James 2:14-26

Dead Faith Does Not Lead to Life Eternal

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. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

We’ve probably all met people who claim to be Christians but live in ways that make us wonder. We see no evidence of God in their lives. Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are saved by grace through faith, not works, but note he goes on to talk about the good works God has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

James asks, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” (James 2:14). Faith is the basis of salvation, but works are the result of it. When we are saved, we are born again; we become new creations. We aren’t the same, and our lives should show evidence of the change inside us.

A specific example, James says, is our response to a brother or a sister who lacks clothes and food. Do we tend to their physical needs? Or do we say, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but do nothing? James says such faith is dead (2:15-17).

James uses Abraham as an example of faith leading to works. God tested Abraham’s faith when he asked him to offer up his son Isaac on the altar. In being willing to do this, Abraham showed his faith was active along with his works—his faith was completed by his works.

Another example James gives might shock you at first. Rahab was a prostitute. But she showed faith in the God of Israel and protected two men when they came to check out her town, Jericho. Later she and her family were saved when the walls of the city fell (Joshua 2:1-11).

We can’t judge the hearts of others, but if their actions don’t indicate their faith, we can suspect they have a dead faith.

Can others see your faith, the fruit of a life lived in personal relationship and trust in Christ?

DIG DEEPER:

Besides sparing the lives of Rahab and her family, how did God reward Rahab’s faith and actions according to Joshua 6:23-25 and Matthew 1:5?

Compare James 2:14-18 and 1 John 3:17-20. How does John agree with James?

Read Hebrews 11, often called “The Hall of Faith” and note what the people mentioned did based on what they believed: Noah (v. 7), Abraham and Sarah (vv. 8-20), Jacob (v. 21), (Joseph (v. 22), Moses and the people (v. 23-29), Rahab (v. 31) and others (vv. 32-38).

Nancy J. Baker

This devotion is part of a series on the Book of James.

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