James 2:17 Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself?
what does works mean? Or is it enough to just have faith?
What kind of works should we be doing?
2006-10-21 10:10:45 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A man once asked Jesus: "Lord, are those who are being saved few?" How did Jesus reply? Did he say: 'Just accept me as your Lord and Savior, and you will be saved'? No! Jesus said: "Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to get in but will not be able."—Luke 13:23, 24.
So you see there is much more to it than just believing, faith in itself is not sufficient.
2006-10-21 21:17:45 · answer #1 · answered by Frax 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Faith without works is dead. James was saying that if you say you have faith and do nothing with your faith, it is in vane. There is also another passage in James. It says that even the devils believe and tremble. It is not enough to believe in God, you must believe Him. In Romans it says the Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness.
2006-10-21 17:17:58 · answer #2 · answered by Minister 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith, Hope, Love & Charity!
Have faith in God, be loving and kind to your fellow man.
Thank God for all the good things in your life.
Say a little prayer that comes from your heart.
Don't blame God for the bad things that happen.
Enjoy every day - you don't have to carry a bible
with you to know what is right or wrong.
2006-10-21 18:34:57 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God doesnt just want us to belive in him he wants to have a relationship with him. It is not enough to have faith without living it. We need to live how the bible tells us to. Yes we will stuff up sometimes but God knows that and will forgive us when we confess and repent.
The two greatest commandments that we can live by are
Love the lord your god with all your heart and your neighbour as yourself.
God bless you and may he be with you on your journey as you find the truth.
2006-10-21 17:20:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't believe in God (said by any religion or my religion ) but i believe in my best conscience (according to me that's God) & I think i m a good person so seems like saying is right.
what I think is that religion ,God & believes are for them who don't want to think about deep things like conscience of their own or their own instinct so they need something to follow & there we have religions made by really powerful persons who care about these kind of people .Here now they have to have faith to follow it otherwise it doesn't work as religion shd supposed to do,so work here is effect of religion ,what i can think of .faith is the only main key to be accepting a religion so faith is no just,according me ,it's everything
2006-10-22 03:05:12 · answer #5 · answered by prav m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Matthew 5:48 tells God's people that they should be perfect, even as their Father in heaven is perfect. I ask you: is it possible for you to make yourself perfect? No, of course not. You are but a man, and cannot by your own actions make yourself perfect or worthy of heaven (Romans 3:23 & John 14:6). If a person tries to make themself perfect, then they would become hypocrites.
So, as it would seem, God has commanded His people to do something that they cannot do. Do not think this, for if we pray to God and believe with all of our hearts, He will direct us into the paths of righteousness and make our character perfect (Proverbs 3 & Psalm 23).
Read Acts 2:38 (remember, repentance means realizing you have done something wrong, forsaking your sins, and endeavoring to not commit them again), Matthew 19:21 (Bear in mind John 14:6 and realize that this action won't get you to heaven, only make riches for you there.), and Proverbs 28:13.
God bless you, I will keep you in prayer as you try to find a more meaningful relationship with God.
2006-10-21 17:41:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It means that you can't just *say* you believe in Him, you have to act like it too. Unfortunately some Protestants believe that once you're "saved," it doesn't matter what you do. But that's not the case; that's being hypocritical and it doesn't hold any water with God.
2006-10-21 17:13:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have no clue what that means but I can tell you all you have to do to be saved is believe in the lord Jesus Christ!
...What must I do to be saved?
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. -Acts 16:30, 31
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and love of God, and fellowship of The Holy Spirit be you all.
2 Corinthains 13:14
2006-10-21 17:18:34 · answer #8 · answered by I love Jesus! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being a good person and believing in God are two good things However they will not get you in heaven you must accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
2006-10-21 17:34:23 · answer #9 · answered by Glenn B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Works is showing that you believe, doing acts, preaching, etc. and I think Romans says that if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart then you shall be saved.
Ps people do care what you have to say.
2006-10-21 17:33:19 · answer #10 · answered by SaLeMiZmE 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋