FAITH AND DEEDS JAMES 2:14-26

JAMES 2:  14 - 26

FAITH AND DEEDS

   What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well;  keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

   "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."

   Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do.  You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that---and shudder.

  You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?  Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  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 justified by what he does 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.   James 2: 14-26 (NIV)

MY COMMENTARY

   I really think these verses are self explanatory.   James means only that righteous action is evidence of genuine faith---not that it gives eternal life.    Only faith in Jesus Christ saves your eternal soul.

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY

   At first glance, James 2:18 seems to contradict Romans 3:28, "man is justified by faith apart from observing the law."  Deeper investigation, however, shows that the teachings of James and Paul are not at odds.  While it is true that our good deeds can never earn salvation, true faith always result in a changed life and good deeds.  Paul speaks against those who try to be saved by deeds instead of true faith;  James speaks against those who confuse mere intellectual assent with true faith.  After all, even demons know who Jesus is, but they don't obey Him.  True faith involves a commitment of your whole self to God.


What about you?  Have you accepted the gift that Jesus so freely gave of salvation?  The dispensation of grace is about to close, and then the tribulation will occur.  If you want to know more about salvation, click this link to our "Pathway to Salvation" page:  (click here:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html).  There are so many blessings when you are in God's will.  Thank you so much for allowing us to share this post with you.