Daily Bread – February 17, 2022 (The Fifth Day – Genesis 1:20-23) James 2:14 – What good is it, my brothers, if you say you have faith, but do not have works? Can faith save you? There have always been doctrines around that would deny the power of godliness. James is addressing one of them here in his Epistle – a doctrine claiming that faith alone can save. The point he is making is there is no such thing as faith alone, because faith always produces an action. The very nature of faith results in something being accomplished. Therefore, if there is no work – no evidence of obedience – then faith is dead. There were those who only had a habitual empty boasting; who made faith some philosophical ideology that produced no change at all in their nature and behavior. These same doctrines and ideas exist today. Does the working of faith in any way violate the reality that, “the righteous live by faith” (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38)? No, because to live has movement and actions, and speaks to everything we do – insomuch that we would say “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). There are those who would attempt to argue this point by referring to what Paul said in Romans 3:28, “For we hold that a person is made righteous by faith apart from the works prescribed by the Law.” However, this has nothing whatsoever to do with the works faith produces – these are two separate issues. In the New Covenant, the works prescribed by the Law are dead and meaningless. Yet, at the same time the idea that somehow faith would replace the practical daily walk of godliness, wherein righteousness and holy living are no longer requirements, is the false doctrine James is addressing. Paul himself addressed those who would attempt to pervert the doctrine of faith by eliminating the works of faith in Titus 2:14 and 3:8. Faith is a fruit producing, not an empty dead boasting unaccompanied by any evidence. Faith without works is as useless and meaningless as having sympathy without giving help (James 2:15-17; 1 John 3:17). Jesus made it very clear that if we were to enter into the Kingdom, then we would have to do the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21). The evidence of dead faith is observed in those who have all the right Scriptures and concepts, but at the same time their walk does not measure up to their talk. Those who think their words are equal to their works are deceived and will discover that their house is built on the sand, not on the Rock, Christ Jesus (Matthew 7:26). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 2/17/2022
