Thoughts on James 2:14-26

¹⁴ What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

 ¹⁸ But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” ¹⁹ You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. ²⁰ But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? ²² You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶ For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. 

In theology there is a need to understand our "being" and our "doing" Christian acts flows from God the Father, through the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit guiding our being = personhood and our doing = acts of God's Love shared to those around us. Action alone as Christians  is not enough, we need a persona, an in and outflowing spirit of God leading us in our thoughts, words, deeds if you will.  You must answer the question: Am I a Christian? If yes, then your doing works, meaning actions in the faith, must match your being your personhood meaning you are a child of God.

Real belief requires real action. When the church fails to respond to commands given by God, then we pollute the faith with our standards. Faith is only perfected when we believe all that God has given and instructed through the scriptures. One is not justified by their word alone, but justified by their actions and their word. If you are a person of faith then you must resemble the image of God who created us in their image.  That image is holy. Holiness is allowing God to perfect you and not just self perfection. One cannot do this in their own strength. It requires the work of God indwelling within your spirit to fulfill in you living faith. Thus, faith is dead without the indwelling of the living God within us.

Do you believe God sent His Son to die for your sins and have forgiven you of your sins because you have repented? If yes, then you are saved. However, if this is all that is required by God to be a Christian why then did Jesus question Peter three times concerning his Love for God in John 21:15-25 by questioning him about his love for the Son? Each question was the same but the response to each of Peter's answers is not the same: Feed my lambs, care for my sheep, and feed my lambs is Jesus' response to Peter's Yes Lord You know that I love You. Each response by Jesus is not a faith practiced on the sideline but a faith that requires great passion for lost sheep. If you are a shepherd of a local flock reading this blog today let me encourage you to practice a faith that is doing the will of God will being in the center of the will of God. For this is what Jesus meant when he said feed and care for my sheep.

Pray with me: Lord I am a person of faith but I need to be a person of faith that responds to your sheep. Use me  to help guide Your sheep into green pastures. Nurture my soul so that I can be used by you to nurture the souls who are lost in the field. May your word indwell in me and flow out from me a spirit of joy, mercy, and love of Your Sheep.