James says that we give evidence of our faith in Christ by the good works we perform. Some have the wrong idea about the matter of works. They think that good works are necessary to maintain their Christianity. Therefore, they always keep busy doing something good and feel guilty if they do not think they are doing enough. They do not understand their salvation is secure on the basis of faith not good works.
However, others have a different attitude..."I don't intend to do anything I don't have to do." They want to enjoy the blessings of salvation now and to look forward to heaven one day. They do not understand genuine faith leads to good works.
Our walk should match our talk. Our practice should match what we preach!
We cannot earn salvation nor can we maintain good standing with God through good works. James 2:14-26 will help us to understand the relationship between faith and works. James uses Abraham and Rahab as examples. Their works gave EVIDENCE saving faith.
Rather than thinking of Paul and James as disagreeing regarding faith and works, we focus on the harmony of what these two are explaining to us. In Romans 8, Paul is speaking of our JUSTIFICATION BEFORE GOD! James is speaking of our JUSTIFICATION BEFORE MAN! [PAUL/Romans] God looks at our hearts - He knows that we are justified by Christ's atonement and our reception of Christ (by the faith that He has given us to place in HIM!) Man looks on the outward and [JAMES] is telling us that we can speak of our justification before God, but man cannot "see and believe" without the outer evidence of works that say the Truth is real!
It is important to understand the WORKS that James is speaking of ... he is not speaking of the works of the Law! The Law exposes our inadequacy! Read James 1:27 -he is giving us the definition of the works he is speaking of - help and care for orphans and widows AND "keep oneself unspottend and uncontaminated from the world!
WOW!!!
"Christ in you, the Hope of Glory" is your only hope of WORKS before man. Christ desires to live His life out through you...that makes Him obvious to man and to you yourself...and fulfills what James has laid before us. It is not religion, but relationship that brings the true Gospel to man.
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