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Posted on 06/28/2026 11:42:19 AM PDT by metmom
"Someone may well say, 'You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?" (James 2:18-20).
Even demonic faith is better than dead faith!
In recent years there has been an alarming rise in the number of professing Christians who believe that there's no necessary relationship between what they believe and what they do. They say you can't judge a person's spiritual condition by what he or she does because salvation is a matter of faith alone—as if requiring works violates the principle of faith.
It was that kind of reasoning that prompted James to issue this challenge: "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18). The Greek word translated "show" means "to exhibit," "demonstrate," or "put on display." His point is simple: it's impossible to verify true faith apart from holy living because doctrine and deed are inseparable.
Can you know if someone is a Christian by watching his behavior? According to James, that's the only way to know! In verse 19 he says, "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." In other words, affirming orthodox doctrine isn't necessarily proof of saving faith. Demons believe in the oneness of God, and its implications fill them with fear, but they aren't saved. The phrase "you do well" is intentionally sarcastic. The implication is that demonic faith is better than non-responsive faith because at least the demons shudder, which is better than no response at all.
You can't be a Christian in creed only—you must be one in conduct as well! James makes that very clear. Don't be confused or deceived by those who teach otherwise. Continually aim your life at bringing glory to God through obedient application of biblical truth.
Suggestions for Prayer
-Reaffirm to the Lord your commitment to abide by His Word.
For Further Study
-Read John 8:12-47. Make a list of doctrines and deeds that characterize dead faith and a corresponding list of those that characterize true faith.
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Studying God’s Word ping
Continually aim your life at bringing glory to God through obedient application of biblical truth.
https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/westminster-larger-catechism
but I am intrigued of late by the 2nd part of the answer. Any body enjoy God today?
Faith always manifests itself in action. Your actions and behavior expose what faith you hold. Words alone can deceive even your own self.
it’s impossible to verify true faith apart from holy living because doctrine and deed are inseparable.
Your salvation is a gift. Your faith is a gift. Your good works are from God also.
Thus: WWJD?
No - not the familiar, but...
What Would Jonah Do?
Jonah 'obeyed' God with his actions, but not with His heart.
And yet Jonah did what he was told, didn't like it but he did it.
Jonah.... We have to be thankful each day God is slow to anger.
Jonah became angry and deeply disappointed when God showed mercy and spared the people of Nineveh from punishment. After Jonah preaches that the city will be destroyed, the Ninevites repented. God relented, withholding the disaster, which prompts Jonah to express his frustration and to ask to die.
/////////////////////////////////////////
Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’s Compassion
Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry. So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.…
A refutation of the dangerous teaching of Free Grace theology.
https://carm.org/what-is-free-grace-theology-and-is-it-biblical
He meant that if you know something to be true, you should behave according to the conclusion. There is integrity in that.
It's a hard teaching. And Jesus comes down the hardest. "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
As Annie Herring sang, "taking the easy way isn't an easy way."
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
We do have to be careful about judging people and whetehr they ‘do works or not’, some ‘do works’ in private only- without fanfare- without recognition- yet they don’t live the holiest of lives- The drunk ‘slob’ Christian may be the one going to the poor and lending a hand, giving food and drink, money when needed etc- while we walk around the poor and homeless-
didnt mean to imply you in my response- just a general reminder for all of us- i know i tend ot forget and will judge someone by how i see them acting- and forget that i don’t see them 24/7 so i can’t know if they actually do works or not-
Yeah, but such kind have a way to go, don't they? Maybe learn to read Hildegard von Bingen.
sure they do but we don’t know their circumstances or what drove them to where they are- there are many levels of Christian development- some progress, some regress, some stay the same-
No.
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Chapter 2
Introduction
1
2
3
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5
Sin of Partiality.*
1
My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
2
For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in,
3
and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here, please,” while you say to the poor one, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,”
4
have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?*
5
Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor* in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?a
6
But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court?
7
Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you?b
8
However, if you fulfill the royal* law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.c
9
But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.d
10
For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it.e
11
For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.”f Even if you do not commit adultery but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12
g So speak and so act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom.*
13
For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.h
Faith and Works.*
14
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?i
15
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day,
16
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?j
17
So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18
Indeed someone may say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
19
You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.
20
Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?
21
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?k
22
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.
23
Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.”l
24
See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25
And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route?m
26
For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead
You have a lot of faith for us to read that.
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I heard this recently and it blessed me and I have been meditating on it:
“When we try to please God in what we do, it pleases Him.”
We are saved solely by the grace of God THROUGH faith and a genuine faith will bring about a changed heart that will become evident by a changed life. We are never to believe that our good works will merit, deserve or earn our eternal life - else it wouldn’t be by GRACE - but true, heartfelt faith can’t help but desire to please our Savior and Redeemer. God has pity on us and knows our hearts. He remembers we are but dust (Psalm 103:13,14). His faithfulness, mercy and lovingkindness is renewed every morning. How can we NOT love Him?
Which results in a whole different motivation for obeying Him.
It’s out of love and gratitude, not fear of punishment.
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