James 2
Bible Passage: James 2
As biblereader had described yesterday, the book of James is a book with many practical Christian teachings. Some may call it a book of action. And today’s chapter is certainly one such chapter.
Faith Without Works Is Dead
Thus also faith by itself, if it does mot have works, is dead… – James 2: 17
I think this is one of the very important teachings of the Holy Scriptures for our church. In fact, I feel that this is something that should separate us from the other churches.
I’m sure when we meet our Christians, or have friends of other churches, they always emphasise on the fact that they believe, have faith, and are thus already saved. Of course, it is correct to say that as Christians, to believe in God and have faith are very important. But here, elder James has made it clear that these alone must be coupled with works.
Remember when we went through Hebrews 11? When we read about the forefathers of faith? What was the similarity of all of them apart from them having faith?
*Thinking time for just a couple of seconds… Ding!*
We have noticed that they all had to something, and not just sit around and relax one corner. Abraham carried out the action of preparing to sacrificing his son, Isaac, and almost actually doing it. Rahab did the action of helping out the spies. Noah went on to build the ark. And the list goes on…
Today, I’m sure all of us believe in this one true God whom we worship. We also have the faith in Him. But what else? We have to do something to couple our faith with works. God has already made it very clear of what we have to do.
“Therefore you shall keep my commandments, and perform them: I am the Lord…”– Leviticus 22: 31
The Lord has instructed us to do so. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the impression I get from Christians in other churches is that they emphasise on faith and the love of Christ so much that they believe no matter what they do (wrong stuff of course) after they have believed, they will confirm, plus guarantee, plus chop, will be saved.
We, on the other hand, know also of the righteousness of God, and that if we do not obey and keep the commandments of God, we will be judged too. In the above verse, God had not instructed us to keep His commandments, but also to DO them! If we really have faith in God, then we must love and fear the Lord and obey, keep and do His commandments.
Are We Treating Our Brethren Right?
Speaking of works, and in the context of this chapter, I’m always reminded that we also hear within our church that we have to love our brethren. We have to care for them. We have to love all our members. Now for this short second part, let’s step back a notch (not too far thought), and think…
Firstly, have we been loving our brethren? And secondly, do we treat all our brethren like equals? As biblereadingcompanion shared in 2009, what elder James had written applies to our church in current times.
Do we tend to treat the more prominent and charismatic church members differently from the more silent and less flamboyant ones? Have we forgotten any of the members?
Our Lord, as we know, is never partial. So can we be partial?
And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and these is no partiality in Him…– Ephesians 6: 9
I think everyone has their own views here on this issue. Personally, I’d be lying if I said I’m doing a great job in this, and also if I said I don’t think that there’s any partiality in our church…
What do you think?
Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone; Nor let me flatter any man…– Job 32: 21
May God continue to bless and guide us all in our path of faith… and works 🙂
2 Comments
shalom
Yes I do see the epistle of James as a book of action. Christianity is not based on rituals, hearsay, myths ,or theories in the theology, but of faith that comes with actions.
Just like our God Almighty, He didn’t just sit high and lofty on His throne, but He came with works/actions of love. He not only came to preach, He even suffered and died on the cross for our salvation!
Our Lord had set us the example, should we not follow? Yes indeed we must, for being a Christian means to be a follower of Christ.
So if we only have faith in His salvation grace, it is incomplete if it is not followed by works/actions of faith. Similarly, if we say we have love, it is incomplete if it is only words without works/actions.
PS
James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:18 But 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.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
If someone says to us, “You have faith.”
What will be our reaction? Happy, very happy.
The person continues, “I show you my work.”
What will be our reaction?
James stressed that faith and works are integrated to co-exist and one without the other is emptiness. He even used the demons as an example to emphasize his point, ie although the demons know and believe that God exist, they do not worship God nor follow His commandments. They are classic example of faith without works.
James wrote that his faith is showed by his works.
Next time, when someone says, “You have faith.”
Better clarify, “Do you see my faith by my works?”
If the answer is no, may be it is time to kneel down and cry in prayer and stand up to serve.