When sincere Christians get together to talk about their faith, the topic of faith verses works is often discussed. Are works important? Is Faith without works enough?
James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
Is James telling us in the above scripture that works are necessary for our salvation? Absolutely not!
Ephesians 2: 8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.
As C.S. Lewis said in his book Mere Christianity, only someone who has truly tried to be good can know how impossible it is.
Salvation can only come through faith in Christ.
What James is explaining is that lip service alone to our Christian faith does not indicate that we are new creatures in Christ.
James 2:15-17
And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
What James is telling us is that when we are born again … when we love and obey Christ … love and concern for humanity inevitably leads to acts of kindness, compassion, and Christlikeness.
Luke 6:43-44
“For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don’t gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.”
“For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don’t gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.”
A follower of Christ bears good fruit. It’s that simple. To love Jesus is to desire to grow more like Him. And Jesus’ life was filled with examples of Him DOING good to those in need.
Imagine a Christian who decides that there is no need to extend kindness, compassion, and charity to his neighbor because he is saved by faith. That Christian’s life and deeds would probably be indistinguishable from most non-Christians. In other words, that Christian is of no use to God and brings God no glory. That Christian bears no fruit.
John 15:5
“I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
“I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Works – Acts Of Compassion And Charity – Are A Reflection Of Our Faith
A mirror can’t help but reflect our image when we look into it. And a Christian’s life can’t help but reflect a love of Christ through acts of kindness, compassion, and charity. That’s how faith works!
