Morning Y'all! I pray this post encourages you and gives God glory! Got suggested topics you want me to write about? Please comment below or email me at info@mocatoday.com.
Lately, I've been studying faith, as God defines it, not to be confused with the world's definition. I've been learning why strong faith matters, understanding how Jesus views it, and how to practically grow and demonstrate strong faith in my life. If you're like me, you know we're going to experience tough seasons throughout our lives where our faith gets tested (James 1:3, 1 Peter 1:7). Such seasons are not easy, even for the most "mature" Christian... It's during these times, we must seek increased strength, discernment, and courage from the Holy Spirit to keep the faith throughout tests and trials and dig our heels into what we know to be true about godly faith.
A popular scripture comes to mind,
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." -James 2:26 (NKJV)
What is James saying here?
Is James suggesting a works-based system, where our works or deeds makes us righteous (morally right, justified) before God?
Is James promoting works-based salvation?
Answer:
Absolutely not! These are common misunderstandings.
Throughout the New Testament, it's confirmed by Jesus Christ and others that it's only by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our own works, that we are saved and considered righteous before God.
"For it is by grace (God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ) that you have been saved (actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life) through faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (not through your own effort), but it is the (undeserved, gracious) gift of God; not as a result of (your) works (nor your attempts to keep the Law), so that no one will (be able to) boast or take credit in any way (for his salvation)." -Ephesians 2:8-9 (AMP)
"But to the one who does not work (that is, the one who does not try to earn his salvation by doing good), but believes and completely trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God)." -Romans 4:5 (AMP)
Therefore, James is actually illustrating five key points concerning faith without works being dead faith. I found a helpful article on Gotquestions.org that summarizes them plainly below.
Faith without works is dead faith because:
Lack of works reveals an unchanged life or a spiritually dead heart. There are many verses that say that true saving faith will result in a transformed life, that faith is demonstrated by the works we do. How we live reveals what we believe and whether the faith we profess to have is a living faith.
Works are not the cause of salvation; works are the evidence of salvation. Faith in Jesus Christ always results in good works. The person who claims to be a Christian but lives in willful disobedience to Jesus Christ has a false or dead faith and is not saved (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
It reveals a heart that has not been transformed by God. When we have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, our lives will demonstrate that new life. Our works will be characterized by obedience to God. Unseen faith will become seen by the production of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22). Christians belong to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. As His sheep, we hear His voice and (willfully) follow Him (John 10:26–30).
Faith results in a new creation, not a repetition of the same old patterns of sinful behavior. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
It comes from a heart that has not been regenerated by God. Empty professions of faith have no power to change lives. Those who pay lip service to faith but who do not possess the Holy Spirit will hear Jesus Christ Himself say to them, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers” (Matthew 7:23).
Do you now have a better understanding on what James meant when he declared faith without works is indeed dead faith? Living faith matters! Biggest takeaway for me- a truly, transformed life with genuine faith in Jesus Christ will produce living faith and good fruit.
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Remember, it's all about progression, not perfection! God loves you! With Him, you got this! Until next post, may God give you His peace and blessings!
-Natasha
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