Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 2:18-26. Careful attention to context is key to seeing that St. James and St. Paul do not contradict each other. James is concerned with how a Christian’s faith is seen before the world. Faith and works cannot be separated; faith is seen by the world based on works. Faith that isn’t seen in works is the faith of demons; there is knowledge and assent, but no trust. This faith of demons only shudders before God and is useless before Him and before neighbor. James brings up two historical examples to make his point: Abraham and Rahab. Abraham was justified by works in the sense that he was shown to be righteous before the world. His justifying faith, given to him by God’s declaration in Genesis 15, was active in his good work of offering his son as a sacrifice at the Word of God in Genesis 22. In this way, Abraham was shown to be justified by his works. Similarly, Rahab the prostitute had justifyi