Email from Abiding Place Daily Bread – March 18, 2025 (The Third Day – Genesis 1:9-13) James 2:24 – You see then that a man is shown to be righteous by works, and not by faith only. Made Righteous to Live Righteous It cannot be underscored enough how Paul also described faith in action as the works of righteousness (Acts 26:20; Romans 2:15, 13:12; 1 Corinthians 3:13-14,15:58, 16:10; 2 Corinthians 9:8;,11:15; Galatians 6:4; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:12, 30; Colossians 1:10, 29; 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 5:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:10, 5:10, 25, 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:21, 3:17; Titus 1:16, 2:7, 14, 3:1, 8, 14; Hebrews 6:10, 10:24, 13:21). Paul is against works, but the works he is against are law works, not faith works. Faith works are not works to be made righteous, they are the deeds of those made righteous by faith. At the same time, both James and Paul are opposed to the mere profession of faith. Both are opposed to a form of godliness while denying the power of it (2 Timothy 3:5). Both James and Paul make it clear how faith comes as a result of the Word of God (James 1:21; Romans 10:17). The Word of God Peter proclaimed we were begotten of (1 Peter 1:23). The Word of God we are to live by. The Word that brings forth faith. The faith of Jesus produced the supernatural works of God in our lives. God’s faith set in motion the action of believing. Faith works can never be equated with law works, for one is the work of God and the other the works of human effort. Faith works come only through those who have been made righteous by faith, whereas law works are a vain attempt to be made righteous. Only through Christ Jesus and His redeeming blood can anyone be made righteous. We were made right by the mercies of God so we can do what is right. Christ Jesus came into our lives so He can be revealed through our lives. We were not made right to continue to do wrong (Romans 1:18, 3:15, 6:1,6, 16; Galatians 5:19-21, 24-25). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 3/18/2025
