Skip to main content

James 2:14

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
(NIV)


A question with an obvious answer.

Faith without deeds does no good. If a man says that he has faith, but does not have deeds, what is the point? There is no good there. Can it even save a person?

We have been taught so many places in the scriptures that our works cannot save us. We are evil, vile, immoral people. We most assuredly cannot save ourselves by being good, and doing the works of God.

The only answer to our dilemma was Jesus Christ Himself. He came and did the life for us. He was righteousness personified. Then He died so that we might live. So we cling to Him in faith. Trusting that His word is true, that His gospel is real.

Then some stop there. They do not want to be saved from their worldly lifestyle. They simply want their ticket to heaven, or maybe I should say, they want their pass out of hell. They claim this saving faith is theirs, but there is no evidence of it.

So, James says, "Can such faith save?"

Surely we know the answer already. No, it cannot save. For real, true saving faith... saves a man. He is saved from this life that he was leading, and he turns to God.

Faith without works is good for nothing.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ephesians 4:31

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (NIV) This verse might be best served with some definitions. Bitterness - Just what it says, bitterness. It is a bitter root that produces a bitter fruit. Rage - Usually translated as Wrath. It has to do with a passionate anger. This is the person who is fuming. They are bubbling over with anger. Anger - This word has also been translated as wrath. It is most definitely referring to the actions associated with anger. It doesn't have to mean this, but their can also be the association with violence. This is the person who is acting out on their anger, in a sinful way. Brawling - Ok, I just learned something new, this word has to do with making an outcry, or a crying. After I read the definitions, what immediately jumped into my mind was the person who yells when they are angry. He may not do something violent, but he is letting everyone know exactly how angry he is. He is a ye...

Psalm 136:4

to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. (NIV) If this verse said, "to him who does great wonders..." it would still be a great verse. We could talk about all of the wonders that God does. Everything from the rings of Saturn and the Sombrero Galaxy to the forming of a child inside its mothers womb or even how electrons are spinning around the atoms and not flying off. We could talk about all of those things and marvel at His wonders. But get this, all of the great wonders are His! He doesn't just get credit for great wonders, He gets credit for all of them, because the verse says, "to him who alone does great wonders..." God has no counterpart. He has no arch-rival. There is none like Him, and He is the only one who is doing the wonderful stuff! He is the changer of hearts and lives. He is the redeemer. He is the savior. He is the God who hears and the God who sees. And the most wonderful of all, His love endures Forever!

Psalm 84:3

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young -- a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. (NIV) Every time I read this verse, I get this picture in my mind of the author, looking with longing at the temple, praying for the day that he can be there, and while he is praying, he sees these birds, building their nests near the temple grounds. He looks with jealousy, wishing that he could have that same freedom. The ability to be close to the temple, to the dwelling of God. But for now, he will be content to dwell with God from a distance.