Day 59 - James

66-DAY JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE

Day 59 - James (Faith that Works)

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“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”   (James 2:14-17)

The controversy of faith and works is one that divides many who call themselves Christians.  One side says, “a person is saved by faith plus works” and the other side says “a person is saved by faith alone apart from works.”

The Bible clearly teaches the latter view as written in many passages of Scripture including Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:28; Romans 4:5; Galatians 2:16, 21; and many more.  Those who hold the former view, however, point to our text above in James as proof that a person is saved not by faith alone but also by works.

A closer look at the passage above, though, will reveal the role of works in salvation.  James, the half brother of the Lord from the same mother, is saying that faith without works is dead.  In other words, genuine faith is authenticated by its quality which is that it must be evidenced by works.

An illustration I like to use is that of a burning log.  A log that is apparently on fire but has no smoke is fake.  A real fire is evidenced by the smoke it produces.  In the same way, genuine saving faith is evidenced by the works it produces.  “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”   (James 2:17)

So, will you pass the test of true faith?  What will you answer to the question of James above:  “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?”