Here's where things get controversial. Paul says you are saved only by faith and not by works, and here comes James saying faith without works is dead.
Wait, what?
James 2:14-26 KJV
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Oooh. That's convicting! But James makes a really good point.
Jesus is the light, and we are to carry and shine forth His light. What good are we doing at spreading that light if we don't take notice of the people around us who need help?
James' point here is really that our faith leads us (or should be leading us) to do good works that are filled with compassion, for the benefit of others.
Take James' example in verses 15 and 16. If we come across a person who is hungry, or who isn't dressed sufficiently for their weather, and we bless them but don't actually do anything to fill the need itself, what good are we doing? If we say "God bless you," and "Jesus loves you," but we just leave them hanging, how are they going to feel about Christianity? What kind of message do we actually send them about God's love in doing this?
This is meant every bit as much for me as for everyone else, by the way. I have work to do, and I admit it.
And no, I'm not advocating works as a method for salvation. It is through faith, belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and was resurrected on the third day that I am saved and justified. It is the works that bear the fruit of that faith.
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