James 2:18-20
Here in James chapter two this so called, “paradox” of faith vs. works is fully revealed. This tension is something that every believer battles at one point or another, if not continually. In Ephesians 2:19, we read that salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, but that it is a gift of God through faith in Him alone. All throughout Romans, Paul makes the case for free grace, only found through Jesus’ work on the cross. So this makes it a little confusing when we read in James that we cannot have faith if we don’t have good deeds!
“But I thought I wasn’t saved by anything I could do, I thought it was only by God’s grace and that all I needed to do was believe.” I battled this for a long time. The “paradox” seems overwhelming.
But here is where we get it wrong. Paul is right. We are not saved by anything we can do. Our good deeds do not make us righteous in the sight of God, only Jesus, his death and resurrection. It is true that we are blameless before God because of Jesus. Our deeds do not save us BUT, our deeds REVEAL our faith. They are the evidence of a changed life.
“It is not enough to believe, even the demons believe!” That sentence should bring us to a shivering revelation! How many people are going about their life, ignorant to the fact that they are not saved by grace? Believing isn’t faith. Faith is putting your trust and your hope in something. When your trust and your hope are in something it produces a changed heart and actions that reflect that heart. It doesn’t mean that we will never mess up, it doesn’t mean that we don’t still stumble and sin, but it means we are pursuing a holy life. Jesus says in Matthew 7:16 that “you will know them by their fruit.” His disciples will show evidence in the way they live their life!
Jesus goes on to say in verse 21, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.”
I ask you today, are you the one doing the will of the Father? Are you living a life surrendered? Not perfect, not a check list of things you do right. But a faith that has produced a changed heart that has produced a changed life. Walking in the direction of righteous, overflowing the fruits of the spirit. Is your faith backed up by your deeds? It’s not something we have to force. As true disciples of Jesus, the beautiful thing about it is, it will come naturally as you seek Him. The paradox, this tension that is seemingly overwhelming, is actually what makes our faith worth it. Our works prove our faith and they go hand in hand. May the world be able to tell a difference. May that be drawn to Jesus because of our faith that produces every kind of good work.