The Fruit of Genuine Faith: Part 2

 

 

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God."

—James 2:21-23

 

Faith without action—without a corresponding deed is dead. In James 2:21, James uses the example of Abraham to make his point about how important our actions are. He says Abraham was justified by his works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. In Romans 3:28, Paul says Abraham was justified by faith without the works of the Law. Romans 4:2 also speaks of Abraham not being justified by works. Which is it? 

 

The key to understanding this is recognizing that there are two different kinds of works: works of the Law (Romans 3:28) and works of faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3 and 2 Thessalonians 1:11).

 

Works of the Law are actions made in an effort to earn favor from God. However, it's impossible to earn anything from Him. We must humble ourselves and believe in what Jesus did for us. Genuine biblical faith humbles us and transforms our hearts (2 Corinthians 5:17), resulting in actions born of faith in Christ. These actions emerge from a transformed heart and do not change a heart. They emerge from our relationship with God rather than creating a relationship with Him.

 

Abraham believed God, and his faith was counted as righteousness (Romans 4:1-5 and Genesis 15:6). This took place decades before Abraham brought his son Isaac to the mountain to sacrifice him (Genesis 22:1-24). Romans 4:9-16 shows that Abraham believed God before receiving the commandment to circumcise Isaac (Genesis 17:9-11). Abraham had faith prior to these actions, but his faith became complete (perfect) when he obeyed God's command to take Isaac and sacrifice him. Therefore, while Abraham's faith saved him and made him righteous in God's sight according to Genesis 15:6, it did not reach perfection until he obeyed God in Genesis 22:10-13.

 

"You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works" (James 2:22) is a powerful truth. If we are struggling, acts of faith can bring about our promises. Please hear this. Acts alone (those born out of desperation, doubt, and fear) can never complete, perfect, or produce a promise. Actions without faith are ineffective and harmful. Equally, faith without action is dead, too (James 2:20). If faith is already present, acting correspondingly will unleash its power and eventually produce the miracle of God's promise.

 

However, some people believe that actions alone will yield miraculous results. Some have stopped their medications or acted in life-threatening ways, believing their actions would bring about their miracle. Faith is our victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4). Our actions—our works—do not constitute our victory. When faith is absent from the heart, our actions are harmful. We cannot build our faith through what we do. Faith never comes through our works, but rather through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

 

Faith must be acted upon to achieve the results God has promised us. However, it's not the action that creates the miracle; it's the faith. Acting out of desire or under the misconception that actions generate faith will cause a believer to miss God's promise. They would have attained the desired result if they had truly acted in faith.

 

We need to be honest and humble enough before God to discern whether our faith is a genuine biblical faith that requires action, or if we are merely hoping and still need to nurture our faith a little longer before we act.

 

Hope means "a desire accompanied by confident expectation" (American Heritage Dictionary), so desiring the things of God with an expectation of obtaining them is the first step in walking in faith. Hope comes through the Scriptures (Romans 15:4). Once this hope is present, faith begins to work. If there is a delay, patience completes the work (Romans 5:3-4). The character developed through trials only enhances the hope we have already received through God's Word. 

 

"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."

—James 2:24

 

Faith alone saves us, but faith is never alone. Faith without works has no life. True biblical faith requires action. Your faith overcomes. Are you in the hoping stage, nourishing your faith? Or are you ready to step out in faith, taking authority over the enemy who tries to steal, kill, destroy, and take your promise?

 

"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12).

 

 

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