07/23/2024 In circles of fellowship, previous experience in conversation, and even in books, I have before seen the argument of “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26) and the other side of the coin, that God’s justification cannot be equated to being proofed by works. This is what appears in the book of Galatians (a book in the New Testament of the Bible, written to communities of believers in Jesus located in Galatia), and it says something like “for by the works of the law shall no man be justified” (Galatians 2:16). So, I feel like with many topics that Christians and non-Christians deem to be as contradicting one another, this one is thought is often pondered: So, are we saying that we’re justified by works or aren’t we? The answer I feel like is directly found in what is directly said in the verses, so here is another look:
James 2:17-18
 17 “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (The disciple James is saying this)
I feel like James is basically defining faith in Jesus Christ and a life of faith, as one would attest to their actions being and doing what Jesus taught should be done. Even if not proactively, at least reactively. When you wake up, you do an action, and whether its eating breakfast, using the restroom, washing your hands, or reading a newspaper, those are actions. Then you go about your day, saying things, not saying things, believing, making conscience decisions all day. Someone curses you, and you bless, or you may find find yourself accidentally saying profane words, and repenting immediately. Like – that kind of thing. These are actions, and I believe that eventually a believer’s actions should start to look more like the master’s Jesus’ actions. That is assuming that the goal is for us as “little Christ’s”, Christians, to become like Jesus Christ. We don’t attain that by ourselves, and we ALL have to pray and seek and knock on the door of Heaven, for the Holy Spirit’s help in that!
You will at least during every given day (that you claim to be in the Lord) be faced with something in life that will question you towards making an action, an issue that will make you look at your conscience, which should be being formed around the Word of God. That is – if you want to live, to have life (John 10:10), and have a successful and happy life.
I believe the whole passage is good in James – James 2:17 through verse 28 – and I think its considered, as the verses in context of the passage of “faith and works”. Its all good to read and digest, and put our spirit’s attention on. I love the reality of the Word of God. It’s plain, it’s direct, it’s true!
The section concludes (Around James 2:26) that a person can have faith well enough, but just like we can be dead in our trespasses and sins, so also our fault could be being dead in the faith. In the case that we have no deeds proving that we are a Christian, what good are we anyway? Christ followers should look like Christ, i.e., at least in the person of Him, if not in overt deeds being done. When I read Hebrews 11, I am realizing how piddly my faith is compared to the faith of the great ones. I would highly encourage reading Hebrews 11 for a real challenge and awe-inspiring look at what faith in a single-minded life can mean.
Galatians 2:16 reads,
16 “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
The churches in Galatia, from what I gather when reading the passage around the verses, I think that Paul was upset with Peter, because Peter was trying to “save face” around his Jewish friends, and almost to the point of being exclusive, like consenting to being in an elitist club. The Jews that were with Peter, were highlighted as being those who prided themselves on their good works. And so much of that, that their works must have outspoken their faith in Christ, which is a real danger. You can get so caught up in your works and your good jobs on things “God has given you to do” but Christ has to have the supremacy in all things. If someone remembers you in conversation, more only known for what you did – like I’m guessing here – making a lot of money “for God” or only known only for a singing voice, that for representing Christ, then I would say as trying to be a representative of Christ, something is dreadfully wrong!
My conclusion is this: a person in Jesus is dead in faith in that you cannot tell from their lives, that there’s a semblance of separation unto God, or there’s no reactive or proactive proof in their actions that they belong to Jesus!
At the same time, a person has to be a representative of the name and person of Jesus, and not just devoted to a good work (like an example maybe is an individual that devotes themselves to making sure Africa has clean water, but never mentions the name of Christ), basically they’re just a do-gooder, and a humanist and a kind secularist if they are not attaching themselves somehow to the banner of Jesus, His Name, and His teachings.
Rebekah's Reflections 