James 2:14 asks, “What good is it, my brothers if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” James, the brother of Jesus, obviously believes that the correct answer to this question is “no”.
But we have to stop here and remember Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:8-10 — “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
These seemingly incompatible lines from sacred scripture actually do fit together quite well once we think about the source of the works that James is talking about and the grace fueled faith that Paul is discussing. Works can not save us! Our salvation is a gift from God the Father through the actions of Jesus, God the Son, and brought to fruition in our lives by the Holy Spirit. But works are a natural outpouring of grace received!
Once we realize what God has done for us, we will want to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. He who knew no sin, became sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). What a marvelous mystery that God would die for us! When we realize the depth of our separation from God and the length to which God went to redeem us, thereby making us His precious children, we want to honor Him with our lives!
So, put your faith into action today and let your actions be fueled by your faith. Faith is like a muscle that grows as it is used! The more you lean into trusting God and doing His will the stronger your faith in God will grow… you will be amazed at what He enables you to do. You will be able to forgive people you once thought unforgivable; love people you once found unloveable; and serve in ways you might once have found inconceivable.
