faith and works – BibleJournal.net

Spiritual Formation

Today’s readings are Jeremiah 22-23,26, Psalm 77 and James 2. We will focus on James 2:14-26.

Most Christians agree the Bible is very clear that works do not get you into Heaven and only the grace of Jesus dying on the cross can (Romans 3:23, 6:23). When you first read James 2, it can be confusing by making it sound like faith alone does not get you into Heaven. So, do works actually get you into Heaven then?

Diving in deeper can help us get a better understanding what James is saying. Check out James 2:19 where James tells us believing Jesus was who He said He was is not enough. Why?

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder!

James 2:19

Knowing Jesus is the Son of God does not gain you eternal life in Heaven…even the demons know.

We are currently doing an all-church study which is based off the book, Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. Jesus told us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). The word disciple can be confusing because it’s not used much outside the church. John Mark tells us we can gain better perspective for its meaning by looking at the Hebrew word which is talmid, and it can be translated as a student of a teacher. John Mark contends a better word for us to translate talmid into is actually apprentice. As an apprentice, your job is to be with your teacher, become like your teacher, and do as your teacher does.

So, John Mark says Christians should have 3 goals as an apprentice of Jesus.

Be with Jesus.
Become like Jesus.
Do as Jesus did.

He argues spiritual formation is not an option. We are all following someone or something whether we realize it or not, and we are being spiritual formed by whoever or whatever we are following.

This gives us better context for James 2:14 which might initially have us raising our eyebrows when James says…

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead.

James 2:14

To be saved by Jesus, you can’t just believe..the demons believed as James 2:19 says. If you are truly a follower and apprentice of Jesus spending time with Him..then you will become more like Jesus and do as he did. It is by works that your faith becomes active and fully complete. James speaks to this and gives the example of Abraham in James 2:22.

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works.

James 2:22

He expands as we read on…

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James 2:22

There you have it. You do not really have faith in Jesus if you are not completing works that demonstrate you are becoming more like Jesus and doing like He did.

Who or what are you following most closely that is shaping you?

Are you spending time with Jesus so that you are becoming more like Him and doing as He did?

Are you becoming an apprentice of Jesus?

I pray we will all reflect on these questions and let God speak into our hearts, telling us what He wants us to know.

Chicken or the Egg?

Today’s readings are Jeremiah 22,23, and 26, Psalm 77, and James 2.

What comes first..the chicken or the egg? Most of us have probably heard this saying implying that you can’t have a chicken without an egg, but you can’t have an egg without the chicken. So, which comes first? James 2 digs into a similar question but with the topic of faith and works.

Christians believe that you go to Heaven by believing, or having faith, that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of your confessed sins and rose again on Easter (Romans 10:9-11). “Good deeds” don’t get you into Heaven and “good people” don’t go to Heaven if they don’t believe in Jesus. So, some can struggle with James 2:24 which says, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” James 2:17 also says similar, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Are these verses saying just faith in Jesus doesn’t get you to Heaven? Is this saying works get you into Heaven?

I believe Scripture can often best be interpreted by cross referencing other Scripture, and I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that our all-church study verses last week came from 1 John 4 which can provide some more context when paired with James 2.

What compels us to do good works? Put simply…love. 1 John 4:16 says, “God is love.” Reading on in 1 John 4, we see verse 20 states..

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”

1 John 4:21 follows up verse 20 also stating…

And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

If you truly have faith and love God, then it will show up in your actions. If you say you have faith and love God, but your works don’t show it…then do you really have faith and love God? James is telling us you can’t have one without the other..chicken or egg concept. Your faith in God is made complete by your actions just as in Abraham and Rahab who James references in James 2:23 and James 2:25.

Jesus gives us a great example of this when in John 13 He washed his disciples’ feet which was thought to be such a lowly task that Jews wouldn’t even let their Jewish servants do this for them, only Gentile servants. And of course, Jesus showed us the ultimate act of service when the next day He, the God of the universe in the flesh, gave himself up suffering one of the most gruesome and painful deaths possible through his scourging and Crucifixion on the cross, all so we could be forgiven and live with Him in Heaven.

We love because He first loved us.

1 John 4:19

Let us reflect personally.

How am I serving my family?
How am I serving my church?
How am I serving my neighbors or community?
How am I serving my friends?
How am I serving those who can do nothing for me in return?

Pick one you can improve on and let us complete our faith in action.