Faith, Election, and the Kingdom in James

James tells Christians (i.e., the twelve tribes of Israel) to honor the poor (Jas 1:1; 2:1–13). To reinforce his message, he says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (Jas 2:5).

James links three doctrines: election—God chose the poor; faith—God made them rich in this grace; and the kingdom—God gave it to the poor as their inheritance. Because of these truths, we should love the poor and treat them with dignity and respect.

In this post, I will explore faith and its relationship to election and the kingdom.

Faith

Faith and ocular sight are mutually exclusive. Paul says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Faith allows saints to believe God’s word regardless of their natural senses. The Apostle gives a long list of examples. We believe God created the world from nothing because the Bible says so, not because we saw Him do it (Heb 11:3). Noah built the ark that saved him and his family at God’s command even though he had never seen rain (Heb 11:7). Abraham obeyed God’s command to go to a country he had never seen (Heb 11:8). Etc.¹

This is the essence of faith—believing and acting on things God says, even though we cannot verify His word with our natural senses.

Sometimes the Bible says things about faith that sound contradictory. For example, Paul said, “We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor 4:18). How can we “look” at invisible things? Only by faith.

James says God has made the poor rich in faith—they often see things others cannot.

Faith and Election

The poor see election, God’s choice of them in Christ before He created the world (cp. Eph 1:3–4). No human was present when God made this choice. The poor “see” that God elected them by faith; they accept this truth just because God’s Word tells them of it, not because they can deduce it from sensual data. 

Election brings great joy to the poor because it means God does not accept people because of anything they have or do. They may sometimes look at their more affluent neighbors with envy and realize they do not have the financial means to attain high social status. Wealth brings influence: “The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends” (Prov 14:20). This is the lesson they see with their natural eyes. People often choose their friends based on the wealth they possess.

But the Scriptures tell the poor that God chooses His friends differently, not based on outward circumstances. Moses taught Israel this lesson: 

You are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you…. (Deut 7:6–8)

The New Testament teaches the same lesson. Paul says, “the purpose of God according to election [will] stand”; God said, “‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy” (Rom 9:11–16).

The poor joyfully accept this teaching of election. It means God loves them and receives them through Christ regardless of their poverty. The word of God tells them this is true, and they believe His testimony.

Faith and the Kingdom

Faith allows the poor to believe in election; it also enables them to enter the kingdom. They have an advantage in this matter, for Jesus says, “It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And … it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt 19:23–26). But the poor are, by faith, “heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him” (Jas 2:5).

God’s promises regarding the kingdom often mentioned the poor. Isaiah had said the Branch (i.e., Jesus) “with righteousness [would] judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth” (Isa 11:4). In this kingdom, “The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel” (Isa 29:19).

Why would the poor need faith to enjoy kingdom blessings? Here are a few reasons.

Natural eyes could not see God establish the promised kingdom. Jesus said, “There are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Matt 16:28). Jesus did not come visibly in His kingdom before all those hearers died, but He came in a manner that faith could “see.” The Lord said, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:20–21 ESV). The Son of Man came to destroy the temple, end the Mosaic age, and establish the kingdom in His generation (Luke 21:32). The poor believe this by faith, not because they can verify it with their natural eyes.

Ocular sight cannot verify the ongoing administration of the kingdom. Jesus told Caiaphas the high priest, “From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matt 26:64). The poor cannot see Jesus on His throne or coming on the clouds with their natural eyes. Still, they believe it by faith because the Word of God tells them it is true. 

They cannot “see” the final results of the kingdom, except by faith. They know Jesus “must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet” and that “the last enemy that will be destroyed is death” (1 Cor 15:25–26). That means that, in history, “All kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him.… His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed” (Ps 72:11, 17). Therefore, the poor can sing, “Blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory” (Ps 72:19).

At the resurrection, the poor will see the kingdom with their physical eyes. In the meantime, they grasp the truths of the kingdom, from beginning to end, by faith. 

Conclusion

Many people long for social justice. Our message to them should be that Christianity is the only solution. James says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (Jas 2:8–9). 

What a wonderful world this will become as God’s kingdom expands, “for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab 2:14). 

Let us work for that day by seeking the kingdom of God; it will bring justice for the poor. God has chosen them “to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him” (Jas 2:5).

Amen.

1. The image in this post is The Sacrifice of Isaac by Rembrandt (1606–69). This file (here) is in the public domain (PD-US).