Not By Faith Alone

 Jame 2:20,24, 26

 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?...Ye see then how by works a man is justified, and not by faith only… For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

It would appear that James had something to say about getting saved or being justified before God. Paul is pretty clear that we are saved by grace, through faith, and that it is not by works or by any merit in ourselves. James is not saying that works will save you, but if you have faith that God has saved you, this faith will be demonstrated in the way you live your life. How can a person be delivered from sin, receive God’s gift of salvation and not love your neighbors by spreading works of love and kindness. A person who is hateful and selfish must examine their heart to see if they have truly believed. It could be that their faith, or belief was an intellectual acceptance to truth and not a faith that submitted to the practice of that truth. James points out that even devils could believe, and that does not save them. He who commits works of evil is of the devil, the father of deception. John was clear when he said, “He that commits sin is of the devil.” It was for this purpose that Christ came, to destroy the works of the devil. Faith in Christ will destroy the works of sin in our lives and allow us to manifest the works of godly living, doing what is right and good in the world we live in.