Dead faith is a major problem in our day. So many people say that they have faith in God but when asked what they are doing for Him, most people have no idea. Some are speechless or admit that they could do more or are simply OK with their lives, in what they are doing now. So let’s examine why this is wrong. Isn’t it just OK to say you believe in God for salvation? That answer is, Yes, but only with the proper faith. Let me better explain this with a question from James. 4“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” Now we are going somewhere. He is explaining that true faith has works involved also. And some of you may ask yourself, why would James say this if faith alone is what is important. He said this, because their form of faith without form and in itself dead. Speaking to a group of people in the church, he said, 4“brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” The people he saw were only imitators of having faith but truly having no faith at all. It was only words and no actions. He then went on to teach about the core principal of our faith, that is missing in most people. 4“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.” The works that God can do through us is missing in most people. Without fruits of our faith, our faith is dead and there is no life in us at all.
Those that say that our works are not important surely have not read the Bible enough. Paul is clear when he taught, speaking of God, 3“we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” It is true that we are saved by grace, through faith, but what faith is that? When Paul says, 3“not of works, lest any man should boast,” he is speaking about our own works, not wrought in God. 1What we do for salvation, on our own terms, without God’s help, is only filthy rags in the sight of God. So you might ask, what are these good works that we are ordained to walk in? These are works wrought in the Spirit of God. To better understand this, please read what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit. 2“I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” 2“He shall teach you all things.” This is the born again life style. After the Spirit comes inside of us, we are changed. Even our desires become more in tune with God’s will in our lives. Because the Spirit is teaching and leading us, the works we do are good indeed. Now, if you are not at this point yet and this message is not yet clear, please read what James said next, 4“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” If your faith has no works included, then it is dead. Only God can resurrect this dead faith unto salvation. May these words resonate in your mind forever, 4“faith without works is dead”.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that You help everyone in the faith begin to show fruits of their faith. Yes, Lord, if their faith is dead now, will you resurrect it today? I pray that their faith will become more than just a belief system but also accompany much fruit. May these people understand what true faith is and that is faith with works. This is faith that is alive. When You begin to work inside of us, the works we do are good indeed. Nothing we can ever do on our own is good but the things You do, through us, I rejoice in the outcomes. You make us better Lord. You give us strength to do things we never thought were possible. Yes, You gives us boldness to share the gospel. You give us a heart to help those in need. These good works that You drive us to do not only help ourselves grow in the faith but many other people are benefitted. Your love is absorbed from us and into the lives we touch. And what is amazing, is this faith becomes alive. We are able to fight against and withstand temptation because of it. Thank You for bringing out my full potential and doing good works inside of me, for the benefit of my soul and others. Have Your way always. Use me to do Your will. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Isaiah 64:4-9 (KJV)
4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
9 Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
2John 14:16-27 (KJV)
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
3Ephesians 2:4-10 (KJV)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
4James 2 (KJV)
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 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?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 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.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
