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5/10 Reading Portions: Numbers 19; Psalms 56-57; Isaiah 8:1-9:7; James 2
Listen to the audio devotional above, and/or read the written devotional below.
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26
A PRODUCTIVE FAITH
James continues to present the truth of saving faith in the second chapter of his letter. Although James points out one particular example of how the lusts of the flesh were confounding Christian faith (Jas 2:1-7), he presents the transforming truth of biblical faith (Jas 2:8-26). When Christ saves, a lost soul is gifted eternal life. Ours is a living faith. Therefore, faith which is not evidenced by accompanying works is dead (Jas 1:17). In fact, James says faith which does not produce good works in our lives is no different from the belief of demons (Jas 2:19).
Rejoicing in and embracing the grace of God in Christ, some have opposed my view of this epistle by James:
“Wait a minute, Brother Jon,” one has objected a few years ago, “doesn’t the Scripture say, ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast’ (Eph 2:8-9). Wouldn’t works confound grace?”
I answered, “Yes, it would; that is, if by our works we attempt to appease God, appeal to God, or justify ourselves before God— yes, that would certainly confound grace.” Nevertheless, we must understand that the very next verse in Ephesians tells us that saving grace through faith will transform our lives:
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
We cannot boast of these works produced by saving faith (Gal 6:14); for we do not compare these present good works with what we were in the past. We must compare them to the perfect works of Jesus Christ— and thus, the best of our works requires all of God’s grace, just as much as our least thought, word, and deed. Therefore, it’s all of grace because Jesus is a thorough Savior. Hallelujah!
The faith Christ gives us is alive,
But flesh remains and we must strive
To embrace grace and trust in Christ:
His work alone has paid sin’s price.
