Lesson 3032

Lesson (3032)(04-19-20) James 2:14-26
    “ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

    Today’s lesson concerns faith and it’s relationship to works. As the lessons clearly establishes, for one to say he/she has faith without ever demonstrating, or relying on the fruits of that faith, that faith would be “dead” to others; However, if one simply prays, believing that God will answer that prayer, he/she has done the required to keep their faith ‘alive’.
    The quote tells of how Abraham and others demonstrated their faith by actually doing physical works. Knowing that because of their faith God would make all things right.
    Although public demonstrations of faith are a good and beautiful things, so are demonstrations of faith that are not visible to those around us, such as Prayer for others and recognizing the answer to those prayers. 
    The essence of what I’m saying is that the expression of one’s faith need not be out in the open for all to see, one need not jump in front of an oncoming train to demonstrate one’s faith. Since all good things come from God, any act of kindness is a demonstration of faith.
    “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)~