#DailyDevotion Faith Without Works Is Dead

James 2:17-18 ¹⁴What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16and 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? ¹⁷So 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 apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Many often think that Paul and James are teaching opposite things i.e. faith with works and faith without works. You would be mistaken. Paul knows of no faith that is without works. The only question here is do those works done by those with faith justify them before God? That would be a resounding no. But that is not really the subject of James’ letter or his purpose for writing it.

James is speaking to those who have hypocritical faith and those who have a real faith. A hypocritical faith does not show love to their neighbor, hence James mentioning the royal law a few verses earlier, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” So James here gives us and example to examine ourselves with. “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 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?” Now there is nothing wrong with praying for people and we should do so, especially when we cannot do something more. Obviously, what James has in mind here someone who could help with food and clothing and doesn’t do so. Where is that Christian’s love? Will God praise such a person or such a faith? I think not.

True faith produces love of neighbor. It produces in people good works because the Holy Spirit dwells in the person of faith and produces good fruit in and through that person. We probably should constitute what faith is that James is talking about. Faith is trusting Jesus has done everything necessary for your salvation alone. It looks to Jesus Christ and his works as the object. It believes as James says, “He gave birth to us by the Word of truth so we would be the first and best of His creatures.”

Someone who claims to have faith without and fruit of that faith in their lives is deceiving themselves. Faith is a busy, active thing. If faith does not produce good works such a faith is dead and really is no faith at all. Note works alone do not justify us either or save us. Our works done by faith don’t save us either. True faith or trust in Christ’s all saving works will produce good works in the lives of the believer. Will we see our good works? Often probably not. I doubt the apple tree thinks much about its apples. It just produces them. When we stand before Jesus we will be saying, “We are unworthy servants. We have only done our duty.” and “When did we see you Lord hungry, naked and alone?” But at every opportunity let us do the good God puts in front us so those who see our good works may praise God our Father.

Heavenly Father, grant that we may have a true and active faith in Jesus Christ that men who see our good works may give thank and praise to you for all you have worked in and through us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.