Do You Display Faith in Action? – James: Faith and Works, part 6
Got faith? How about demonstrated faith in action? Learn how faith in Jesus is displayed by your actions and deeds, and why it’s important. Plus, two truths about works and faith.
Faith in Christ brings salvation. Yay! But saying you have faith will not prove, demonstrate, or indicate that you have faith--only that you have stated it. Our actions and deeds come from faith in Jesus. The works we display are proof of faith in Jesus. Without such works, our declaration of faith is useless or dead. This message is a good first step to find a way to put your faith into action and allow your faith to be seen.
Faith Displayed in Actions
SALVATION COMES THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST.
Jewish religious leaders were focused on the outward, the physical. They were concerned about their own personal power, authority and how people viewed them rather than focused on God Almighty and people. The Jewish leaders were focused on obedience to the law as the means of gaining heaven and salvation. Many people thought they could work their way to heave, that obedience to the law was the way of salvation. But they were wrong. Faith, not works, is how the righteousness of Christ is credited to a person that results in salvation.
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20, NIV).
“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22). The apostle Paul addressed the issue of salvation by works in Romans 4, 9, and Ephesians 2.
“Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5).
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
‘Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”’ (Romans 9:11-13).
Friends, salvation is not by works. It is only by grace through faith in Christ. It is a gift of God.
In Luke 7 you will find Jesus eating in the home of a Pharisee named Simon. This is the story of a woman who lived a sinful life who wet Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She then poured perfume on Jesus’ feet from an alabaster jar. Simon was beside himself knowing that she was a sinner and that Jesus allowed her to do such things. Let me share the last few verses of this story:
‘Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”’ (Luke 7:48-50, NIV).
This woman’s faith in Jesus saved her, her actions came from her heart and her faith is witnessed by her actions.
Your actions reveal your faith, or lack of faith, in Christ.
Let me be clear: you aren’t saved because of what you do, however what you do reveals your faith or lack of faith in Jesus.
Last week we learned that a person of faith is not to show favoritism of one person over another. Just as God does not show favoritism.
‘Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right”’ (Acts 10:34-35).
“There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:9-11).
“Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18:18-19).
God sovereignly chose Abraham, not out of favoritism or because of anything he did. Then we see that Abraham believed God and his journey to Canaan was his act of faith in God. If Abraham had never journeyed to Canaan, his so-called faith would have been dead.
We also learned that one simple infraction of God’s law means the person is a lawbreaker. We learned that God does not view any sin less than the other when it comes to sin separating us from God. In that sense, sin is sin. Great or small they are all the same. We are all sinners, and we are all deserving of death and hell—of being separated from God because of even one sin. But thanks be to God, those who place their faith in Jesus are saved.
‘Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”’ (John 11:25-26, NIV).
Jesus also said that anyone who has faith in him will follow in his example and do what he did (John 14:12). In other words, the believer who has faith in Jesus will live a life of faith in all they do and speak.
In Romans, Paul was saying a person’s justification before God is based upon faith in Jesus. James was addressing something different. James was addressing more of how faith in Jesus is displayed by one’s actions and deeds. James was saying our actions and deeds come from our faith in Jesus. The works we display are proof of faith in Jesus and nothing else. Without such works, our declaration of faith is useless or dead.
How is true faith revealed?
Let’s consider what James writes.
‘What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead’ (James 2:14-26).
James begins this section with a question that should cause us to think and possibly consider what true faith looks like. True faith is seen in how a person responds, lives, loves and obeys the word of God.
James asks: What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? (James 2:15). This question should cause us to consider our own faith and lives. In other words, James is asking, can a person simply say they have faith and do nothing? Can saying you have faith make it true? Saying you have faith will not prove, demonstrate, or indicate that you have faith. Saying you have faith doesn’t mean you have faith, only that you have said it.
Remember, James is addressing believers in Christ. James is suggesting to the reader, what good is faith if you say you have faith and do nothing? Faith without actions is dead. Faith without deeds is useless and accomplishes nothing. I want to be clear; James is not speaking of faith with regards to salvation. James is not addressing a person’s belief regarding God or Jesus. He tells us the enemy, even demons, believe and know about God and of Jesus being the Son of God, and they shudder (James 2:19).
Many people around the world and in this country speak as if they have faith and believe in Jesus, but their actions say otherwise. That is one reason I believe James said:
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:12-13).
As believers we are to speak and act as those judged by the law that gives freedom. You see, the believer who displays mercy is acting in such a way that reveals their faith in Jesus. They understand their sins are forgiven and that have already been judged by the law that gives freedom.
If we have faith in Jesus we are justified before God by grace through faith, as a gift of God and not by works as stated in Ephesians 2:8-9. If we are saved by grace through faith, we can do nothing to earn salvation. If grace is a gift, it cannot be earned. Instead, we only need to believe and have faith in Jesus. Further, James is saying that our faith will produce an action that will reveal our faith, and if the profession of faith doesn’t produce works or deeds that glorify God, our so-called faith is useless and dead.
The person who simply states that he has faith in Jesus but does not live a life of faith may succeeded in convincing himself he is saved, but that is all. His faith is dead. The Jewish religious leaders all said they were Godly, and believed they were heaven-bound, but they were living far from God. Their faith was in their own works and ability and not in God. A verbal statement of faith does nothing regarding a person’s heart and soul.
How many people do you know say one thing, and yet do the opposite. I am reminded about what James said of taking action:
“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do” (James 1:23-25).
The person who states they have faith without deeds is like that man in the mirror who has forgotten what he looks like. They see themselves as OK. They see themselves as they want to see themselves. They think of themselves as a person of faith, but they have forgotten that the word of God calls the believer to live and act like Christ.
Faith in Jesus is more than a word; it is seen in a life of faith and action. Action, not for salvation but action because of their faith in Christ.
James illustrates for us a person who ignored the needs of another person and tells them to "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs (James 2:16). So, what good is it? This is not a person with living faith. That person’s faith is useless and dead. James challenges the person who states that they have faith without works to show their faith, but they cannot. The person without works cannot show or prove his faith in Christ. James tells the person without works, you are foolish, and that faith without works is useless (James 2:20).
Examples Showing Faith Through Action
James then gives the reader two examples of individuals who displayed their faith by their deeds. The first being Abraham and the other being Rahab. Interestingly, both are found to be in the linage of Jesus. It was by Abraham’s actions that his faith in God is proved (see Hebrews 11:8-10, 17-19). It was by Rahab’s actions that her faith in God was proved (see Joshua 2).
Hebrews 11 lists others whose faith is demonstrated by their actions. Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain. Noah built an ark, Joseph, Moses, Jacob, Gideon, David, Samuel, Paul and Silas, the disciples, and millions of others all displayed their faith in how they lived.
Many others, because of their faith, have been martyred for their acts of faith. Each one being justified by their acts of faith in God almighty.
Some were looking forward in hope of the Messiah.
Others looking back in hope and to Jesus, the lamb of God who took the sins of the world upon himself so that whosoever will believe in him will be saved and enjoy eternal life with him in glory.
Two Truths About Works & Faith
Works can’t save you, faith does; and your faith is manifested through works. Paul argued against the teaching that good works can save a person. They cannot. James argues that faith without works is useless and dead. Both are correct.
Faith in Jesus will produce an action that is born out of the heart for God and is displayed in works of love, grace, and mercy. Faith and works are connected.
C.S. Lewis once said that it is like a person trying to decide which blade on a pair of scissors is more important. Both are important.
Works flow from faith in Christ, and a person’s faith in Christ will grow as the person learns to trust in the Lord and not lean on their own understanding. As the person learns to trust the Lord more, more acts of faith will be seen.
When faith is tested it becomes stronger and when one’s faith is strong it will reveal itself in what you do.
James started out his letter with these words:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).
I think I can say that if your faith is not witnessed by some actions and deeds, that you are most likely spiritually lacking, and your faith is useless.
Trials demand us to lean into and trust Jesus, and as you do, your faith will grow as you persevere in faith and experience the power and presence of God in your heart and life. Abraham would never have known the provision of God without taking that first step toward Canaan and believing that God would provide.
Faith proves itself by works.
Trials force us to lean into God and that, in turn, our faith will grow. Greater faith will be seen in greater works for Christ.
These past several years, the threat of COVID and lockdowns have made things difficult. The apostle Paul said to fight the good fight of the faith and take hold of the eternal life to which you were called (1 Timothy 6:12). I want to encourage you to find a way to put your faith into action. Allow your faith to be seen. Step out from behind the COVID lockdowns and let your faith be seen. Allow your faith to be stretched and seen in all you do.
Be encouraged, because the testing of your faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).
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