Faith Without Works - What Does It Mean?
WE (CAN’T?) WORK OUR
WAY TO HEAVEN
One of Christianity’s major defining points from other
religions is its emphasis on faith over good deeds. While other religions require adherents to do
enough good works or obey a certain lifestyle, Christianity says that there is
nothing we can do to save ourselves. We
are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Then why would the Bible say, “faith without works is dead,”
(James 2:17)?
The Bible teaches that our good deeds don’t save us; it’s
through faith in Christ alone (Romans 3:28; 5:1; 11:6; Galatians 2:16;
Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:9). Then
what aren’t we getting about this James passage?
James wasn’t trying to write a systematic theology
book. While we definitely get important
Christian doctrine from this book of the Bible, we must think about his primary
purpose. James wasn’t teaching “faith or works,” but instead was emphasizing the
importance of applying God’s Word in our lives.
INFORMATION +
APPLICATION = TRANSFORMATION
Sunscreen is meant to protect your body from sunburn. What if I gave you some sunscreen to use when
you went to the beach? You could read
about it, take it with you, get the highest SPF grade…but it’s ultimately
useless if it’s not applied.
“But don’t just listen to God’s word.
You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For
if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a
mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and
forget what you look like.”
–James 1:22-24
Merely listening to God’s word, even believing it, doesn’t
change our lives if we don’t do anything with it. It’s like it goes in one ear and out the
other. Sure you heard it, and maybe
mentally acknowledge that it’s true, but it stops there. James tells us not doing anything and still
believing that we are Christians is actually fooling ourselves. This isn’t a joke!
God’s Word is like sunscreen. We could read about it, believe in it, take
it with us everywhere, get the most intense type of Bible…but it’s ultimately
useless if it’s not applied. Without
application, nothing changes. Do makes the difference. Application is everything.
"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me."
-Batman (Batman Begins, 2005)
 |
| Not applying God's Word is like not brushing after putting the toothpaste on the toothbrush |
LISTENING IS EASY, DOING IS DIFFICULT
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and
obey it.”
–Jesus (Luke 11:28)
It means to live a lifestyle of
holiness – separation from things we know
are sinful and a willful devotion to God (1 Peter 1:14-16).
It means talking to God every day
(1 Chronicles 16:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
It means trusting God with your money (Malachi 3:10; Proverbs 3:9; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9).
It means giving someone a ride
home, even if it makes you 30 minutes late (Proverbs 3:27-28; James 2:14-17).
It means obeying to the prompting
of the Holy Spirit, when you know God is asking you to do – or not do –
something (Romans 8:5).
Instead of just mentally acknowledging that there is a God,
or even intellectually admitting that Jesus is God, we must apply the Word of
God to our lives! It isn’t a
theological, philosophical or hermeneutical debate; it’s about
application. Application is everything.
Information + Application = Transformation!
*For more on Faith or Faith and Works:
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