Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Seminary
    • Seminary Info
    • GES Seminary Curriculum
    • GES Seminary Faculty
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
We All Stumble — James 2:10; 3:2; 4:17

We All Stumble — James 2:10; 3:2; 4:17

June 5, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Good, James, Sin

The idea that James teaches the necessity of good works to be eternally saved comes up against a very strong objection: James says that absolutely no one is qualified to be saved on the basis of their works.

On the one hand, James emphasizes that we all sin.

For we all stumble in many ways (James 3:2a).

Most people would agree. They would readily admit, “Nobody’s perfect.” But they still might hold on to the hope that, nevertheless, they are still better than the average sinner.

Well, James allows no room for that kind of spiritual blindness. He makes clear that one sin is all it takes to be guilty before God. Why?

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all (James 2:10).

How many felonies does it take to be a felon? One.

How many laws do you need to break to be a lawbreaker? One.

How many sins does it take to be a sinner? One.

When you sin—and remember, we all stumble, he says—you are guilty of breaking the whole law. Period. As far as God is concerned, you are a sinner.

But what is a sin? In case you’re wondering, James defines it for us.

It goes deeper than breaking outward commandments:

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17).

When I read that, I feel a deep sense of conviction, don’t you? If my salvation depended on never sinning again, I’d be lost by the end of the day.

I occasionally meet people who say they are sinless. What they usually mean is they do not commit any overtly sinful acts like murdering, committing adultery, or getting drunk. In my opinion, they have a very shallow idea of what sin is. They also have a very shallow idea of what it means to be good.

James points out sin’s deepest dimension—not just to stumble, but to leave the good undone.

Do you love consistently? Do you always do what is good? Are you ever lazy in doing good deeds? Then you’ve left the good undone. That means you’ve sinned.

When I look at these three verses, it astounds me that anyone could think James was telling people how to be eternally saved. Do you think that a man as sensitive to sin as James would think he could be saved by being good?

I think the commentators might have stumbled.

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Shawn_L

by Shawn Lazar

Shawn Lazar (BTh, McGill; MA, VU Amsterdam) was the Editor of Grace in Focus magazine and Director of Publications for Grace Evangelical Society from May 2012 through June 2022. He and his wife Abby have three children. He has written several books including: Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation and Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Recently Added

June 16, 2025

Are Angels Spirit Beings Without True Physical Bodies?

It is quite common in Christianity to refer to angels as spirit beings. That is probably because of verses like Heb 1:7 “Who makes His...
June 16, 2025

How Could the Apostles Be So Blessed and Yet Suffer So Much?

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr are talking about a seeming paradox. Why were the apostles promised blessings...
June 13, 2025

When Do the Beast and the False Prophet Get Judged? (Revelation 20:10)

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Listen on YouTube

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram