James 2:14-26

FAITH RESULTS IN GOOD WORKS

James 2:14-26

James 2:14  What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?

I was at work one day and a lady was talking about one of the VP in our plant. She said that he was one of those. She meant that he was a Christian. I was totally ashamed of the fact that she did not know that I was also a Christian. That is a good example of the verse above. I believed in God but I was not doing enough to show that Jesus was my savior. That has stuck with me all these years. Do your friend know you are a Christian? Have you been one of the people that have witness to someone who eventually accepted Christ?.

James 2:15  Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, James 2:16  and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? James 2:17  So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

If you see a homeless person how do you react? Are you revolted? Do you offer to help? Unless you are extremely wealthy you cannot help all the homeless. You can, however, join with a group of people and do like our church did and help as many as you can.

James 2:18  Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds." James 2:19  You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. James 2:20  How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:21  Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? James 2:22  You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. James 2:23  And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." He was even called the friend of God. Isa_41:8.

James 2:24  So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. James 2:25  Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. James 2:26  Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

I hope everyone both reads and understands them if there is an unclear part please go to Bible Gateway for further explanation.