Faith and Works

James 2: 26

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

James is stressing the importance of living out our faith, not that we are saved by it, but that it must manifest itself physically in our lives. 2 Peter 1:3-10 expresses a similar idea. Here Peter says to make every effort to supplement your faith. Faith is active alongside works! Yet, there are errors on either side of this spectrum. Works totally or faith totally--neither one does the job! So it is important to examine our lives to see if these qualities, the qualities that Peter mentioned, are increasing in our lives. Lacking them means spiritual blindness and a forgetting of our salvation. So sad! So sad that such an important issue can get so twisted around. I guess it fits the personalities of men. Those who are lazy want to do nothing more than a casual church attendance, but those who are achievers outdo themselves in a multitude of works. But for a few who love God will want to work but in and through the grace of God. Those few will confirm their calling and election. They will never fail! As James gave the example of Abraham who offered up his son Isaac and was justified by his works. His faith was supplemented by his work of faith and obedience. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. We must believe God when He tells us to make every effort to supplement our faith, and to be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Father,

Help me to make every effort and to be all the more diligent. Give me Your grace and strength.

In Jesus name, I confess the times that I have not been diligent at all and have allowed sin to take over. Help me. 

Amen