James 2:14-17
James 2:14-17
- [14] What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
- [15] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
- [16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
- [17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
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James 2:14-17, often misunderstood is the focus of this week’s post. He is believed to be the 1/2 brother of Jesus, is not contradicting Paul. James is not saying that faith and good works are the way to God. Some even profess that James is saying that only good works will get us to heaven. That is not so!
The Jewish council and Christians were listening to James, explaining that everyone can be saved by faith alone.
But then he takes it one step further. James says that once saved, our hearts should be changed as we are totally a new being. And then to the group surrounding him, James asks a question. Can anyone be authentically saved if we are not following it up with good works?
Be the extension of Jesus Christ here on earth.
We are to be his hands and feet and a servant to others. If Jesus is actually in us, then we should be growing in love every day and if we are growing in love, then it ought to be showing in how we live and how we treat others.
James gives us an example. If for instance, someone has a need of clothes or food, etc. we tell them to “trust in the Lord”. Then, perhaps we say “I’ll pray for you, go in peace”. How then, has that helped the persons situation?
James wants us to understand that as Christians, if we do not follow up our salvation with works, then chances are, we have not really become a new person in Christ; have we?
Did we really accept Jesus into our being or did we just say some words and not truly believe with our hearts?
I suggest the message James was trying to get across was; if there is some way we can actually help others and don’t, do we genuinely have salvation? Or perhaps we just have a worthless faith?
My Prayer for James 2:14-17
Jehovah – Tsidkenu, Father, The Lord of Righteousness
I ask in the name of Jesus that I have the kind of faith that James was talking about here. Yes, I have accepted Jesus by faith but now Lord, I ask that you allow me to grow in that faith the way you intended.
By “serving” others the way Jesus did, will show that I am growing in my faith. Lord, it’s my desire to grow in you every day, to please you by my works, to honour you and to give you all the glory.
In the name of The Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour. Amen
“We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”
Martin Luther
Building Up a Spiritual Church 1 Peter 2:4-5