Faith is a key doctrine in the Christian life. The sinner is saved by faith (Eph. 2:8–9), and the believer must walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6); and whatever we do apart from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).

Someone has said that faith is not “believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence.” When we read Hebrews 11, you meet men and women who acted on God’s Word, no matter what price they had to pay. Faith is not some kind of nebulous feeling that we work up; faith is confidence that God’s Word is true, and conviction that acting on that Word will bring His blessing.

Today we live in a life filled with opinions and viewpoints. We awake each day and it is just a matter of time before something is judged and someone has their take on it. Whether it news, friends, family, social media or our own inner voice.

This is not just about world issues and new topics. This is also about our knowledge of God. There are people that want to debate and argue over translations of the Bible that have diverged from the original language, but for no fruitful gain.  There are very smart people that know a whole lot, but that does not make them a great person. That holds true for wisdom of the Bible as well.  This is not something new, this has been going on for all of humanity.  In the end of chapter 2 of James, he takes it on directly. Talk is cheap, even when it is truthful. Let’s get started…

Faith Without Works Is Dead

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:14-17 ESV

It is probably safe to say that the term, “Faith without works is dead”, common to us all. Unfortunately, it is thrown around so much, usually in defense of a behavior or in an attack of character.  Even to the point where many don’t even want to discuss it. Some times the truth of the statement just might make us uncomfortable.

What is your take, feelings and ideas of the term “Faith without works is dead”?

Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration.  This goes back to the challenging thought that is a life of knowing Jesus and sitting on the porch rocking your life away in a chair fruitful?  God does not give us hope, restoration and peace so we can sit and wither away. He gives us a renewed life so we can share it with others to allow other lives to be redeemed, restored and fruitful.

Walk the Talk

Some times we are around people, or even catch ourselves, talking a lot and not even doing what we say. Some times from the outside, it is almost hysterical how some people want to complain and judge, yet don’t show us in their own life how to do what they say.  This is the subject James is referring to, he calls it dead faith. Knowing what to do, but not doing it.

The person with dead faith has only an intellectual experience. In his mind, he knows the doctrines of salvation, but he has never submitted himself to God and trusted Christ for salvation. He knows the right words, but he does not back up his words with his works. Faith in Christ brings life (John 3:16), and where there is life there must be growth and fruit. Three times in this paragraph, James warns us that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17, 20, 26).

God knows it is difficult. He also knows that we will defend and make excuses. James goes on to explain and encourage.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! – James 2:18-19 ESV

James just gets right to the point. Knowing the truth does not set us free.  Even Satan and the demons are knowledgable. They also believe, but that does not make them a Christian. There are a lot of people that are very knowledgable about the Bible, Jesus and God, and truly believe, but are not Christian.

James used the translated word shudder to describe how the knowledgeable demons respond to the truth of God. This is like quivering, trembling, quaking. In this sense they are “disturbed” but the truth. The sad thing is that we know and have seen many examples where things can impact a person, but that does not make them do the next right thing.

It is not a saving experience to believe and tremble. A person can be enlightened in his mind and even stirred in his heart and be lost forever. True saving faith involves something more, something that can be seen and recognized: a changed life.

What is you personal take on those challenges situations where you know what to do and the Holy Spirit has called you out for your lack of action? Do you move on to easier topics, rejoice with what God as done, or do you get real and face the truth and make a plan to engage?

Some times when reading the Bible, we use it as encouraging stories and inspiration in times of trouble. We don’t tend to use what we read as a personal challenge. Some times we just resort to the enemy’s excuses for us with “that was them, not me.” mentality.  That some of the Bible does not apply to us.  James heard those same responses. He uses two extremes as he closes chapter 2.

Father Abraham, which we all tend to say he did things we could never do, to the other end of the spectrum, a prostitute…

²⁰ Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶ For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. – James 2:20-26 ESV

This should gives us the clear concept that we need to have a Christian life that is demonstrated and shown. We are “living proof” that God exists. That we are not who we used to be, and we are hope to those that do not think life can change. This week, step out of your comfort zone, walk by faith and be led by God to have some actions and works that give Him the Glory!!

Whether it is serving others, spending time with others, listening, hearing, encouraging, teaching, showing, do it as Jesus did, with faith of who He is.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 353–354). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jas 2:14–26). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.