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967. “The Law of Liberty” – Something New or Something Obsolete?
The "law of liberty" is seen twice in the New Testament, both times used by James in the first two chapters of his letter written to the twelve tribes of Israel which had been scattered to different regions. If doing an online search to find out what the law of liberty is ... like many other Bible topics ... be prepared to see no fewer than hundreds of different opinions. But as we springboard off the context from chapter 1 of his letter and move into chapter 2, we'll notice clearly how James is using this phrase as a reference to the law of Moses—something he also refers to as the royal law.
Within this context, he encourages his audience to follow all of that law and to speak "and do" as those who will be judged by that law—what he calls a law of liberty—but had just defined it as the Mosaic law. James would double-down to say faith without works is dead (useless) and that one cannot be justified by faith without works (of the law). He will declare that faith is perfected by works ... the precise opposite of what Paul said in his writing to the Galatians at the beginning of chapter 3. Even when using the example of Abraham, there is a conflict with what Paul said along the same lines, which we will cover more on the next program.
960. The Living God Revealing Himself
It is not rooted in an academic approach because God's revelation surpasses knowledge and Bible philosophy or theology—and it is centered on the person of Jesus Christ. As we've been discussing, God's will for us is based more on knowing the living Christ than it is simply having knowledge about Him.
959. “Flesh and Blood Has Not Revealed This to You”
Peter probably wasn't even aware of his source at the time ... but he didn't hear it from another human who was trying to recruit him as a convert or a visitor for the Sunday School class. This wasn't a "one and done" where Peter would be the only person to receive such a revelation. God desires to reveal so much to us by His Spirit who now abides in the hearts of believers in Christ ... and it may be happening much more than we realize. But it all begins with not just having knowledge about Jesus, but knowing Him. It goes beyond a philosophical or intellectual belief.
957. Not One Command From the Law Brings Life
For those who were attempting to be doers of the law, God required the Jewish people under that law to obey all of it (which no one ever did). On the flip side ... Paul told believers in Christ that if they were going to attempt to cling to even one commandment from the law (such as circumcision), they would be obligated to keep the whole law package (containing 613 line items). The result would be a falling away or distancing from grace. He also articulated that if a single law could give life and righteousness, then those things would have been provided by such a law. But life comes by faith in a living Christ—not a religious system of works that seeks to establish phony self-righteousness.
Shake Off Your Doubts
“And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.” —Mark 11:22-23 (AMPC)
There’s a poster in my office that reads:
Shake off your doubts and then go for it. Check out your options and act.
Find an approach to the future, and turn today’s dreams into fact.
Take a first step to tomorrow. Start on the course of your choice.
Look at what life has to offer, listen to your inner voice.
Don’t live a life of regretting, stifled by negative force.
Think of what you can accomplish. Steer an affirmative course.
Build on activities positive. Work with abundance of heart.
By making the best of the present, change is the process you start.
Even though problems may surface, problems don’t have to prevail.
As long as you are one who is trying, and never just waiting to fail.
—Bruce B. Wilmer
We’ve divided our lives into one-year segments. They begin at a certain time and end at another. The problem is we tend to categorize our successes and defeats within these one-year slots and weigh them at the beginning of each New Year, usually focusing on what we DID NOT accomplish.
Each year, I see the same people go up for prayer again, determined to make that year’s resolutions work. What they don’t realize is that their new set of rules, basically the same set of rules as the previous year, are just done differently, and will give them the same results.
What they need is A CHANGE OF HEART.
We need to learn to live each day as a gift. The Bible says the Lord’s mercies and loving kindness are new EVERY morning. Every morning He is willing to give me better than I deserve and love me regardless. This thought alone should make me a glad person. Each day has a new silver lining. One quote I read says: We miss the silver linings of each day because we are too busy looking for the gold ones.
Proverbs 15:15(AMPC) says: All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].
When we look back on our mistakes, our days become evil because we become despondent by anxious thoughts and forebodings. We need to learn to have a glad heart.
Here are a few points from the above poem to help you be glad—regardless of your circumstances.
SHAKE OFF YOUR DOUBTS – The Oxford Dictionary defines doubt as an uncertainty about something or being undecided. James says a double-minded person cannot receive anything from the Lord. Make up your mind what you want to do and then go for it with God. Remember, YOU must decide to move on.
LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE – You cannot decide what you want without listening to your heart. Define your greatest heart’s desire, not what anyone else wants. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. He is your friend.
DON’T LIVE A LIFE OF REGRET – Regrets always bring negative forces into play. They make you dwell on the past and forget there’s a future that you can change. Put regrets behind you. You cannot change history, but you can mold the future.
MAKE THE BEST OF THE PRESENT – Consider the blessings and abilities you already have (no matter how small) that can benefit you and others, and build on them.
PROBLEMS DON’T HAVE TO PREVAIL – Problems are part of life. Without them, we don’t grow, but they don’t have to prevail. Use them to help you keep trying. Jesus said we will have trouble in this world, but He has overcome it. There’s always help.
Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have enough trouble of its own (Matt. 6:34).
I don’t believe Jesus was telling us to bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich but was saying that worrying and being anxious will mess up our hearts and minds.
If we spend our time thinking on His kingdom and righteousness and what He achieved, then we will be able to see the opportunities of each day, knowing He is with and for us no matter what.
Trust that each new day will be filled with joy and peace because of the finished work of Jesus. Live each moment fully aware of your blessings!
Blessings,
Arthur
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His Mercies Are Everlasting
HIS MERCIES ARE EVERLASTING
As this year draws to a close and we reflect on this past year and looking forward to celebrating Christmas with our families and friends, I would like to remind you that God’s Mercies are everlasting.
For so many people this time of the year can be a tough because we tend to review the past year in the light of all our mistakes, failures, and missed opportunities. But the gospel reminds us that the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is a bold and clear declaration of God’s abundant Mercy.
This is what Paul said to the church in Ephesus,
Ephesians 2:4-5 NKJV
“4. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
- even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”
David the psalmist says something so profound that it is almost too good to be true. He says that the Mercy of God is an everlasting Mercy!
Psalm 136 – A psalm of David
- O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
- O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
- O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever
- To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever
- To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. (KJV)
In this Psalm, David ends each verse with a powerful proclamation: “… For his mercy endureth for ever.”
I don’t believe he wrote this at the end of each verse simply because he had nothing else to say and wanted to fill space. There are three very important things I believe he wanted us to see. These were things that David had come to know long before he wrote this.
- That God is full of Mercy.
- That this Mercy endures
- That this Mercy is forever
Simply put, God’s mercy is His willingness, power, desire, and passion to treat you better than you deserve. And God is full of mercy. The psalm says: “Surely goodness, mercy and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life.” It is because of the mercy of God that Jesus paid the price for our freedom. Because God continually has mercy on you.
This mercy has the power to endure or take prolonged use or strain. It is designed to be leaned upon. We should live our lives to the full every day. You can live your life knowing that you can lean on and put trust in the mercy of God. This doesn’t mean stretch the limits and live as close to sin as possible. No, it simply means that as you go about your daily living, and things happen, you can lean your entire being on this mercy that God offers, regardless of circumstances. The everlasting mercy of God means that you and I can spend each day enjoying the blessings that have been showered on you. God is not waiting to hit you over the head with a big bat. He is ever ready to bless and show mercy.
And this mercy is not just for a day or a week or a month or a year, but FOREVER. There has never been a time, nor will be a time when God does not want to treat you better than you deserve.
Now you might say, “But you don’t know my past life, you don’t know the things I have done and still do.” My friend, His mercy is FOREVER and FOREVER. That includes past, present, and future. There will never come a time that God will not be willing, able, and powerful to treat you better than you deserve. Even in eternity to come, in the presence of God, He will be treating you better than you deserve.
So, when does the mercy of God run out or end? NEVER!
As the Psalmist himself puts is:
(Ps 103.17) KJV
“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear (reverence) Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children.”
In this time when we celebrate Christmas, let us put our attention on Jesus and even though you have regrets, because of failures or missed opportunities let us remember and be reminded of the revelation of this mercy and love of God. It is imperative that our hearts and mind be established and persuaded in His Mercy toward us.
Meditate and dwell on the Word of God (Jesus) and your relationship with Him, for His word becomes a natural part of who we are and what we believe.
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The Power of Love
In Acts 2:8, Jesus told the disciples to wait until they received the Holy Ghost who would give them power (ability, efficiency and might—AMP) to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. They would take the word of salvation and wholeness to nations.
The Holy Ghost was sent so we could be witnesses to the power of God’s love toward man, His ultimate creation.
Unfortunately today, many people put so much focus on the love of power that they forget about the power of love. Jesus never intended for us to focus on the “power” or the spectacular that so many thrive on. He wanted us to realize that we witness the supernatural because of God’s unending passion for mankind.
The gospel is the power of this love, working together with the Holy Ghost, to lead people into “sozo” (salvation and wholeness in every sense of the word).
The gospel is the good-news message of the finished work of Jesus Christ and everything it accomplished for ALL men for ALL time because of the free gift of the grace, goodness, mercy, love and forgiveness of God.
I am reminded of a part in the movie Iron Man II where the main character is watching a video recorded before his father died. The young man had always believed he was a failure and couldn’t meet his father’s expectations. But in the recording, his father tells him he is and always has been his father’s GREATEST CREATION.
This is such a great picture of mankind today. Too many people feel they have failed God and don’t measure up. The gospel is the good news that YOU ARE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN GOD’S GREATEST CREATION. Because of that, the cosmos was created and He has done everything needed for your salvation!
The whole salvation plan depended on God’s agape love for mankind.
My favorite definition of agape love is: In my worst hour, God sees me as precious, valuable and to be highly esteemed. God doesn’t see who we are in our worst moment. He just loves us with all the agape that He is. God IS love and that love springs FROM Him. “… for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (I Jn. 4:7-8).
Love is who God is, not something He possesses. He cannot be separated from it—ever. When we understand and receive this love, we receive HIM. Love is brought to completion and perfection through our union with Christ.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (I Jn. 4:16-17)
If we don’t keep God’s love for mankind first place in every Bible conversation, we will end up arguing about pointless things. We can only help others if we keep the power of God’s love in the forefront of our hearts and minds. Once we open our eyes and hearts to the power of love, it is almost impossible to misinterpret God’s Word (I Tim. 1:5).
I Corinthians 13 is an awesome discovery of God’s love for mankind, but I Corinthians 14:1 goes on to read: “Go after (this) love as if your life depended on it—because it does” (MSG). We need to know God’s love as much as we need to breathe. Nothing life can throw at us can change or remove the power of this love (Rom. 8:35-39).
Jude 21 reminds us to stay where the love of God can reach and keep us (TLB). The only way to “get out” of this love is to believe the lies of the enemy and our own thoughts and perceptions of life. Our circumstances NEVER change God’s love for us! We cannot allow circumstances to draw us out of the awareness of this love. “God so loved the world that He gave His son so we would be safe and sound in Him” (Jn. 3:16 AMP).
Jesus provided safety—the provision of security and protection, free from the feelings of risk or danger. Andsoundness—a state of being healthy, whole or complete. Not diseased, damaged or inferior.
You’re ALWAYS safe and sound in the power of love. No matter what life throws at you or how you feel, the power of love will keep you safe and make you whole. It will NEVER fail you!
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Speaking the Truth in Love
Sometimes, I hear people who are quick to declare their unsubstantiated, personal beliefs and make statements that are for the most part unscriptural! This comes across as deliberately being confrontational and controversial.
I’ve heard many defend these statements by saying they are doing so because they’re being bold and unafraid of speaking the truth. But then if anyone questions their beliefs or so-called “statements of truth,” they are considered either religious, legalistic, unteachable or old and out of touch!
But Paul, who by the way, was the most radical grace preacher of all time and did not shy away from controversy and confrontation said in Ephesians 4:14-15:
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE, may GROW UP into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
Speaking the truth in love is to speak and teach the truth without compromising it in any way, shape or form, but doing so in love!
To teach and speak the truth in love means to allow all the attributes of God’s love to be the tracks on which all our preaching, teaching and speaking must run!
In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul says:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”
Paul explains that no matter how justified you might be or how true your statements and beliefs are, if it’s not communicated with love, all you will be doing is sounding like an empty head!
Some “preachers and teachers” wonder why they get no respect, why people don’t listen to them and why they are written off as ignorant.
Paul goes on in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:
“Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
In this passage of scripture, Paul gives us all the attributes of God’s love. So when we teach and speak the truth in love, these attributes should mold and shape what we say and how we say it!
We should “suffer long,” be “kind” and not seek to be “puffed up,” thinking that because we are right, we have the right to say what we want, how we want and when we want!
Paul says it like this in I Corinthians 8:1 (AMPC):
“NOW ABOUT food offered to idols: of course we know that all of us possess knowledge [concerning these matters. Yet mere] knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud), but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature].”
Mere knowledge, whether it’s knowledge of scripture, doctrine or anything for that matter, causes people to carry themselves lofty and proud. But love, when we are aware of God’s love and allow it to motivate our teaching, builds others up and encourages them to grow!
My appeal today is this: Let’s rejoice in the truth! But let’s do so by bearing with others as they walk out their own path of grace and truth!
Sometimes, it is wise to not indiscriminately make our beliefs known just because we can, and neither do we have to make radical, unsubstantiated statements just because we can.
Love always considers others and is willing to endure all things!
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Faith Without Works Is Dead
There is perhaps no more controversial scripture in the Bible than this gem from James:
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14)
Since this seems to contradict what Paul says – “We’re not justified by works, but faith alone” (Gal. 2:16) – people have come up with some strange conclusions:
- Paul and James preached different gospels
- James did not really understand grace
- putting James in the Bible was a mistake
- James is not talking about works for salvation but other kinds of works
Let me suggest that these conclusions are wrong. There is only one gospel, the gospel of grace, and both James and Paul preached it.
And both men preached justification by faith. James does so just a few verses later when he says “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Jas 2:23).
But then James adds:
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)
Which kinda sounds like James is changing his mind from verse to verse:
- Abraham believed and was reckoned righteous
- You see? He was justified by works and not faith alone!
Make up your mind, James.
Or maybe, James isn’t flip-flopping but he has a specific definition of works in mind.
Faith without works
When we think of works, we tend to think of the dead works of self-improvement. “I must do this and that to make myself right with God.”
But James is talking about faith works. What are works of faith? He’s just told us: Abraham believed.
James is talking to Jews who believed in God but they weren’t sure about his Son Jesus. To say “faith without works in dead” means “having faith in God without believing in the One he sent means your faith is useless.”
Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is the action that reveals our faith. It may seem strange to think of believing as a work, but believing in Jesus is the work of God (see John 6:29).
Faith vs believing
The Biblical word for faith is a noun (it means persuasion or conviction), but believing is a verb. If faith is the state of being persuaded that God saves you by grace alone, then believing is the verb or activity that flows from that persuasion.
We do not believe in order to create faith. Rather, believing is the action that reveals our faith. “Having the same spirit of faith… we also believe” (2 Cor. 4:13).
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22)
To be a doer of the word is to receive, with humility, the word of truth that can save our souls (Jas. 1:21). To receive is to accept, believe, trust, and rely on the promises of God regarding our salvation.
James does not leave us guessing when it comes to works of faith. He says we need to
- submit and draw near to God (Jas. 4:7–8)
- humble ourselves and receive his grace (Jas. 4:6, 10)
- hold onto the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jas. 2:1)
Sadly, many think that James is preaching good works or charitable works as a substitute or complement to faith. As a result, they try to balance the grace of God with their works.
“I am saved by grace, but I have to prove my salvation through good works.”
There is no balancing grace with works (Rom. 11:6). It’s one or the other, not both. Any works done to earn or maintain right standing with God are dead works.
Faith by itself is dead
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:17)
We are all creatures of faith, but unless our faith is in the Savior, ours is a dead or useless faith (Jas. 2:20, 26). Faith in Christ leads to eternal life (John 3:16), but faith in anything else leads to death.
John Calvin famously said that faith alone justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is never alone. In other words, faith in Christ will lead to good works, and those works prove that one has faith in Christ.
While it is true that right living follows right believing (Matt. 5:16, Eph. 2:10), James is not discussing charity or works of service in general. He is talking about salvation (Jas. 2:14), justification (Jas. 2:21, 24–25), and being made right with God (Jas 2:23).
In this context, the work that counts is believing in Jesus Christ.
—–
Extracted and adapted from The Grace Bible: James.
Grace Glossary word of the week: Faith. Read more about works of faith.
Get grace every week by email:
Faith Without Works Is Dead
There is perhaps no more controversial scripture in the Bible than this gem from James:
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14)
Since this seems to contradict what Paul says – “We’re not justified by works, but faith alone” (Gal. 2:16) – people have come up with some strange conclusions:
- Paul and James preached different gospels
- James did not really understand grace
- putting James in the Bible was a mistake
- James is not talking about works for salvation but other kinds of works
Let me suggest that these conclusions are wrong. There is only one gospel, the gospel of grace, and both James and Paul preached it.
And both men preached justification by faith. James does so just a few verses later when he says “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Jas 2:23).
But then James adds:
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)
Which kinda sounds like James is changing his mind from verse to verse:
- Abraham believed and was reckoned righteous
- You see? He was justified by works and not faith alone!
Make up your mind, James.
Or maybe, James isn’t flip-flopping but he has a specific definition of works in mind.
Faith without works
When we think of works, we tend to think of the dead works of self-improvement. “I must do this and that to make myself right with God.”
But James is talking about faith works. What are works of faith? He’s just told us: Abraham believed.
James is talking to Jews who believed in God but they weren’t sure about his Son Jesus. To say “faith without works in dead” means “having faith in God without believing in the One he sent means your faith is useless.”
Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is the action that reveals our faith. It may seem strange to think of believing as a work, but believing in Jesus is the work of God (see John 6:29).
Faith vs believing
The Biblical word for faith is a noun (it means persuasion or conviction), but believing is a verb. If faith is the state of being persuaded that God saves you by grace alone, then believing is the verb or activity that flows from that persuasion.
We do not believe in order to create faith. Rather, believing is the action that reveals our faith. “Having the same spirit of faith… we also believe” (2 Cor. 4:13).
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22)
To be a doer of the word is to receive, with humility, the word of truth that can save our souls (Jas. 1:21). To receive is to accept, believe, trust, and rely on the promises of God regarding our salvation.
James does not leave us guessing when it comes to works of faith. He says we need to
- submit and draw near to God (Jas. 4:7–8)
- humble ourselves and receive his grace (Jas. 4:6, 10)
- hold onto the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jas. 2:1)
Sadly, many think that James is preaching good works or charitable works as a substitute or complement to faith. As a result, they try to balance the grace of God with their works.
“I am saved by grace, but I have to prove my salvation through good works.”
There is no balancing grace with works (Rom. 11:6). It’s one or the other, not both. Any works done to earn or maintain right standing with God are dead works.
Faith by itself is dead
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:17)
We are all creatures of faith, but unless our faith is in the Savior, ours is a dead or useless faith (Jas. 2:20, 26). Faith in Christ leads to eternal life (John 3:16), but faith in anything else leads to death.
John Calvin famously said that faith alone justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is never alone. In other words, faith in Christ will lead to good works, and those works prove that one has faith in Christ.
While it is true that right living follows right believing (Matt. 5:16, Eph. 2:10), James is not discussing charity or works of service in general. He is talking about salvation (Jas. 2:14), justification (Jas. 2:21, 24–25), and being made right with God (Jas 2:23).
In this context, the work that counts is believing in Jesus Christ.
—–
Extracted and adapted from The Grace Bible: James.
Grace Glossary word of the week: Faith. Read more about works of faith.
Get grace every week by email:
Faith Without Works Is Dead
There is perhaps no more controversial scripture in the Bible than this gem from James:
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14)
Since this seems to contradict what Paul says – “We’re not justified by works, but faith alone” (Gal. 2:16) – people have come up with some strange conclusions:
- Paul and James preached different gospels
- James did not really understand grace
- putting James in the Bible was a mistake
- James is not talking about works for salvation but other kinds of works
Let me suggest that these conclusions are wrong. There is only one gospel, the gospel of grace, and both James and Paul preached it.
And both men preached justification by faith. James does so just a few verses later when he says “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Jas 2:23).
But then James adds:
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)
Which kinda sounds like James is changing his mind from verse to verse:
- Abraham believed and was reckoned righteous
- You see? He was justified by works and not faith alone!
Make up your mind, James.
Or maybe, James isn’t flip-flopping but he has a specific definition of works in mind.
Faith without works
When we think of works, we tend to think of the dead works of self-improvement. “I must do this and that to make myself right with God.”
But James is talking about faith works. What are works of faith? He’s just told us: Abraham believed.
James is talking to Jews who believed in God but they weren’t sure about his Son Jesus. To say “faith without works in dead” means “having faith in God without believing in the One he sent means your faith is useless.”
Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is the action that reveals our faith. It may seem strange to think of believing as a work, but believing in Jesus is the work of God (see John 6:29).
Faith vs believing
The Biblical word for faith is a noun (it means persuasion or conviction), but believing is a verb. If faith is the state of being persuaded that God saves you by grace alone, then believing is the verb or activity that flows from that persuasion.
We do not believe in order to create faith. Rather, believing is the action that reveals our faith. “Having the same spirit of faith… we also believe” (2 Cor. 4:13).
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22)
To be a doer of the word is to receive, with humility, the word of truth that can save our souls (Jas. 1:21). To receive is to accept, believe, trust, and rely on the promises of God regarding our salvation.
James does not leave us guessing when it comes to works of faith. He says we need to
- submit and draw near to God (Jas. 4:7–8)
- humble ourselves and receive his grace (Jas. 4:6, 10)
- hold onto the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jas. 2:1)
Sadly, many think that James is preaching good works or charitable works as a substitute or complement to faith. As a result, they try to balance the grace of God with their works.
“I am saved by grace, but I have to prove my salvation through good works.”
There is no balancing grace with works (Rom. 11:6). It’s one or the other, not both. Any works done to earn or maintain right standing with God are dead works.
Faith by itself is dead
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:17)
We are all creatures of faith, but unless our faith is in the Savior, ours is a dead or useless faith (Jas. 2:20, 26). Faith in Christ leads to eternal life (John 3:16), but faith in anything else leads to death.
John Calvin famously said that faith alone justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is never alone. In other words, faith in Christ will lead to good works, and those works prove that one has faith in Christ.
While it is true that right living follows right believing (Matt. 5:16, Eph. 2:10), James is not discussing charity or works of service in general. He is talking about salvation (Jas. 2:14), justification (Jas. 2:21, 24–25), and being made right with God (Jas 2:23).
In this context, the work that counts is believing in Jesus Christ.
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Extracted and adapted from The Grace Bible: James.
Grace Glossary word of the week: Faith. Read more about works of faith.
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