Understanding James 2:19

Q. Could you explain James 2:19 in relation to salvation and works?  I’ve heard many use this verse to say “see, just believing isn’t enough for salvation because the demons believe and aren’t saved”.  They say your fruit is indicated by your “works”.  Can you put this into proper perspective?

A. James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”

A simple reading of the passage tells the story.  Believing there’s a God is not sufficient for salvation.  The Jews also believe there’s one God, and so do the liberal denominations who teach that you don’t have to be born again to be saved.  It takes the belief that He sent His son to die for us, and that His death was sufficient to save us.  When we believe that, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and will usually produce fruit of some kind in our lives.

People who say we have to generate good works to “prove” we’re saved are misinterpreting this verse.  Jesus said that the only work God requires of us is to believe in the One He sent (John 6:28-29) and the Bible is clear that salvation is based on belief alone.  John 3:16 is one of many examples.