Good morning,
This week we continue our study of the book of James.
Chapter two explains how to deal with people, the law, faith, and works.
The Jewish believers in James’s day were being persecuted. They had been driven out of Jerusalem and were scattered abroad. James encourages those scattered Jewish believers on how to conduct themselves during this time.
James 2
3. Faith and Works v 14-20
Destitute man v 14-16
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Faith needs works v 17-20
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
“For James, justification is by faith that works—by a genuine faith that manifests itself in post-conversion works. Before salvation, these Jews had believed in the efficacy of works. Now some were reacting to the opposite extreme, imaging that works play no part in the salvation experience. James retorts that the kind of faith that does not produce works is not saving faith. Can merely professed but undemonstrated faith save?” (The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988, page 1940)
We as believers in Christ should be demonstrating our faith. This should be seen in the things we do, say, and our love for the brethren.
Do people see our faith being manifested throughout our community?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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