Grace in Focus - Episode Summary

Episode: How Should We Explain James 2 to Those Who Reject Eternal Security?
Date: December 18, 2025
Hosts: Bob Wilkin & Sam Ma
Podcast: Grace in Focus (Grace Evangelical Society)

Overview

This concise 13-minute episode dives into a perennial theological debate: how to interpret James 2, especially verses about "faith without works is dead," in discussions about assurance of salvation and eternal security. Bob Wilkin and Sam Ma respond to a listener’s question on how to address James 2 when people argue it undermines eternal security and supports salvation by works. They explore context, language, and theological assumptions underlying common objections—offering clear distinctions between justification and sanctification in Free Grace theology.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener's Dilemma: James 2 as Objection to Eternal Security

• Listener "James" shares his background: moved from four-point Calvinism to believing in eternal security but finds James 2 a frequent rebuttal in debates.
• His usual arguments:
  • James never explicitly mentions "hell," "lake of fire," or eternal condemnation.
  • The letter addresses believers (“brethren”).
  • “Dead faith” implies the faith was once alive.
• He asks for more effective discussion points.

2. Assurance in Calvinism vs. Free Grace

• Bob Wilkin contextualizes the struggle for assurance in Calvinism:

  “A 4 or 5 point Calvinist would lack assurance...because, if Paul himself wasn't sure he was going to persevere...well then we can't be sure." (03:43)

• In Free Grace theology:

  “We need to realize that if we simply believe in Jesus, we have everlasting life and we're secure forever.” (04:26)

• Core of evangelism: present the promise of eternal life that can’t be lost.
• Once believed, security is not contingent on perseverance or continued belief.

3. Evaluating Common Arguments About James 2

• Bob Wilkin critiques the effectiveness of James' three arguments:
  • “No eternal condemnation in James”
    • Not persuasive, since most interpret “save” (sozo) in James 2:14 as salvation from hell.

      "You're going to need to get into what 'save' means here." (05:24)

  • “Addressed to brethren”
    • Many explain this away by positing "true" vs. "false" believers.

      “Most people think there are two types of believers, true professors and false professors.” (06:07)

  • “Dead faith implies it was alive”
    • Wilkin clarifies the real point:

      "What's dead is not the faith, it's the faith that lacks works that's dead. It's still faith." (07:03)

4. Contextual and Linguistic Clarification

• James 2:1-13 Context: The passage is about partiality in church, not about proving salvation.
  • Favoritism toward the rich vs. poor leads into the “faith without works” passage.
• ‘Brethren’ and Salvation Context in James
  • References like James 1:18 support that the audience is born again.
    • Read aloud: "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth..." (08:19)
• Meaning of ‘Save’ (Sozo)
  • In James, always refers to rescue from temporal trouble or judgment, not hell.
  • James 2:14: “Can faith save him?” means can faith save from negative consequences in life.

5. What Does “Faith Without Works is Dead” Mean?

• It’s not about whether someone is truly saved.
• Wilkin:

  “If I don't put what I believe into practice, then I'm going to reap the consequences.” (09:12) “Faith without works is dead, means faith without works is unprofitable.” (09:47)

• Example:

  “Let's say you get married and you believe that you will love your wife as Christ loves the church, but you don't do it. Is that going to benefit you or her if you don't love her as Christ loves the church? Nope.” (11:29)

• The point:

  "Is your faith productive or not?...If I say faith without works, it's still faith. It's just without works." (10:48)

6. Application

• Abraham & Rahab: Cited as examples of lived, active faith, not to question their justification.
• The practical upshot:

  “James 2:14–26 is all about putting our faith into practice.”

• For unbelievers, first “work” is to believe (cf. John 3:16); for believers, it’s application and growth.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the heart of the debate:

  “We need to realize that if we simply believe in Jesus, we have everlasting life and we're secure forever.” — Bob Wilkin (04:26)

• On Calvinist doubt:

  “He calls Puritanism and modern Puritanism a gospel of doubt. And I think Engelsma is right.” — Bob Wilkin (03:26)

• On what’s dead in dead faith:

  “It's the faith that lacks works that's dead. So...what you want to do is get people to see that the issue here is not who's born again and who's not. The issue is, is your faith productive or not?” — Bob Wilkin (10:40)

• Everyday application:

  “If I don't put what I believe into practice, then I'm going to reap the consequences.” — Bob Wilkin (09:12)

• Summary of James 2:

  “James 2:14-26 is all about putting our faith into practice. That's what Abraham did when he offered up Isaac. That's what Rahab did when she sent the spies out...” — Bob Wilkin (11:56)

Suggested Resources

• Zane Hodges Commentary on James
• Free ebook and articles on James at faithalone.org
• YouTube videos by the Grace Evangelical Society

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:51 – Listener’s question about James 2 and debates on eternal security
• 03:20 – The struggle for assurance in Calvinist theology
• 04:26 – Free Grace position: security through belief in Jesus’ promise
• 05:24 – Problems with common debate arguments and the meaning of “save” in James
• 07:03 – Wilkin clarifies “faith without works is dead”
• 08:19 – Context: “brethren” means born again Christians (James 1:18)
• 09:12 – 11:29 – Everyday illustrations of unprofitable faith
• 11:56 – Practical summary and Abraham/Rahab as examples

Tone:
Clear, pastoral, patient, and focused on biblical nuance; Wilkin and Ma avoid polemics and instead encourage listeners to rightly divide the Word and keep the grace of God central.