KJV James 2:17-20
“ 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?”
There is a parallel between the physical world and the spiritual world if we look for it. That parallel is there to help us understand spiritual principals. An example of that is the salmon. The salmon give us a visual illustration of the condition of the sinful soul. At the end of its life while it waits to spawn the salmon is literally decomposing from the inside out.
What is the reason for that condition?
The reason for that condition of our heart is sin. The tools that the enemy uses to trick, trap, ensnare, and enslave our soul’s are anger, hate, deceit, envy, jealousy, fear, lust and a whole list of such emotions. These are attitudes in the heart that eat away at your soul, like disease rotting away the flesh. The enemy uses the chains of sin to capture and bind your spirit and to enslave your soul.
KJV Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
What is the out look for that condition?
The outlook for that condition is always fatal.
KJV Ezekiel 18:4. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die”.
KJV Ezekiel 18:20-22. “ The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him
What makes the difference between life and death?
By believing that Christ is the Holy Son of the Only God and then adding action to that faith by receiving Him as your Lord and Savior.
KJV Romans 10:9-10 “9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”.
Faith is a fire and works are the fuel that feeds the fire and keeps it alive and growing. As long as the fire has fuel it will continue to burn. But if the fire runs out of fuel then it will soon burn out. Faith without works will soon die. Works without faith is hypocrisy. Works prove faith but faith sanctifies those works and makes them Holy and acceptable to God. Yes the bible says,
KJV Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Salvation is a gift from God, but your works are a gift for God. Another way to think of it is to think of faith as a Flower and think of works as the water sustains the flower. With out water that flower will very quickly whither and die. Faith is the very same way, with out works that are good, faith will also die. As we read in James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead”.
What makes the difference between “good works” and works that are good?
What is the motivation behind the work is what separates works that are good from good-works. The answer is the heart. If the reason is so you can score points with God then the effort is in vain because God doesn’t work that way. If the reason is because you love God and are seeking to Honor and Glorify God then you have brought God an acceptable gift.
I want you to search your heart very closely. What is it that you’re living for? Is it popularity? Is it for worldly possessions? Is it for money? What is in your heart? Is it a desire for self-gratification? Is it selfish desires? God knows what is in your heart. Does God see in your heart a desire to love, honor and glorify Him or yourself? Are your works motivated by your love for God or by what you can get?
I want to challenge each and everyone hearing this message to dedicate your life to live every moment for God. I want you to say right here and right now I want to live a life of love. I want to please God with everything I do, say, or think. You don’t know if there will be a tomorrow so don’t miss this chance to Give your life to God or to rededicate your life to God. Don’t be a slacker by doing nothing, and don’t be a hypocrite by doing thing for the wrong reason. Just do it and do it because you love God, because He does love you.
