Works



James 2:14-17
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Many throughout the church’s history have discounted the book of James because they charge that he walks the line a little too closely regarding the importance of good works and the life of faith. Some have even claimed that he teaches that good works can save you. While he never does teach that heresy, he does indeed speak about the importance of good works in the life of a believer. The whole of Scripture teaches us how God would have us live; with mercy, lacking judgment of others, serving the poor and orphaned . . . the list goes on. But nowhere are we taught that the things we do can bring us into heaven. Our sin is too ugly and God’s holiness is too perfect. The two cannot be brought together without the blood of Jesus having been shed for those sins. There is no amount of good words that can bridge the gap of sin between us and God.

But James is not teaching us to do good works in order to win salvation. Not at all. He is showing us the relationship between our actions and our faith. If faith is present, you will serve with joy. If you are serving for the accolades of other people, that will show too. And you never know how people are serving others out there. There’s an older couple at my church who don’t really do much at church. On the surface, it looks like all they do is come to church on Sunday morning. But – if you ask around you will find that they are the first ones to visit the sick, take a meal to someone, offer a ride . . . Hundreds of selfless acts that they probably don’t even think about each day. They just do it. It’s admirable. And it is a work of faith. So- faith without works is dead. But faith that is working is a beautiful thing!

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