James: Faith/WorksSample

Faith / Works

James introduced the idea of hearing and doing at the end of chapter 1, along with a definition of pure and undefiled religion. Chapter 2 then put a spotlight on a specific example of worldly behavior in the church that contradicted that definition and the biblical standard of loving God and loving our neighbors. Our actions and beliefs must line up with each other. This is the crux of James’s message. Faith works. 

Faith and works aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, James tells us that faith apart from works is dead. Works don’t save us, but good works should follow true faith. 

James said even demons know the truth about God. They could give all the right Sunday School answers. But they don’t faithfully live for Him as Savior and Lord. They don’t submit to His authority in their lives. Theirs is empty, dead faith. It’s mere belief. Head knowledge doesn’t save you. It doesn’t make you a Christian. Doing this Bible study doesn’t make you a Christian. Real faith is demonstrated in real action. Faith works. 

The Book of James is like a commentary on the ministry of Jesus, applied to our lives as Christians. Remember the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus told a story of three men encountering another man who had been beaten, robbed, and left bleeding on the side of the road. The first two men were a priest and a Levite, highly respected religious figures in the Jewish community. But they failed to live out the essence of the law they taught others: love your neighbor as yourself. Their religion was worthless because what they claimed to believe in their minds didn’t result in changed hearts and behaviors.