The word “belief” or “faith” serves as a synecdoche; each stands as a part of the whole. “I believe in Jesus,” when said genuinely, is the most essential claim a person can ever make. To say that one is saved by faith means that at some point, he obeyed the gospel (Rom. 10:16; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; 1 Pet. 4:17). Having heard it (Rom. 10:17), he believed it (Rom. 1:16), repented of sin (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30), and was baptized into Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). That same person would then choose to live by faith (Gal. 2:20), working out his salvation so that God may work in him (Phil. 2:12-13). Living faith is always working, vibrant, active, and alive. Genuine faith is something others can see (Mark 2:5).
Sadly, Churches of Christ are filled with people who say, “I believe in Jesus.” Yet very little about their lives indicates that they do. They say Jesus is Lord, yet obedience often lacks (Heb. 5:8-9). They claim to believe in the importance of his church (Matt. 16:13-20) and her work (1 Cor. 15:58), yet they attend her services sporadically, doing nothing more than filling a pew, and they seldom, if ever, voice their love for the Lord in public. They rarely pray, read their Bibles even less, and tend to leave the Lord out of practically every decision they make. Yet, they say, “I believe in Jesus.”
With these thoughts in mind, is a faith that lacks any substance real? If my faith lacks works, does it please the God of heaven? James answers these questions and more in James 2:14-26. As we consider the passage, we must ask: “What describes my faith?” James mentions three kinds.
Does your faith lack a heartbeat? Is it dead (14-17)? First, a dead faith lacks. What does it lack? It lacks a relationship with Jesus that brings about genuine spirituality. Genuine spirituality results in the following.
- A loving relationship with God (Deut. 6:4-5; Mark 12:30-31).
- A love for others (Lev. 19:18; John 13:34-35)
- A joyful relationship with God (Ps. 16:11): God is most satisfied with us when we are most satisfied with him.
- Obedience to God’s word (Jas. 1:21-22)
- A Transformed Heart (Eph. 1:18): “… The eyes of your heart being enlightened.”
- Walking according to the Spirit/ Filled with the Spirit (Rom. 8:1; 14-17; Gal. 5:16-26; Eph. 5:18)
- Kingdom priorities (Matt. 6:33; Luke 12:31)
Second, a dead faith doesn’t act. In James 2:14-17, the Lord’s half-brother illustrates dead faith.
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Let’s consider the flow of the book. James describes pure and undefiled religion in 1:27, that is, to take care of the less fortunate (widows, orphans). In James 2:1-13, he speaks of sinfully showing partiality to the rich while neglecting the poor. This naturally segues into 2:14-17. James points out the inconsistency in claiming faith in God but not caring for the poor and needy (1 John 3:17-18).
James says that if our faith consists only of words, it is dead. In this case, it lacks love for others and, thus, love for God. James makes it clear four times in the passage: Faith without works is dead (2:14, 17, 20, 26). Is your faith alive or dead? Ensure it is not dead because a dead faith is a…
Does your faith mirror the faith of demons (18-19)? The Bible teaches that Demons believe in Jesus.
- They believe in God (Jas. 2:19)
- They acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God (Matt. 8:29)
- They do what he says (Mark 1:25-26)
- They worship him (Mark 5:6)
- They believe in the Judgment Day (Matt. 8:29)
Let that sink in for a minute. We have professing Christians who say they believe in God, acknowledge Jesus as His Son, outwardly may do some of what he says, worship him (at least they go through the motions), and believe in the Judgment Day. However, like the Devils, they have no relationship with Jesus, nor do they desire one. Once again, they profess faith but do not practice what they say they believe, and the little they do is couched in a lack of sincerity. Is your faith any better than the demons?
Does your faith possess power (20-26)? James describes powerful faith as…
- A faith that works (20)
- A faith, like that of Abraham, that trusts (21-24; Gen. 12:1-3; Heb. 11:8-10)
- A faith like Rahab’s, who feared God (25; Josh. 2:1-24; 6:22-25; Heb. 11:31).
James concludes, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (26). How’s your faith? What describes it? Dead, Satanic, or Powerful?