James Sermon Series 11. Clearing up the Confusion. James 2:14. Most of Christendom believes and teaches that James 2:14-26 is about people not having enough works to demonstrate their initial saving faith. However, such a sentiment was far from the mind of James.
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A somewhat different view I have heard vs 14-18 explained this way, "the issue isn’t about a single person and how their faith (or lack of) effects themselves, but how their faith may or may not affect another."
So the "him" in verse 14 isn't implied to the individual, but towards the one who is in need of mercy. I believe the Greek allows the "him" to be used either towards the individual or another.
Therefore, the individual's works of faith may save (deliver, protect, preserve, do well) to another in need, or if the person lacks the outworking of their faith it's not going to save (deliver, protect, preserve, do well) the one in need. The basic idea is “Can my faith profit another? Or, do I need to demonstrate the faith I have in order for another to profit?”
To me, this fits right in with the context of the chapter as it deals with the believer's relationship toward others .