Weekly Devotional 5-8-17 Faith Without Works
James 2:14-26 (NKJV) “14What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. 24You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Many of the past held, and of our day hold, that works are necessary for salvation and some of them have used or use this passage as support for their conclusion. However, it is not saving faith that James has in mind, but serving faith; a faith that is evidenced by one’s works. Saving faith, James contends, results in works. The apostle Paul, a contemporary of James, wrote emphatically; “8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV). We note from these verses that the saving faith of a person is the work of God apart from any work of said person, and that one is created by God in Christ Jesus for good works. Works that were prepared by God before a person is saved. God has prepared certain works for every person who is to come to saving faith. The doing of these works is the evidence of having saving faith. James and Paul are in complete agreement.
Therefore, in that James is talking about serving faith, how do you or how do I measure up? What evidence is there in our lives that declare our saving faith?
James argued against the charge, “You have faith James, and I have works” by answering; “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” The one making the charge had a false faith whereas the proof of James’ faith was His works. Perhaps we should evaluate our lives and see if in fact we have saving faith. If we claim to have faith, saving faith or serving faith, but do nothing, there is something seriously amiss. Consider the words of James again. “20But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?”
Do you see the perfect harmony of saving faith and serving faith (works) in Abrahams testing? That same harmony should be, must be, evidenced in our lives.
Blessings
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