Sunday, June 12, 2022

Words of Wisdom #12

Yesterday in James 2, he again brought us back to the mirror to take a good look at doing good works - not as a means to salvation, but as an evidence of it. He continues in verse:
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 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. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
As we see in Paul's letters, James too reminds us that Abraham is the father of faith, but His faith was also evidenced by trust and obedience, when he was willing to do something that said: "God, I really trust you. I trust you so much to keep your promise to make me a great people I will give back to you my "son of the promise", Isaac. Abraham's belief was shown in action.  Rahab did something to show that she believed God would do what He promised these Israelite spies He would do, and she proved it by doing her part to keep them, and the plan, alive.  Faith exists in our spirits, but shows itself in what we do with our bodies.  What evidence can you show yourself that you really trust in God and His promises?

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