Why Is Faith Without Works Dead?
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James 2:17 says, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” I have never been much of a gardener, maybe one day that will change. The few indoor plants that I have had in the house typically start out strong and beautiful, I take notice of them and care for their needs. Nevertheless comes a point in time when my priorities shift and botany is no longer on my grid. Quickly after I ignore their needs, the growth that was happening becomes shriveled dead plants in my pretty pots. The discipline, time, and care that she puts into it. In the same way, my plants died because I neglected them, faith without works is dead.
So if I believe that my plants have the ability to grow and desire that, I will water them. If we believe that Jesus is Lord, we will live our lives for Him. Just like I can tell my husband I love him all day long, but if I do not show him that I love him, that love is incomplete. We can have faith in God, but there is so much more we can experience and share with Him if we live like we believe Him.
James 2:18 goes on to say, “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.”
When we accept Jesus into our lives, the Holy Spirit enters our hearts. Ephesians 1:13 says, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” We then have the opportunity to live by the Spirit or by our flesh (Galatians 5:16-17). When I think about the Spirit, I think about life, activity, and renewal. When I think about the word flesh, I think about fragile, decay, and dying (Romans 8:5).
The Meaning of Faith without Works Is Dead
Faith is not blind. True faith is actionable trust. Faith is having strong evidence for a belief and putting your confidence in it.
James 2:19 tells us that even the demons believe there is one God. There is a difference between believing that there is a God and walking with Him. I hesitate to define “true” faith ever in a person because only the Lord knows the heart. However, what James shares with us is that we can see evidence of beliefs, convictions, and lifestyles from others that can indicate that they are walking by the Holy Spirit. I think about the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5. If someone proclaims Jesus as Lord and lives a life that produces the fruits of the Spirit, it is a good indicator that he has true faith.
Does this mean we have to live perfect lives in order to have true faith? Absolutely not, that is what our faith is in, Jesus. Our faith in Him enables us to live in ways that are pleasing to Him and share His love for the world.
What Does the Verse Mean by Faith without Works Is Dead?
Greg Gilbert says, “James is one of those books that can often confuse Christians who read it for the first time because in some ways, it sounds like James is contradicting what Paul says when Paul says that ‘salvation is not by works, but by faith alone.' I don't think James is contradicting Paul at all, though. I think James and Paul are exactly on the same page.”
Greg brings up the point that James and Paul appear to contradict each other, but that they are coming from different angles with the same foundational views. Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “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.” I believe that both of these authors agreed that works do not save us.
Paul then says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” So, if we were made by God and created to do good works through Christ, would our deeds not be a result of our faith? When we place our faith in the Lord each day, we have an opportunity to seek His agenda and to bless Him and others with our decisions. True faith is active faith, not perfect faith.
Belief in God and actions work together. James 2:22 says, “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” When we press into our faith in God, we take action; when we take action, our faith grows. One strengthens the other. When I water my plant it grows, when it grows, I enjoy the beauty, when I enjoy the beauty, I water it again and it grows more.
Britney Bradshaw from iBelieve shares, “The word tells us that it’s impossible for us to please God without faith. Pleasing God happens when we have faith and apply it with action. Our walk of faith is a lifelong journey, and there are two things that I know about it without a shadow of a doubt. The first is that no one else can run our personal race of faith. The second is that truly walking by faith and not by sight produces present and eternal fruit, all of which pleases God and brings him glory.”
Can Christians Somehow Earn Salvation?
No, Christians or anyone for that matter cannot earn their salvation. Mankind is essentially sinful in nature and not a single person except Jesus can live or will live a perfect life (Romans 3:23).
James 2:23-26 says, “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. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 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? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
These verses can be confusing and if misinterpreted, could have damaging effects on a person. Abraham came before the time of Jesus, therefore, his faith in the coming Savior saved him and Christ’s righteousness was his own. Righteousness is not salvation. Righteousness is the result of salvation. When a person is set apart by God, he lives his life for God.
Joel Ryan from Christianity.com says, “If we believe that James 2:26 promotes works-based salvation, this passage would inherently contradict the writings of Paul and teachings of Jesus, which, thankfully, it does not. We are saved, not by works or deeds, but by the grace of God, redeemed by His work on the cross.”
Why Must Works Be Present in a Vibrant Faith?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Work is present in a vibrant faith because action and change is impossible to avoid if we are seeking the Lord. When Scripture says the Word of God is living and active, this means that it changes us when we read it (Hebrews 4:12).
When we have received the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, there is no way for us to avoid living our lives for Him. Sure, there could be some prodigal moments or trials along the way but works that stem from grace are confirmation that the Holy Spirit is at work in someone’s life. So, the next time I look at my neighbor’s garden, may I be reminded to keep working through faith in Christ to accomplish His beautiful plans for my life.
Further reading:
What Does James 2:26 Mean by 'Faith without Works is Dead'?
What Does James Mean When He Says Faith without Works Is Dead?
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