James 2:14-26
Faith without Works Is Dead
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren?21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
What does the Passage say?
V. 14-20 James continues to challenge the believers that our work has to reflect our faith. He says that the two cannot be separated. The Message Bible says, “Not so fast, You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove”(v. 18 The Message).
V. 21-24 Then he shows how Abraham’s faith was reflected through his work/ obedience. Also, he talks about Rahab, who helped the spies enter Jerico.
What does the Passage say to me/us?
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and it is not from yourself, but a gift from God” (Ephesians 2:8).
Yesterday, in the Discovery class, we talked about salvation. We shared about the Four Spiritual Laws. Even though we assume everyone is ‘saved,’ we still engaged in the discussion. The conclusion ended how we can continue to walk together in the journey toward Sanctifying Grace.
What is my point? The end game is not about ‘getting the ticket to heaven.’ It is more about how we can walk toward Sanctification. It is how our faith and work is balanced. It is how our work reflects our faith.
It is not that our good deeds validate our salvation. The good works help us to restore the image of Christ, in us, as we shine the light of Christ in this world.
May your light shine in this world, today.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for your saving grace. Help us to live in this world, shining your light to others.
In Christ name, AMEN
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