James was not saying that a person who responds to another Christian's need, as in verses 15-16, shows that he has failed to exercise saving faith and is devoid of eternal life. He was saying that faith, if work (i.e., obedience to the Word of God) does not accompany it, is dead.
"We can make statements in all sincerity of mind and emotion: I feel sorry for the poor; I don't condone racism.' But James will say, What good is that if you aren't doing something to help the poor or to heal the distrust and injustice between races?' Some Christians attempt a stance of personal belief without personal action, saying, for example, I personally disagree with abortion, but I won't try to change others' minds.' James persists in asking us: What are you doing to protect the victims--both the victimized baby and the victimized mother?"107
"Dead"does not mean non-existent but inactive, dormant, useless (cf. v. 14). This is a very important point.
"It has not usually been considered too deeply why James chose the term dead' to describe a faith that is not working. But the moment we relate this to the controlling theme of saving the life,' everything becomes plain. The issue that concerns James is an issue of life or death. (He is notdiscussing salvation from hell!) The truth which he has in mind is that of Proverbs: Righteousness tendeth to life . . . he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.' [Prov. 11:19; cf. Prov. 10:27; 12:28; 13:14; 19:16] Can a deadfaith save the Christian from death? The question answers itself. The choice of the adjective dead' is perfectly suited to James' argument."108
