Introduction
We have one final post on faith. In our two previous posts James introduced the subject and stated emphatically Christians will act different as a result of their faith. You cannot say you have faith and not produce any results. In our last post we talked about the fact that Satan believes in Jesus but that didn’t save him. We found out that we must believe and submit to the Lord’s will. This week James gives us Old Testament examples to illustrate what he is saying.
Faith Produces Good Works – v.20-26
First we have Abraham which it says in verse 23 believed God: as a result of this faith in God he was obedient and took Isaac up to a mountain for sacrifice. Why? God had told him to do so. Abraham proved his faith in God by obedience to God’s command. Faith in God is confirmed by our obedience to God. Truly we never earn the right to be saved but once we are saved our faith in God produces good works; being obedient to His word is the main way we prove our faith in God.
James also uses Rahab as an example of one who believed in God and proved her faith by helping the Israelite men get away from Jericho. Rahab’s actions proved she had placed her trust in Almighty God.
James concludes this thought, verse 26, by using a grim comparison: when a person says they have faith but that faith produces no action, they are like a dead body, lifeless and cold.
Example Time
I am going to use this segment differently today; the body of this post already contains real world examples.
Let’s look at verse 24 for a minute. James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Beware of doctrinal te
achings using just one verse, such as verse 24, to be the basis of their entire argument. I have already covered this in a previous post so I’ll just leave you with a challenge from scripture. 2Ti_2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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Final Thoughts
Faith is the door to salvation. Before you are saved you don’t know what is behind the door. Once you have the faith to open the door Jesus comes into your heart, you now know what it is like.
How can we help others who do not believe in Jesus? They can’t feel what we feel, they have not been transformed, but they can see how being saved changes us. Be that beacon of light to a world that needs Jesus. We have to show them that Jesus is real.
Until Night,
A Servant
Servants' Journal 