Faith and Works

How many of us went to a job interview with the intention of being hired, but never actually doing any work? Would we expect to get raises and be successful if we never put forth any effort? Let me tell you a story of:

The Case of the Invisible Employee

When the new guy, Carl, joined the office, everyone was impressed by his confidence. He shook hands, nodded knowingly at meetings, and even carried around a clipboard like he was on a mission.

The only problem? No one ever actually saw him do anything.

If you asked him what he was working on, he’d say, “Oh, just handling some high-level strategy,” and then disappear for hours. Sometimes he’d be spotted in the break room “networking” with the vending machine. Other times, he’d be “conducting field research” at the coffee shop down the street.

After three weeks, the boss finally asked for an update on his projects. Carl smiled, tapped his clipboard, and said, “It’s all in here.”

The clipboard was empty.

Carl was gone by Monday… but the vending machine still misses him.

How many of us have ever met a Carl?

Now, let’s put this into a different perspective. When “Carl” joins the church, he comes in on fire, wanting to be a part of all the committees and everything that is going on. He carries his Bible with him everywhere and says all the right things. There’s just one problem. No one ever has seen him reading his Bible. Someone asks a question in Sunday School, and he answers with something that sounds good, but doesn’t really go deep into understanding or comprehension. After a few months, his attendance starts to be sporadic and then he doesn’t show up and no one really misses him…

I am afraid there are examples like this in many churches all across the world today. They may want to become a part of the church to partake in all the “benefits” without doing any of the work that goes along with it. In the last part of Chapter 2, James speaks to this phenomenon. Expecting the benefits without putting forth an effort, when he asks the question, can a person have faith and not do any good works? Is it okay to be a Christian, who expects to enter heaven, without ever putting forth an effort to advance the kingdom and doing no works of the faith? Of course, when we look at it this way I think we would all say, no that’s not how it works.

James 2:14 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

Anyone who truly believes in something will act on that. Like baseball? You watch games, you go out and pitch or hit, you throw and get where you are more accurate. Like basketball? You run the court, you shoot free throws, three pointers, you drive the key and make layups. If you like to cook, you get cook books, you taste as you prepare, you learn from other good cooks. You get the point, if you WANT something badly enough, you will do something about it. Yet this is the curse of Christianity and of the church. Millions profess faith in Christ and belong to the church, yet they do not live for Christ. They have been baptized and confirmed, joined the church and attend worship services, but they do what they want when they want. They just go on and live like everyone else in the world. The only difference between their lives and unbelievers is that they sometimes get up on Sunday mornings and attend church.

James asks two pointed question - what good is your faith if you do not do good works? Can his faith save him?

Yet, Paul makes the argument in Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

So which one is right? Both.

Salvation can only be gained by grace through faith. We can never work enough - do enough of our own deeds - to ever earn salvation. On the same token, though, one that claims to be saved by faith through grace but never does anything to show they are saved...are they truly saved? The faith is only a faith or profession, not a faith of POSSESSION, and Scripture calls this a DEAD FAITH.

James 2:15–17 ESV

15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 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? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

If a brother or sister - notice this is speaking of fellow believers in need. If they are in need, and we do not provide for them… only wish them well… are we doing God’s work? Now, most churches and most Christians are really good at “God talk”. Bless their hearts… We visit, we comfort, we wish them well, and “we will pray for them”. But, what good is all that talk if their basic needs are not met? Faith, if it does not do good works, is dead.

A person can talk about believing in Jesus Christ repeatedly, but if they are not reaching out and helping the destitute of the world just like Jesus did, their faith is dead—utterly meaningless. No person really believes in Jesus Christ unless they are following Jesus Christ and doing the works of love and righteousness which Christ did. True faith is an operative faith, a faith that really works.

Now, this doesn’t mean we have to give away the things we need to survive either, but if we take what we have BEYOND our own needs and give it to other Christians in need… THEN we are doing the Will of God.

James 2:18 ESV

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James uses the example of two people; one claiming to have works, the other claiming to have faith. Let me be clear, having faith in our own understanding is a dangerous thing. You see, many people today have decided that if THEY decide to be saved, God will accept them, and that is all that is needed - they’re headed to heaven.

Matthew 7:21 ESV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus says that it is only those who do the “will of my Father”, that will enter heaven. What is the Will of God? Doing good works - what we, as Christians are called to do.

Well, then, the other claims they will do good works. They will live as good a life as they can. Problem with that is, we can’t live a good life on our own. It requires faith, in Christ. You see, someone who only things what they “do” is “good works” tricks one into thinking we have a say. In reality, all we are doing is living a “religious” lifestyle, just like the Pharisees who turned against Jesus.

James tells us it is not a matter of faith or works. To say and profess faith alone will not save a person, and to follow works to become acceptable to God will not save a person. A person who truly believes in Christ works for Christ. He follows and lives for Christ.

You SAY you have faith, but where is the proof? True faith must have proof; it must be backed up; you must show and demonstrate that you believe. I have works to back up what I profess. Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Your faith is not seen; all I have is your word. There is no change in your life. But you can see my faith by my works.

James 2:19–20 ESV

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

A true man of religion believes in one God: he is not an atheist nor an agnostic. He is a believer, and note: his belief in God is said to be a good thing. The man does well to believe in God. But believing in God is not enough. There is a dead belief and a living belief, a belief that does not lead to salvation and a belief that does lead to salvation.

James points out even the demons, the evil spirits, believe in God and know God exists. They believe in Jesus, as the Son of God.

Matthew 8:28–29 ESV

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”

They BELIEVE, but the demons are not saved. You see, I can believe in something and still not do it.

James 2:21–24 ESV

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

While many of us struggle with the actions of Abraham, taking Isaac up to be sacrificed on the altar, it was his action of doing what God commanded and demanded of Him that shows us faith in action. It was his work, doing God’s Will.

What James is saying is that Abraham proved that he was justified; he proved that he was justified by what he did—by his works. Abraham’s faith was proven to be a true and living faith by his works.

Abraham was called “the Friend of God.” This says that Abraham had an intimate relationship with God; he believed God and walked in communion and fellowship with God, following and living for God.

Faith only is dead faith, an inactive and worthless faith. True faith is a living and active faith—a faith that proves itself by living for Christ and working for Christ.

James 2:25–26 ESV

25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James goes on to use another example - be it a more unlikely illustration - when he used Rahab, the harlot as an example. Rahab was a converted prostitute, one who had been saved by grace through her faith, and demonstrated her faith by works. While Abraham was given promises by God that he would be the father of many nations, Rahab was the lowest in society. Even the lowest person who claims to believe in God must do good works. They must clean up their lives and follow God. Rahab did. When the spies for Israel were being hunted down by the Jericho soldiers, she hid them. Why would she betray her country and protect the Israelite spies? Because she believed in God and His promises. She put her faith to work.

Closing

A body without the spirit or breath is dead. It does not move, act, live, or work. It is empty, totally useless and worthless. It is a dead body.

So it is with faith: faith without works is dead. It does not move, act, live, or work. Faith without works is empty, totally useless and worthless. It does not live for Christ, does not follow Him in righteousness or purity nor work for Him in reaching people and meeting the needs of a destitute world.

What works are we doing for the Lord? Are we alive in Christ? Or are we like the walking dead? Do we live to satisfy our SELF or do we live a life pleasing to God?

The choice is yours. If you feel dead spiritually, you can receive life today. By grace, through faith, you can be saved, and you can start truly living and the works will show others Christ.

Will you make that choice today? The altar is open.

LEADERSHIP MINISTRIES WORLDWIDE: Hebrews-James, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN : Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996