“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17
How do faith and actions fit together? What role do good works and obedience play in the life of the Christian? Did the reformers place too much emphasis on “faith alone” that now we’ve lost the other side of the coin? Is there any truth to the idea that many people have walked away from the faith because they feel like too many Christians are unchristian?
These are all great questions that we hope our series on James has started to answer, but this week, we come to the key verse in James from which these questions arise – v. 17. Yet what we hope we are also discovering is that grateful actions are a result of our faith. As some have said, “Faith is the beginning of obedience, and obedience is the completion of faith.”
As we have been attempting to point out, this really is just another way of stating something that resonates with Ephesians 2:10, where Paul says that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” In other words, a natural result of the Spirit’s work to bring us to faith is to respond by showing thanks to God and by sharing his love with others. So, good works are a natural outcome of faith.
As we come to the text this week, each one of us has to ask, “Can the people in my life tell by my actions that my faith is real? Does it show in the way I reach out to people in need and in the way I share with others?” Since thankful works and obedience can be a helpful indicator of our growth as Christ followers, each of us must reflect on the ways in which we are showing God’s love.
I look forward to seeing you this week as we talk about putting these things into practice.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron
How do faith and actions fit together? What role do good works and obedience play in the life of the Christian? Did the reformers place too much emphasis on “faith alone” that now we’ve lost the other side of the coin? Is there any truth to the idea that many people have walked away from the faith because they feel like too many Christians are unchristian?
These are all great questions that we hope our series on James has started to answer, but this week, we come to the key verse in James from which these questions arise – v. 17. Yet what we hope we are also discovering is that grateful actions are a result of our faith. As some have said, “Faith is the beginning of obedience, and obedience is the completion of faith.”
As we have been attempting to point out, this really is just another way of stating something that resonates with Ephesians 2:10, where Paul says that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” In other words, a natural result of the Spirit’s work to bring us to faith is to respond by showing thanks to God and by sharing his love with others. So, good works are a natural outcome of faith.
As we come to the text this week, each one of us has to ask, “Can the people in my life tell by my actions that my faith is real? Does it show in the way I reach out to people in need and in the way I share with others?” Since thankful works and obedience can be a helpful indicator of our growth as Christ followers, each of us must reflect on the ways in which we are showing God’s love.
I look forward to seeing you this week as we talk about putting these things into practice.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron
No Comments