Fully Devoted: The ChurchSample

Does How I Live Really Matter?

One of the aspects that sets Christianity apart from other religions is the fact that righteousness and salvation are not something we earn through our good works, but are a free gift of God’s grace. This is what makes the gospel such good news. Adoption into the family of God is not something we earn, it’s something we receive. How do we receive it? By trusting that Jesus is Lord. That’s what faith is all about. Trusting a person. 

If salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, then does it really matter how I live? 

Absolutely! This is what the letter of James is all about: instructions to the early Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire on how to live as faithful disciples of Jesus. 

The same question that many people ask today is one that the first Christians were also asking. If it’s all faith, then what role do my actions play? 

This is James’ response to that very question: 

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. James 2:14-17 NIV

James is not saying that our deeds or works are what saves us. He’s saying that real, living faith will always produce faithful actions. 

He continues the argument in verse 18: 

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. James 2:18-19 NIV 

James is attempting to help these early Christians think wisely about the relationship between faith and actions. Entrance into the Kingdom of God is not something we earn by our actions; it is a free gift of God’s grace that we receive by placing our trust in Jesus. Furthermore, genuine faith in Jesus will lead to a transformed life as we begin the journey of following and obeying Him as our King. 

James challenges the false idea that faith is nothing more than believing that something is true. That’s not what faith is. Even the demons believe that there is one God. Faith is not simply believing that something is true. That’s part of it, but it certainly isn’t all of it. Faith is trusting in Jesus as Lord. 

Faith is less like believing that 2 + 2 = 4 and much more like trusting in your best friend, your spouse, or your family. Faith is relational in nature. It’s trusting in someone. 

Want to know the best way to figure out if you really do trust someone? 

When they offer you advice or ask you to do something, do you? If you do, then that’s a good indicator that you really do trust them, but if you don’t, then that’s a pretty good indicator that you don’t actually trust them. Or at least, you don’t trust them more than you trust yourself. 

So, what is faith? Faith is trust in Jesus, based on evidence, that leads to obedience. It’s not just agreement with an idea. Faith is commitment to a person. It’s not just believing that something is true. Faith is living in alignment with what we believe. 

As disciples of Jesus, we’ve been rescued from the prison of sin by the grace of God. And as disciples of Jesus, we’ve been called to live faithfully by obeying the teachings of Jesus. 

… “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 NIV 

When we love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength, and we love others as we love ourselves, then we know our faith is truly alive. 

Journaling Questions  

• Write in your journal a verse or verses from today’s reading that stuck out to you. Why did they stand out?  
• If someone asked you to explain the relationship between faith and actions, what would you say to them?  
• What is an area of your life where you aren’t being obedient to Jesus? What is holding you back? 

Memory Verse

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28-29 NIV