Do Faith and Works Go Together? Rev. M.D. Rogers

Do Faith and Works Go Together?
James 2:14-26

General idea: Real, impacting, effectual faith will have results. It will be lived out! Faith is received alone, but it does not just stand alone; it is to be shown. Faith will be backed up by the proof that it is present in a person. If there is no proof, there is a good chance that the vessel is empty of faith. If the label says "coke," and when you open it and pour it in a glass, all that comes out is "chicken feathers," you may come to the conclusion that the label and contents do not measure up to each other. The same case is with faith. Faith is given and received by Christ's work of grace alone. James' point is not that salvation requires works, an effort to receive it or even to cement it; rather, real faith will result in an outcome that backs it up. Faith will be lived out in the believer's life, thinking, words,
and actions. Faith will create initiative from the realization of who we are in Christ, and then we will live out our lives in Him, through His power and because of our convictions.

James is using a rhetorical statement here. What good is a faith of words and no actions? His point is that we are not to claim faith or brag about faith if we are doing nothing with our faith. This type of faith is phony. Faith is demonstrated by substance and connection, how we choose to live our lives and touch others for Christ. It shows how our morality is applied. If we ignore our brothers and sisters in the Lord, or in the world, while we boast we are in Him, what good is our faith? Our demonstrations are ineffectual, and even detrimental to others. Faith is not a substance that is to stand unused (1 John 3:16-20).

•        Faith. James uses faith here as an "Academic Affirmation." This means having a mere intellectual understanding without trusting in Christ as Savior and Lord. For James, faith was not just an allegiance to doctrine; rather, it was to be a lifestyle. It was not just an idea to believe in, but rather the purpose for our lives. Faith is not to be passive, but rather active; it is the living Spirit living in us, empowering and growing in us (Gal. 5).

•        Works/deeds refer to ethical behavior. Real faith is never to be hidden, indifferent, or independent.

Faith is not just an academic subject, something we just debate and talk about, nor is it about emotions; rather it must be real and it must be the motivating impacting force within us. If we have faith and do nothing with it, we are being illogical and absurd. Saving faith is a living faith; it will have genuine results! Thus, our desire, as Christians, will be to put into practice the precepts of the Lord, not because we earn anything, but because we are grateful for what we have and desire others to have it, too. Our faith will have activity that tells others and God that our faith is real.

James challenges those with faith to show their faith with outward fruit. James is not saying doctrine is unimportant; rather, if it is real in you, then it will be shown in you. The Jews were required to declare the oneness of God every day and then exercise their faith in Him. Many chose to only proclaim their faith, but did nothing with it. God reads our heart; others read our deeds. Thus, we are sometimes the only gospel a non-saved  person will ever see.