Philip Dampier's Blog

Chapter 2, Verse 18 “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Obviously, James is critical of a Christian who has only faith but he also would be critical of one who had only works. James is quick to point out that visualizing faith without any works is a difficult task. On the other hand when one sees a Christians working it is easy to relate the work being done to that person’s faith.

It just makes sense and we should not be divided over the concept in the wide world of Christianity. Work is not required to be a child of God. That aspect of initial salvation is the gift of God and is free, free, free. But once one becomes a child of God, it is plain that God expects certain behavior from the saved one. Continuing salvation requires some work to go with the manifested faith. James uses a lot of space for this argument, so he, and thus the Holy Spirit must have considered it extremely important.

Task for Today: May I remind you that the word of God is perfect and that God is not one thing to one and another to someone else. Paul is right and James is right, and as usual man is wrong. Work out your salvation was and is good advice.