True faith in God is never passive. It’s not content to sit back and fill its life with self-centred living while ignoring work that needs to be done for Jesus Christ.
James, the half-brother of Jesus asked an important question; What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14). Great question James!
James then presents a practical example of a person who says they have faith in God, yet they lack the evidence of that faith through the way they treat poor people. If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? (James 2:15-16). I think most people would answer James’ question by saying something like, that’s no good at all you hypocrite.
And that is precisely the point James is making. So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:17). And dead faith is not faith at all! Actions cannot save us, but faith will always act.
Faith manifests itself through actions that align with God’s will. James emphasizes that faith without works is lifeless, dead, meaning that faith is demonstrated and validated by what we do. As Christians, our attitudes, our speech, and our actions provide the evidence of our faith, showing that we trust God enough to obey Him, even when it’s difficult or costly.
This is because saving faith in Jesus Christ was gifted to us by God for His glory and purposes, not for ours. Therefore, faith seen through actions can never be separated. They are to always be one.
The apostle Paul commended the Christians in Ephesus, saying, I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints (Ephesians 1:15). Genuine faith is seen through right behaviour towards others, and Paul had heard this about the Christians in Ephesus.
John the Baptist taught that whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:36). Now, John was NOT saying that every act of disobedience proves you are not saved. No! John means that if the pattern of your life is one of disobeying Jesus, then your continual disobedience is evidence that you do not know Jesus, and you remain under God’s wrath.
The author of Hebrews 11:8 emphasises this truth. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Faith neither opposes nor bargains with God, nor does it question Him or seek to avoid His commandments. Faith simply obeys because faith loves God through Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about Titus taking up a collection of money to help the poor Christians in Jerusalem, he wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV), since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
Again, Paul says it well in Ephesians 2:8-10. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this (faith) is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
You see, Faith acts, it’s not lazy, and it’s not disobedient.
