an ‘added extra’
to faith, but are an essential expression of it” (PDavids, 121).
This, of course, is fully in line with the OT (Ps. 1:1-2; 32:1-9), Christ’s
teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 7:24ff) and elsewhere (Mt
25:34ff), as well as with other NT writers (Rom. 8:1; 1 John 3:14, 19; 5:13).
Although works are not the foundation of faith, the ground of confidence, or
the cause of glory, they are definitely the evidence of election, the encouragement
of assurance, and the beginning of glory (Manton, 239). Remember
James 1:27!
After the main statement either James himself in the first scenario, or the
imaginary speaker in the second one, undoubtedly a true believer and as such
James’ spokesman, adds an additional dimension to his challenge by asking
the addressee a further, strongly ironical question (PDavids, 66). This question
nails the objector-addressee to the wall in a passionate, impatient, and
possibly sarcastic (Brosend, 75) appeal, if not implicit indictment (Zodhiates,
II, 32). “Do you ‘per chance’ subscribe to the monotheistic creed that ‘God is
one’ (See Deut. 6:4)? Congratulations! But may I remind you that this “only”
puts you on a par with the demons? They also (kai) subscribe to this creed
(Zodhiates, II, 28; see also Mt. 8:28-34)? 247 Come to think of it, do you wish
to know why I resort to this argument? Because the demons appear to have it
over you! In fact, they are way ahead of you! Theirs is an ‘active’ subscription.
They tremble in fear. Compared to them you are subpar. You do not
even rise to their level!” 248
The devils, James suggests, have a better understanding of what faith
truly is than the imaginary addressee does. They do something. They at least
shudder (See also Mk. 1:24; 3:11; 5:7). Already “reserved in everlasting
chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day,” they are well
aware of the torment that is waiting for them (Jude 6). In short, the way the
addressee goes about it ranks him below a demon. This passage, virtually
dripping with irony, conclusively indicates that genuine faith must, and does,
take God so seriously that it will be active (See also Deut. 6:4). True faith
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There are undoubtedly many additional truths to which they formally subscribe (Acts
19:14)!
248
Zodhiates, I, 27, points out in this context that the Bible never seeks to prove the existence
of God. To deny his existence is to be a fool. Apparently, “there can be no intelligence (not
even demonic intelligence) without that intelligence consciously or unconsciously submitting
to the existence of God.”
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