Many preachers, some unknowingly, have watered down the gospel, rather than preaching repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, they say faith is all we need. Just believe and that’s it, you’re in! But does acknowledging God’s existence save us? James tells us that the demons believe, and I would venture to say that they likely have a little more faith than us because they’ve actually seen Him. They believe He died on the cross, they believe He ascended to the Father, they believe He sent the Holy Spirit, and they certainly know that there is only forgiveness through Christ’s blood. But you see, they believe it because it’s a fact. Anyone can believe facts about Christ, but that’s not what gets you into the God-club. You see it makes no difference in believing in God’s existence or even the gospel if we refuse to abide by His word. In fact we become more guilty because we are without excuse. We cannot claim ignorance at the judgement.

Faith without works is dead, because authentic faith produces action. If there is no action to someone’s supposed faith then it’s useless and is no faith at all. Believing in a chair will do me no good unless I take initiative by sitting down on it; only then will I experience the benefits. I can believe in a chair all day long, and describe the many benefits of having one, but unless I sit down on it my tired back will remain sore. I can believe in a parachute as i’m falling towards the ground at terminal velocity. Picture a man rocketing towards the earth wearing a parachute all the while shouting, “I believe, I believe, I believe that the parachute will save me.” What stupidity! Pull the cord. If you believe take action! Faith demands movement. True faith always manifests in action, if I, “believe” I, “do;” it’s plain and simple. This is also in line with the hebraic understanding of faith as well. The word for “believe” is the same word they use for “obey.”

Also if we claim to believe in Jesus, then as a logical conclusion we must believe His teachings. And if we believe in His teachings then the only rational response would be to obey them. He told us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. And that if we seek to save our lives we will certainly lose it, but if we lose it we will find it.

To claim faith in Christ while refusing to obey His teachings to is to reject Christ altogether, because Christ and His words are one. Also to say we believe in Him, but refuse to abide by His words is to be a functional atheist. Sure we may claim faith in Christ, but in our actions we act as though He doesn’t exist. Functional atheism. We acknowledge Him in word, but in our behavior we deny Him.

“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.” (Titus 1:16)

Faith Works

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such a faith save them? – But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder. You foolish person do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the alter? You see that his faith and his actions were working together and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what he does and not by faith alone.” (James 2:14, 18-24)

Now in further explanation of true faith; as illustrated in this passage it seems that the Apostle James was combatting this same serious error that we see now-a-days in modern christianity. People were saying exactly what you see many churches teaching today, they were claiming that all you need to do to be accepted by God is believe. As I just explained James counters this concept and says, “you believe in one God that’s great! But guess what, even the demons believe that!” Demons believe yet do not obey. Do we want the same kind of demonic faith that says, “yes there is one God,” and yet continue to live in rebellion to this God we say exists? Again it’s not enough to acknowledge God’s existence, we must obey the one we claim to believe in.

Now certainly unless we are careful we can get this backwards and jump into striving mode attempting to earn salvation by good works. The key phrase here is, “I will show you my faith by my deeds.” In other words: faith works. Faith will manifest in action, it’s not faith plus works, but faith DOES works. If I truly believe, the unavoidable consequence is my actions will cut a different course. If I believe the word of God I will naturally obey it, if I don’t obey it, I can’t really claim to believe it, because faith without works is dead. Think of faith as our connector to God. Once connected we experience a billion volt power surge that alters everything about us, and we unavoidably begin living an upright and repentant life before God. Faith connects us to God and the supernatural power of grace then explodes on the inside of us producing righteous behavior.

Doers of the Word

We can read, study, memorize, quote, and preach the word of God all we want, but it is completely worthless to us unless we obey it.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)

Hearing, studying, memorizing, and even meditating on God’s word without radical obedience to what it says is pure deception. The word of God is useless to a person unless they obey it. It’s only when a person submits to and obeys the word of God, will it then become life to them, and nourishment to their souls.

The bridge between the scriptures “we are saved by grace and not by works”, and “faith without works is dead,” is the new birth. Grace turns us into a new creation, and we then as a natural consequence start obeying this new nature and law that has been embedded into the core identity of who we are. True faith in Christ results in being born again, and that experience changes the makeup of our being, transforming us into light, and we then do good works and live righteously as the natural out-flow of our new identity in Him.