Works without Faith is Dead (stet)

 Works without Faith is dead. Yes we know the popular scripture about faith without works, and you might be thinking that I got it mixed up.

I didn’t. It’s just that I’m at a place where I’m delving into the popular scriptures and just going beyond the headlines, as we reporters or journalists would say, digging a little deeper.

So let’s read James chapter 2 from verses 14-26 in the New International Version NIV.

”What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.“

This is the brother of Jesus speaking here. He is addressing the relationship between faith and works. James says, if we really have faith, we should automatically do good at all times. 

Faith is a strong belief or trust in something, often without tangible proof. For us as Christians, it is a deep trust in our God.

Works or deeds are things we do, actions, or how we behave, including acts of kindness, generosity, compassion, and moral integrity. 

So there is that relationship between faith and works like a marriage, a good marriage that is. It’s a living out of our beliefs through positive actions for our benefit and that of others. It’s a package.

James illustrates this point by stating that if we have faith and don’t follow it up with some action, it’s useless. For example, if someone is unemployed and praying and believing for a job, it would help to put some resumés together and actually apply for a job, correct?!

So genuine faith should be accompanied by actions or good works. Belief alone is not enough. Again, if I have faith, if you have faith, it will show in our way of living.

Now I want to suggest to us today that the reverse is also true. If I am out there being good and kind and hospitable and friendly, and I get sick, and I can’t have enough faith in God to believe that He is going to heal me or strengthen me for the journey, something is wrong with that picture.

So I say, works or deeds without faith is also dead.

And we can paraphrase James chapter 2 verse 14 to ask the question: what good is it for someone to be the kindest person there is, if they don’t have faith in God to see them through the obstacles they face in life? For we know that everyone faces trials and tribulations.

Jesus Himself tells us in John 16:33 ”“…in this world you (me, we) will have trouble...”“

But there are many people going around placing the most emphasis on being philanthropists and being a giver is a great thing. Some people give because it is the right thing to do, some because they know what it is not to have, some give because they love to support worthy causes or they are influenced, and yet others give merely because of the tax benefits.

But my Bible tells me also that as faith without works is dead, so is works without faith also dead. Where does it also say this?

Let’s go to the Gospel of St John chapter 14 and verse 6. Jesus was speaking to His disciples before His ascension to Heaven.  ”Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.“

So it is only and exclusively through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we have access to God the Father. In other words, salvation, which should be the desire of every Christian, comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. 

If we have faith, then we will believe in His Word. And this is where we will be compelled to do good works, because of our faith and belief and trust in the Word of God. So works or deeds without faith is equally as dead as faith without works. 

There is an inseparable connection from both angles - genuine faith and corresponding actions and demonstrating good deeds and having faith. 

This is not to say though that honest, upright, loving and kind people who do not know Jesus will go to hell. Only God knows whether these individuals will find acceptance with Him. For He alone truly knows our hearts.

Jeremiah 17:10 ”“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” 

Remember now that if these people don’t know God, they won’t be striving to please God, only themselves and others.

But for those of us who know Jesus, faith in Him is crucial for salvation. Doing good deeds naturally follows. So if we have faith, then we would work the work of Him who sent us by His grace. 

In John chapter 9 when Jesus was healing the man born blind, He said in verse 4 (John chapter 9 verse 4): ”As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.“ 

And certainly as Believers, we should always want to please God, for we know that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6.

Family, I am encouraging us to mature to the point in our spiritual journey, in our Christian walk, where we not only run with a particular scripture because it suits our fancy. We have to search the scriptures, cross reference and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in order to rightly divide His Word and apply it to our lives. 

As we do that, our faith will increase and our good works will be seen by those around us. Faith and works and deeds and faith. It’s a package that breathes life into our lives. Amen.

aub - February 12, 2024

www.zjoyvi.com