Faith without works is dead...?

Question

Therefore wouldn't you also Want to work because you have faith...and isnt "work" the keeping of the Law?

Answer 1

True Christian work is the work that God does through Christians. Phil. 2:12.

12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
If God isn't in us, it isn't good works we do. It may appear that way for awhile but to have it last it must be God inspiried. Faith is always a response to God. It's something we live out in good works and do as a result of what He has said and done. Faith never initiates. It responds! That's why we are Co-laborers with God. We live from Him not for Him. We do this Christian thing with Him! Never alone! That's why everything we do is from a place of rest. He does it through us!

God Bless You!

Answer 2

I agree with most of the comments. you can't EARN your way into salvation, but you have to meet some standards to be eligible

Here is how James explains the works.
(James 2:14-17) 14 Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if a certain one says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? 15 If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, 16 yet a certain one of YOU says to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,” but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it? 17 Thus, too, faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.

what he is explaining is that if you TRULY have real faith in Jesus, then you will do the same works that he did.

Well you can't heal people, or bring back the dead, but you can do what he commanded you to do (this is not a suggestion, but a requirement for Christians )

(Matthew 28:19-20) . . .Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

there are many other things you can do to prove yourself worthy to be a christian

(Galatians 5:19-24) . . .Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, 20 idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, 21 envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning YOU, the same way as I did forewarn YOU, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom. 22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires.

(1 Corinthians 6:9-11) 9 What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, 10 nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom. 11 And yet that is what some of YOU were. . .

so works are required for salvation

Answer 3

Change faith to belief. We now know that most of what we call dogma was invented over the centuries by mad-eyed zealots - Jews, Christians and Islam. So what works in life is ask the Universe for what you want, be grateful for all that you have and believe that you already have what you asked for now. Doing good or works is all about paying attention to what the Universe supplies - acting or doing is your choice of the moment; if you always do the right, kind, caring thing than that is what comes into your life. Go figure.

Answer 4

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:18-23

Work isn't necessarily keeping the Law. No one can. Think of works as evidence. What James is saying is that if you call yourself Christian, then you better have evidence of it. Like praying, Bible reading, witnessing, fellowshipping...

If you don't have evidence and say you are a christian then you are no different than the demons. You would be a false convert.

You can't have faith without works and you can't have works without faith. They go hand in hand. I want to make it crystal clear WE ARE NOT SAVED BY OUR WORKS!

But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away. Is. 64:6

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph. 2:8-9

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

Answer 5

Simply put, if the Law of God is written on the heart of a person, then their outward actions will reflect their respect for that Law. Their respect for the Law will show their love of God. We do these things in faith believing that God is going to honor His promises to us.

What promise? Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


The consensus on this forum that grace has abolished Law is a false one and not Biblical at all, in fact, tying James with John, how can they even begin to believe what they do?

1John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

In other words, faith requires action, we have to be actively studying God's word, including the Law in the Old Testament, to see how our lives need adjusted to be in accordance with His will.

1Jo 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Keeping the Law is not all the "work" James is talking about, but it is the trunk of the tree as far as understanding the truth.

Addition: In actuality, keeping God's Commandments is the least of what is expected of the followers of Messiah Yeshua, what did He tell the Jews?

Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Answer 6

No the work isn't keeping the law here's an example. You are believing God for a job you have prayed about it and you know he will provide it. Now if you stay in your house all day and don't go out and put in applications where is your work. In this case your work would be the act of you seeking employment knowing that you will receive a job.

Answer 7

Faith without works is dead,show me your faith by your works.Works become legalistic when there is no faith and you do not enter "into his rest".Fellowship with the spirit is not about "performing for god".Relax and enjoy the fellowship.The spirit of god is "simple" not confusing.Remove yourself from any "person" or 'teaching" that makes 'the spirit hard or confusing".

Answer 8

Faith without works is dead, meaning if you're faithful but you don't spread it or do anything about it, then why be faithful? Spread your faith and do something about it--it's not saying that you have to do good things in order to be faithful.

Answer 9

you have to understand that the whole "Faith vs. Works" argument was a counter to the abuse of the sale of Indulgences by some clergymen in the 16th Century. Taken to its further extreme, some even defined "works" as the Sacraments and sacramental practices by the Church, arguing that these were empty rituals and could not bring about grace.

However, it was never questioned that acts of charity were pleasing to God, even if they were completed by one with doubts or in penance for sins, as long as the acts were offered up to God in humility, trust, and in Jesus' name.

Answer 10

I believe that works are a sign of faith when they're performed for the right reasons. Getting into heaven by our own efforts is not one of those reasons.