November 5, 2023 SHOW ME YOUR FAITH
James 2:15-18 “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 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? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 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.’”
Without any doubt, scripture makes it clear that salvation comes by faith and not by works. However, it is also clear in scripture that once we are born again, we are to be about the works that God has ordained for us. Ephesians 2:10 tells us “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The above verse in James is about giving food and clothing, and certainly that is one good way of putting faith into action; but there are many opportunities for faith to be put into action. We must be alert to the tendency to think that believing the right thing is sufficient; true belief leads to action-we live out what we believe. I heard about a story where someone told another that their car was broken down and they had no way to get to an important appointment; the response of the one hearing this story was that “I will pray that the Lord will provide a way for you to get to your appointment.” That is a clear example of not putting faith into action. (It’s one thing if this person had no way to take the person to their appointment.) The verse referred to above, Ephesians 2:10, is an amazing verse. God has already ‘ordained’’ or ‘prepared in advance’ works for us to be about-that stretches our minds. When you come face-to-face with a good work that you sense the Lord wants you to do-that opportunity to do a good deed originates from God! Life is not accidental-God is at work involving us in His works. So, lets us know that it is a serious thing to say we have faith; knowing that the faith that is from God is an action word. Our faith is to be active not only in blessing someone else; but also in embracing and applying truths from God’s word to our own lives. For example; scripture tells us to be patient; by faith we can believe that the Holy Spirit produces patience, and by faith, we actually practice patience. Let out faith find expression.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
Blessings, Buddy
James 2:15-18 “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 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? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 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.’”
Without any doubt, scripture makes it clear that salvation comes by faith and not by works. However, it is also clear in scripture that once we are born again, we are to be about the works that God has ordained for us. Ephesians 2:10 tells us “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The above verse in James is about giving food and clothing, and certainly that is one good way of putting faith into action; but there are many opportunities for faith to be put into action. We must be alert to the tendency to think that believing the right thing is sufficient; true belief leads to action-we live out what we believe. I heard about a story where someone told another that their car was broken down and they had no way to get to an important appointment; the response of the one hearing this story was that “I will pray that the Lord will provide a way for you to get to your appointment.” That is a clear example of not putting faith into action. (It’s one thing if this person had no way to take the person to their appointment.) The verse referred to above, Ephesians 2:10, is an amazing verse. God has already ‘ordained’’ or ‘prepared in advance’ works for us to be about-that stretches our minds. When you come face-to-face with a good work that you sense the Lord wants you to do-that opportunity to do a good deed originates from God! Life is not accidental-God is at work involving us in His works. So, lets us know that it is a serious thing to say we have faith; knowing that the faith that is from God is an action word. Our faith is to be active not only in blessing someone else; but also in embracing and applying truths from God’s word to our own lives. For example; scripture tells us to be patient; by faith we can believe that the Holy Spirit produces patience, and by faith, we actually practice patience. Let out faith find expression.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
Blessings, Buddy
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