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More James commentaries
James 1:1-4
How to Profit from Trials
James 1:5-8
How to Deal with Trials
James 1:9-11
The Perspective of Rich and Poor
James 1:12-18
Loving God In Spite of Trials
James 1:19-25
Qualities Needed in Trials
James 1:26-27
Doers - Not Hearers Only
James 2:1-9
Beware of Personal Favorites
James 2:10-18
Faith is Proved by Love
James 2:19-26
Faith is Proved by Works
James 3:1-8
The Tongue that Needs Tamed
James 3:9-12
The Lips Need to Bear Spiritual Fruit
James 3:13-18
Heavenly Verses Demonic Wisdom
James 4:1-6
Pride Promotes Strife
James 4:7-10
Humility Cures Worldliness
James 4:11-17
Don’t Boast about Tomorrow
James 5:1-6
Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged
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Faith is Proved by Works
James 2:19–26
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
I’m tired of hootenanny religion, the new brand of Christianity that pagans do not feel embarrassed to join, I’m tired of Batman, the Beatniks, the Beatles, the God is dead movement, the new morality, situation ethics, existentialism, and the latest theological discussions out … More
It might come as a shock that demons have faith, “Even the demons believe and tremble” (v. 19). But it is not a saving experience to believe and tremble. The following are some things they believe:
True saving faith involves a changed life (II Cor. 5:17). “Show me thy faith without thy works” challenged James, “and I will show thee my faith by my works” (v. 18). Action begins when faith is demonstrated and we see in this passage two examples. Abraham’s faith was proved by his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac as God had instructed (vv. 20-23). Rahab was prepared to risk all when she sheltered the spies sent to spy out the Promised Land (vv.24- 25).
Faith and deeds (or actions) are essential to each other just like the body and the spirit. Apart from the spirit or the “breath” of life our body is dead (v. 26). In the same way, apart from the evidence of works our faith is dead. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).Application
What am I really doing by faith? It is so easy to try to figure everything out myself.
James 2:19-26 (English Standard Version)
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 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? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
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