Either James must have been a choleric person, or he must have been telling an obvious truth for all believers: the test of true faith is on the way we work it out. I can’t say I’m a body builder if I can’t show muscles. In the same way, I can’t claim to be a follower of Christ if I don’t produce anything in resemblance to him. How then can we prove true faith?
Faith is Proved by Love
James 2:8 (ESV) says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.” Love is always the greatest manifestation of faith in God. No wonder the greatest commandment given by God contained the word LOVE. As in love God; love people. It is by loving God that we can submit to him. It is by loving people that we can serve them.
Faith is Proved by Works
It was the choleric James whom we attribute this strong challenge: “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works (James 2:17-18). He doesn’t say that our works make up for our salvation; but he does say the works is the product of our faith. A person who truly claims to have faith in Christ will always produce good works. Doing good works is just our automatic response to the grace we’ve freely received from God.
Faith is Proved by Changed Life
The strongest argument of true and living faith is a life that has been truly changed. Faith in God is that one ingredient which makes all things new. No one can receive Christ as Lord and Savior and still remain the same! James 2:25 reminds us of the example of Rahab: “And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?”
Can we still stay the same after we received Christ in our lives?
Let it not be said that we’re just Christians by words and not by works. The bible commanded as to let our light shine before men so that they may see that we have God. Our God must be demonstrated through us by our love and good deeds. After all, aside from our redemption, it was for this very reason that God called us to partake in his kingdom.
Faith is Proved by Love
James 2:8 (ESV) says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.” Love is always the greatest manifestation of faith in God. No wonder the greatest commandment given by God contained the word LOVE. As in love God; love people. It is by loving God that we can submit to him. It is by loving people that we can serve them.
Faith is Proved by Works
It was the choleric James whom we attribute this strong challenge: “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works (James 2:17-18). He doesn’t say that our works make up for our salvation; but he does say the works is the product of our faith. A person who truly claims to have faith in Christ will always produce good works. Doing good works is just our automatic response to the grace we’ve freely received from God.
Faith is Proved by Changed Life
The strongest argument of true and living faith is a life that has been truly changed. Faith in God is that one ingredient which makes all things new. No one can receive Christ as Lord and Savior and still remain the same! James 2:25 reminds us of the example of Rahab: “And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?”
Can we still stay the same after we received Christ in our lives?
Let it not be said that we’re just Christians by words and not by works. The bible commanded as to let our light shine before men so that they may see that we have God. Our God must be demonstrated through us by our love and good deeds. After all, aside from our redemption, it was for this very reason that God called us to partake in his kingdom.
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