“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise, also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-26)
So, in the above verses we see James is stating that works is the evidence of faith and that faith without works is dead. James also emphasises that “Even the devils believe, and tremble” which describes how a mere mental “belief” is not the same as a saving faith.
In this day and age a very prevalent doctrine that is spreading throughout the new-age churches and in online forums, is that: “since we are saved by faith in Christ alone, as stated in the famous John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8-9; that we are not required to come to genuine repentance of our sins, nor are we required to keep the commandments of God and Jesus Christ. I would like to stress that this is a doctrine of devils being parroted by individuals who are not of genuine faith, and/or have a limited knowledge of scripture or that through the love of sin have deceived themselves and are now deceiving others.
James makes it clear: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” So, in these verses James is questioning whether the so called “faith” that some of these individuals believing and purporting these doctrines have, is genuine. James's criticism is specifically aimed at a belief in God which does not result in a changed life and that, a faith which saves, by its very nature, is something which produces good works.
This is not to be confused, as later verses will show, works are the evidence of salvation, not the source of it.
So, in summary. If you find yourself or anybody else who is supposedly Christian, with a purported faith in Christ, which has not undergone a changed life and is not producing the fruit of good works, I would be wary and draw into question the genuineness of said persons faith.
Thank you for reading. I love you all and may the Grace of God and our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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