Friday, September 22, 2006

Faith / Works

My intention is not for these passages to be taken out of context and therefore please refer to your Bible or, if you are not in possession of God's written Word, please refer to the link in my sidebar to Blue Letter Bible.



James 2:14-26

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble!

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. NKJV

5 comments:

Anne said...

Badoozer - I'm posting WordPoints just whenever. Are you wanting more of them? If so, I will post them more often along with MY junk.

Why did I post this? Hmmmm. Did someone or something spark this?

YES.

I believe it's always best to let God's Word speak. James has a lot to say in these passages.

Thanks for your interest (and your perception).

Funky-Redhead said...

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10

Jenn said...

I love the book of James for the challenges.

It seems such an easy lesson to comprehend and much harder to implement.

I think the sum of this chapter (not said pointedly) should be called put your money where your mouth is...better yet, put your works where your faith is.

Anonymous said...

*Smile*

Whistle Britches said...

The great prophet Rich Mullins sang: Faith without works is like a screen door on a submarine..

I know that isn't in the bible but it paints a vivid picture for me anyhoo....

word verif: lwemsch
I know that's hebrew for something.