08-30-2008, 07:45 PM
James 2:17 --- In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
in context -
[NIV] 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.
I've heard this "faith versus works" argument too many times, with the protesters from both sides spearing each other with sharp-edged words of denunciation. Religions teach what they teach, often putting their believers in opposition to others' beliefs, making it very hard to understand that there exists a BALANCE to everything. It cannot be either faith OR works, but the perfect balance is found in a copious supply of BOTH! I thought it was kind of funny how James asks the question - "Show me your faith apart from your works..." How can we show our faith other than by the good works it impells us to want to do, and not for our own glory, but for God and Jesus? It can't be done!
Yes, faith is the compelling force that produces good works, not the other way 'round and not one without the other.
I think, as a Witness, I did have it turned around. I thought that the more I 'worked' for Jehovah, the more my faith would build. That didn't work out quite like I thought it should... because faith comes FIRST - as it did in Abraham's case when his actions, based solely on his faith in God, justified him as righteous - he believed first, then his actions proved what kind of faith he had. In that finite moment when Abraham raised the knife above his son, his faith was pure and solid - he was absolutely sure of his God's promises.
Romans 4:18-25
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 4:11-12
It was he(Jesus) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
Romans 9:30-32
What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."
Always open for more comments and thoughts - can't get enough of those! :friends:
Love to you ALL! :grouphug:
from your friend and sister in faith,
Willa
in context -
[NIV] 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.
I've heard this "faith versus works" argument too many times, with the protesters from both sides spearing each other with sharp-edged words of denunciation. Religions teach what they teach, often putting their believers in opposition to others' beliefs, making it very hard to understand that there exists a BALANCE to everything. It cannot be either faith OR works, but the perfect balance is found in a copious supply of BOTH! I thought it was kind of funny how James asks the question - "Show me your faith apart from your works..." How can we show our faith other than by the good works it impells us to want to do, and not for our own glory, but for God and Jesus? It can't be done!
Yes, faith is the compelling force that produces good works, not the other way 'round and not one without the other.
I think, as a Witness, I did have it turned around. I thought that the more I 'worked' for Jehovah, the more my faith would build. That didn't work out quite like I thought it should... because faith comes FIRST - as it did in Abraham's case when his actions, based solely on his faith in God, justified him as righteous - he believed first, then his actions proved what kind of faith he had. In that finite moment when Abraham raised the knife above his son, his faith was pure and solid - he was absolutely sure of his God's promises.
Romans 4:18-25
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 4:11-12
It was he(Jesus) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
Romans 9:30-32
What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."
Always open for more comments and thoughts - can't get enough of those! :friends:
Love to you ALL! :grouphug:
from your friend and sister in faith,
Willa