For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV  

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For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 ESV 

 

These are fundamental truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We cling to them, live by them, and proclaim them to others. But at first glance in his letter to Jewish believers scattered over the Roman Empire, it seems like someone forgot to teach them to James, the half-brother of Jesus.

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James makes jarring statements such as, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (James 2:24), and “the one who looks into the perfect law... will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:25 ESV). Does James believe the same gospel we do? 

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Upon further examination, the answer is a resounding YES! He believes in Jesus so much that he knows the result of genuine faith in the gospel: heart transformation that results in doing the good works of the law and walking in true wisdom. James teaches us that Christ doesn’t just fulfill the law for us, but he works to complete the law in us. He shows us that Christ is the true source of wisdom, giving us stability and joy in a hostile world as we walk in his way. James calls us to a single-minded pursuit of gospel-centered wisdom so that we might become whole.