What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? James 2:14
GRACE WITHOUT TRUTH IS NOT GRACE AT ALL AND TRUTH WITHOUT GRACE IS NOT TRUTH AT ALL. THERE MUST BE BALANCE.
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Romans 6:1-2
OUR REFLECTION IS BASED UPON OUR ACTIONS.
“If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15
A HEALTHY FAITH IS NOT MOTIVATED BY A REWARD, BUT BY A RELATIONSHIP.
EXAMINING OUR FAITH
GROWTH IN LIFE BEGINS WITH AN HONEST EVALUATION
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5
1. IS MY FAITH DEAD?
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. James 2:17
Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds. But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”” James 2:18
WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH, THERE MUST ALSO BE FRUIT!
Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:20
2. IS MY FAITH MISGUIDED?
You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. James 2:19
KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT APPLICATION IS FOOLISHNESS
But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:24
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:25-26
3. IS MY FAITH COMPLETE?
You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. James 2:22
TAKE HOME
A COMPLETE FAITH IS TRUSTING
Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? James 2:21
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28
A COMPLETE FAITH IS CLEAR
Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. James 2:25
ANYONE CAN BE MORE THAN THEIR PRESENT SITUATION
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
A COMPLETE FAITH IS GROWING
Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. James 2:26
When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you… Philippians 2:12-13 MSG
TAKE OUR FAITH ONE DAY AT A TIME. TODAY LET ME HONOR GOD BY THE WAY I LIVE.
