“Faith without works is dead.“ James 2:17
The other day I heard an excerpt from a preach about “ Sitting.“ Specifically, about doing nothing and continually waiting on God.
It is not for me to address this issue but it has afflicted me for a week or so. It has been chipping into me, to chew it over and form my own opinion, by looking in the Bible and see what God’s word says about this. As my opinion counts not one jot, the real issue was, what does the inspired word of God say about it. Once affirmed I can clear my thoughts on it and concentrate on what’s next.
Immediately, one goes to, or quotes from the book of James about works without faith being dead and faith without works being dead. I just needed a little more. I was satisfied with this scripture as the “ Go to…” scripture when anyone challenges you on your works by saying doing nothing is fine. And I am sure it is, I can only be held account for my own salvation and neither will I be afforded another chance to get my salvation into line with God’s Holy word.
In James book, we read that he uses the contrasting figures of Abraham and Rahab to identify the enormous gulf between their circumstances but also the similarities in their actions by choosing to walk in faith, in obedience and regardless of the potential outcome of their actions.
Just uttering the words that we believe in Jesus, on one occasion will not guarantee us entrance into eternal life with the Father and Jesus Christ. Our salvation depends on much more than that.
Faith without works is dead.
In the same manner, we are not saved BY good works, we are saved FOR good works.
Isaiah 64:6 , says about our good works being like filthy rags to Him.
It is not our good works that we do after our initial salvation that makes us righteous before God, but that our hearts are transformed and we do these works to bring all glory to God.
Philippians 1:11 says “being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.“
Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.“
And in Jesus` own words from Matthew 7:16 +20 “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles?“. “ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.“
God bless