We’ve all heard that one so many times, it probably seems a bit trite. It’s a phrase that was coined by James Carville in 1992, when he was a campaign strategist for Bill Clinton. His phrase was directed at the campaign’s workers and intended as one of three messages for them to focus on. Well, it seems like it’s a main theme for the ongoing campaign for the next U.S. President, and by both sides, at that! And after all, making a decent living and being able to afford some of life’s little extras while putting away something for the future is a huge concern for most, if not all Americans, especially for Ed and Norma Normally!

Before I get too far down this rabbit trail, let’s get to the point. How many of you ever been involved in a discussion about a passage of Scripture or particular topic in which your frustration level has risen to the point of wanting to scream “It’s in the text, stupid! I can’t lie. I have, and it’s not a demonstration of proper Christian behavior.

That brings me to the real topic of this article, the clarity of Scripture. There’s even a great theological term for it; “perspicuity”, meaning clarity or understandability. If we are talking about the text of Scripture we’re not just talking about a single passage or paragraph, but we are also talking about spiritual principles, and especially those that seem to say one thing in one place in the Bible, and something different in other places. Let’s get to it!

THE CLARITY OF SCRIPTURE

This principle tells us to let the Bible speak for itself. We should allow Scripture to interpret Scripture, since it is its own best interpreter and commentator. Move from the known to the unknown by interpreting unclear passages in the light of those which are clear. When wrestling with a difficult passage or seemingly contradictory passages consult other verses which deal with the same topic. Now that might seem simple in theory, but it’s always good to have some examples. We’ll look at just one example, having to do with a topic near and dear to our hearts, salvation.

1. Are we saved and justified by faith alone, or by faith plus works? Most, if not all of you are thinking “That’s easy, we are saved by faith!” You even have passages from the Bible already tucked away in your memory, waiting to be called upon at a moment’s notice. You’re standing at home plate, batting cleanup in the lineup, smiling at the opposing pitcher!

Then, either while reading your own Bible during your private time, or during a conversation with others, you come face to face with the following passages (NKJV):

“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (Jas 2:17)

“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” (Jas 2:24)

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (Jas 2:26)

What do you do? How do you respond to that curveball? First, stay calm, no matter how adamantly that guy in the Facebook group presses his point. Calm down and politely share the passages stored away for just such a moment, and others, if you have them:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)

“So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Act 16:31)

“Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” (Rom 3:28)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. (Joh 3:16)

Your conversation partner will either stubbornly stick by his guns and say to you, “You didn’t read James?. It’s right there in the text!” Or he might claim that some of the passages you shared don’t have the word “alone” and that Martin Luther added the word alone to Rom 3:28 and therefore works are required for salvation, or he might realize that both sets of passages MUST be true, since God wrote the book (the goal). The authors of those passages (James, Paul, and Luke) were divinely inspired to write what they wrote. It’s either that or somebody’s lying.

That still leaves one question that needs to be answered. What does ‘justification’ in James 2:24 mean? This is where the fun begins. Let’s examine the context of James, chapter 2, beginning with verse 14:

“ ¹⁸But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²²Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. ²⁵Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? ²⁶For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

In that section of James, chapter 2 is there a connection between ‘faith’ and ‘works’? Is this a “DUH!!” moment, or what? Look again at verses 15-17 again: 

“¹⁵If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷Thus also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (emphasis mine)

James is most likely writing to predominately Jewish Christians in house churches outside of Palestine[i]. He is telling them that if there is someone in need among them and they just send them off with a blessing and don’t meet their need, their professed faith is dead, tot, Muerte!

Now back to verse 14:

“¹⁴What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”

What does this, along with the rest of this section of Scripture, tell us? Genuine, saving faith will always produce works. Conversely, ‘professed’ faith that doesn’t result in works was dead in the water to begin with. The justification spoken of in James, chapter 2 is justification before our fellow men.

I know that was a bit lengthy, but those two bits of Scripture, while presenting what looks like a clear contradiction is one of the best demonstrations of the letting Scripture interpret Scripture that I know of.

So what about those “James Carvill” moments? They are opportunities for stepping back, taking a deep breath, and becoming more Christlike in our communication skills!

BE BLESSED!

[i] Introduction to James (blueletterbible.org)