What Do Faith and Deeds Have To do With Each Other?
Faith and Deeds
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James today brings up the balance between faith and works, or deeds. As we have seen over the past couple of days, the early church had been neglecting the poor in their midst. In fact they were showing favoritism by neglecting the poor in favor of the rich. So James asks them a challenging question? How can one claim to have faith when it is not accompanied by deeds? If someone is without food and clothing, can a person of faith just say "go in peace and hope someone else might help you?" Or, "we are not a social service agency go find help from someone else." And then James concludes, "faith without works is dead!"
I think there are a couple things to keep in mind with this passage. One, it is the clear teaching of scripture that one is saved by faith through grace not by works lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8, Galatians 2:21). Second, the church is not a social service agency. It is primarily called to teach and preach the Gospel and administer the sacraments. Yet, as we live out our faith both individually and as church, we are called to show Jesus' love in how we love others, especially those in need. If one's faith is living and active it cannot help but do good works. Notice too, James says that when a believer has no evidence of Jesus' love toward others shown in deeds, their faith is dead. That is not to say they don't have faith, but they are not working out their faith in love. Remember James is writing to believers and he is saying if you don't care for others outside your four walls it is a problem. Why?
Because faith always leads to works!
Over the years this has been a tricky theological debate. But I don't think it has to be. We just need to guard against a salvation by works mentality. But we also need to be on guard for the dead faith James' teaches today. So a good question today is your faith "dead" or "alive"? Faith is a gift given to us by God. When we receive this gift we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. As we are led by the Holy Spirit, our faith will never be dead and it will do much good!!
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James today brings up the balance between faith and works, or deeds. As we have seen over the past couple of days, the early church had been neglecting the poor in their midst. In fact they were showing favoritism by neglecting the poor in favor of the rich. So James asks them a challenging question? How can one claim to have faith when it is not accompanied by deeds? If someone is without food and clothing, can a person of faith just say "go in peace and hope someone else might help you?" Or, "we are not a social service agency go find help from someone else." And then James concludes, "faith without works is dead!"
I think there are a couple things to keep in mind with this passage. One, it is the clear teaching of scripture that one is saved by faith through grace not by works lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8, Galatians 2:21). Second, the church is not a social service agency. It is primarily called to teach and preach the Gospel and administer the sacraments. Yet, as we live out our faith both individually and as church, we are called to show Jesus' love in how we love others, especially those in need. If one's faith is living and active it cannot help but do good works. Notice too, James says that when a believer has no evidence of Jesus' love toward others shown in deeds, their faith is dead. That is not to say they don't have faith, but they are not working out their faith in love. Remember James is writing to believers and he is saying if you don't care for others outside your four walls it is a problem. Why?
Because faith always leads to works!
Over the years this has been a tricky theological debate. But I don't think it has to be. We just need to guard against a salvation by works mentality. But we also need to be on guard for the dead faith James' teaches today. So a good question today is your faith "dead" or "alive"? Faith is a gift given to us by God. When we receive this gift we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. As we are led by the Holy Spirit, our faith will never be dead and it will do much good!!
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