Faith and Works

What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace,be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

James 2:14-18

James points out that being a Christian involves demonstrating our faith by our works.   

Our works reveal a lot about our faith.  Some, may say, "I do not have much, so I cannot help others."  But at the same time, everyone has time and we may though financially poor, be able to help others through service - like mowing the neighbor's lawn or helping a stranded motorist change a flat tire or delivering food for the local food pantry or giving cooking tips to another customer at the grocery store or in any of hundreds of other ways.

Our works show our faith to the world.  And, showing our faith is how we bring others to know Jesus.    

Managing Human Relations

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.  But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.”

“If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you a Gentile and a tax collector.”

Matthew 18:15-17

Jesus was a master of managing human relations.  He spoke about the fellowship of the church being disrupted and damaged by those who continued to sin.  Jesus calls us to speak privately with someone regarding their sinful behavior and failing that to have others in the church join in helping the offender bring his/her lifestyle into line with the teachings of the scripture.  

Jesus also acknowledged that this can fail spectacularly.  And, even sometimes result in having to ask a person to leave the church.  It is not an easy thing to do, but sometimes it must be done to preserve the fellowship and integrity of the Church.  

So, when we are called to do the hard stuff, we may not enjoy the process but we can take comfort in knowing we did the right thing.      

 

Made For Good Works

 

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the free gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 

 

Ephesians 2: 8-10

Our salvation through Jesus is the free gift of God.  All we have to do is acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, Master and Savior.  Because we have received this great gift, we want to do things which reflect the love of Jesus in our lives.  We do not do good works to be redeemed; we do good works because we are redeemed. 

So, the next time, when out of the blue you get the urge to do something nice for someone, like mowing your neighbor’s lawn or paying for the food of the person behind you at a drive up window, go ahead and do it, because you are made for good works.  

 

An Ox In The Well

It happened that when He went into the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread, they were watching Him closely. And there in front of Him was a man suffering from edema. And Jesus responded and said to the lawyers and Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they kept silent. 

And He took hold of him and healed him, and sent him away. And He said to them, “Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?” And they could offer no reply to this.

Luke 14:1-6 

We would all like to have Sunday off from work and time to go to church and be with our families.  But for many people this is a luxury they do not have.  We should not make them feel guilty because they have jobs which mean they cannot attend church or spend Sunday resting. 

Jesus said, "When you ox falls into a well...."  The Pharisees all knew what He meant: The law is flexible to allow people to do the things that needed to be done.

So, if you must spend Sunday at work, instead of at church, know this - God loves you and understands your obligations.   

Paul On Paul

For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1 Corinthians 15:11-14 

The Apostle Paul was aware that people were suspicious of his ministry because he had previously persecuted Christians.  He held the coats of those who stoned Stephen.  His reputation was so bad that God gave him a new name - Saul became Paul.  

Through all this Paul's faith and ministry grew and he proclaimed, "By the grace of God I am what I am..."

That is the way it is when we come to Christ.  We are no longer who we were but we are transformed by the grace of God and become new.

And, we are equipped by God to proclaim Christ to the World. 

No Other Name Under Heaven

 

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.”

“He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:8-12

Because Peter and John healed a beggar outside the temple, the temple officials arrested them.

And, what did Peter do when he was given an opportunity to speak?  Did he try to smooth over the situation and make peace with his accusers?  No.  He preached the Gospel. 

We should be so bold when we are questioned about our work for Jesus.  We need to stop apologizing for delivering the message of salvation through Jesus along with food, medical help and services to people who are hurting. 

We work for God and we should unashamedly say so.

There Is A Time To Judge

 

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 

 

Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 

 

Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 

 

2 Corinthians 14-16

 

As Christians, we need to carefully consider with whom we develop personal and business relationships.  While a person or company may seem to operating in a manner that reflects Christian values, it sometimes is all a show to lure people in so they can take advantage of others good reputation and money.

 

I  say this because the internet is full of scammers who seek to lure lonely people with sad stories or promises of friendship and romance, and fake churches and ministries who plead for money to help people or offer blessings for money.  In this same deceptive boat, are fake businesses and investment companies that promise big profits on investments to people and then rob them of their savings to support their own lavish life styles.  

 

And, sometimes the deception boldly creeps into the church. 

 

Paul warns to not be bound with unbelievers, and we should heed his warning. 

 

This being said, there is a time to judge and it is now.