"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."
"Faith Without Works Is Dead." Have you heard that before? Most likely. This message is expounded on from pretty much every pulpit.
What you may not know is that this passage is usually taken out of context to make you believe you need to do good works in order to be pleasing God, to be acceptable to Him or to prove your love for Him. The implication is, of course, that the lack of them "proves" that either you don't love Him enough or, even worse, maybe you're not even be saved! There's a frightening thought.
Since the Bible is its own best commentary, let's see what it has to say. But we're going to look at it's proper context. As you'll see, CONTEXT IS KING.
Who Is It Written To?
First of all, the entire book of James was written to, and I quote: "the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad." (See ch. 1, vs. 1). Paul is writing to THE JEWS OF THE DISPERSION.
Notice that he is admonishing them not to neglect caring for other believers in need.
Who Is It Written To?
First of all, the entire book of James was written to, and I quote: "the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad." (See ch. 1, vs. 1). Paul is writing to THE JEWS OF THE DISPERSION.
Notice that he is admonishing them not to neglect caring for other believers in need.
THAT is the context of his remarks. It doesn't have anything whatever to do with your relationship to God.
(For an in-depth study on rightly dividing the word of God follow this link:
(For an in-depth study on rightly dividing the word of God follow this link:
Remember Widows And Orphans.
At the end of chapter one is a reminder not to forget widows and orphans. Chapter 2 also encourages these Jewish believers not to show favoritism to those who are wealthy over those of lesser means and that they are not justified by works before God but before men.
The fact is that the entire book of James is teaching about relating to others, not about being acceptable to God.
Church, your good works cannot save you. They have nothing to do with maintaining your salvation nor will the lack of them cause you to lose it or be left behind in the rapture, as some have more than hinted. AS IF!
Do not be afraid: You are forever safe and secure in Jesus! You can NEVER lose your salvation!
Dead Works.
Do not be afraid: You are forever safe and secure in Jesus! You can NEVER lose your salvation!
Dead Works.
That (false) "teaching" is a cheap scare tactic and an abuse of the privilege of the pulpit. The pastor is using his own self effort to try and manipulate people into living holy lives. It is a dead work.
(For more on the subject of holiness follow this link: http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/07/what-is-opposite-of-holiness.html?m=1)
The one thing that would be most effective in helping people live holy lives seems to be the one thing many pastors don't want to preach. And what is that? Beholding Jesus in His beauty and glory, not our ugliness and gory. But if you go to church and during the pastor's sermon Jesus' Name is hardly even mentioned, let along His beauty unveiled, how can you be transformed? YOU CAN'T. The Holy Spirit, Who actually does the transforming, has nothing to work with.
Backwards?
Church, we are transformed by beholding not scolding. In fact, if the sheep are not fed, there will be no root to become the fruit! The Church has it backwards. They are trying to get the fruit without first feeding and watering the root by unveiling more of Jesus! That's like asking the fire to give you warmth without supplying any wood!
Please understand that our Daddy is ALWAYS WELL PLEASED WITH YOU!
You can read more on this subject by following this link: http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/08/as-high-priest-goes-so-goes-nation.html)
Feed My Sheep.
At the risk of being misquoted, we pay far too much attention to the lost than to the sheep that already are in the fold. Jesus said "Let the children first be fed," fed being the operative word. When they are properly fed and watered, the sheep go and do good works because they want to not because they have to. You won't have to beg them to go out and reach the lost; YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SHUT THEM UP. I'm telling you: You'd better be prepared to enlarge your churches because of the great harvest that is sure to come your way. There'll be standing room only!
The Purpose Of Good Works.
So what do these verses in James mean? They can really mess you up until you read what Jesus had to say on the subject. Let’s see what He thinks is the purpose of "good works."
Matthew 5:16
"16 In the same way, let your light shine before Others, so that THEY may see your good works and GIVE GLORY TO YOUR FATHER who is in heaven."
Ah! Good works point the way TO GOD to those who are UNSAVED so that THEY will see them and glorify your Father In Heaven AND PERHAPS GET SAVED! It has NOTHING to do with YOU doing good works in order to be pleasing to God. I reiterate: With us He is already "well-pleased!" WE ARE HIS BELOVED!
Matthew 5:16
"16 In the same way, let your light shine before Others, so that THEY may see your good works and GIVE GLORY TO YOUR FATHER who is in heaven."
Ah! Good works point the way TO GOD to those who are UNSAVED so that THEY will see them and glorify your Father In Heaven AND PERHAPS GET SAVED! It has NOTHING to do with YOU doing good works in order to be pleasing to God. I reiterate: With us He is already "well-pleased!" WE ARE HIS BELOVED!
Listen: Your salvation is a sure thing. It is NEVER EVER in jeopardy. Read for yourself in John 10:28-29. "Nothing;" not any force, evil spirit, NOT EVEN YOU, can pluck YOU out of His hand." No, you cannot even jump out. The verb in the verse is a double negative in Greek, "ou-mé," which make is a VERY strong negative. That means "ain't nuthin' no way no how" can ever, ever, EVER, no NEVER take you away from Jesus!!!
According to Romans chapter 5, we are not justified before God by works, but by faith.
Look at what Matthew wrote in chapter 25:
"37 “Then the RIGHTEOUS will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
The righteous are so enamored with Jesus that they don't even take note of their good works. They are actually unaware of them. That's because they do good works because they know how much THEY ARE LOVED BY JESUS. Good works just flow! Sometimes they gush all over everybody!
When you know how much you are loved by God, no one will have to beg you to do good works, to witness or live a holy life. You couldn't stop doing those things if you wanted to. We love, live and do because He first loved us and gave Himself for us.
So remember: You have to have THE ROOT to produce THE FRUIT!
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