You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
James 2:19-20
What good is it to believe that God is God without it impacting what we do? None of us is immune to the failings of humanity, but when we place faith in God, evidence must exist or else it is not the faith that God requires.* Demons believe in God in a genuine way that causes an action: shuddering.* Believing the truth without obeying the truth is no better than the faith of demons.*
According to James’ illustration using Abraham, and considering the writings of Paul, faith justifies us ultimately, with obedience serving as evidence of that faith.* Eventually, as we exercise faith, that faith grows to the Lord’s goal: completion.* Thus, faith is a dynamic factor in a believer’s life.* It may ebb and flow, but ultimately, God desires that our faith be pointed in an upward trajectory.
God did not intend accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior to exist as two separate events.* To accept Jesus as Savior, we must submit to His Lordship. Faith that He can save us comes only through recognizing His Lordship and responding accordingly. Said another way, we cannot say, “I believe Jesus is my savior, but I do what I want.” This faith is not salvific faith at all.
We do not need to obey the law to acquire salvation; faith in Jesus saves us. Once we receive that salvation, however, obedience to the law becomes an expression of our love to Him.*
As Blomberg states,
Faith that does not reveal itself in works—in a changed lifestyle that glorifies God and seeks his heart for the world—is dead, lifeless, workless, and worthless. In reality, it is not faith at all; it is only the shell or the corpse of faith.
Charles Mitton challenges us by saying,
It is a good thing to possess an accurate theology, but it is unsatisfactory unless that good theology also possesses us.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to ask Him to examine your heart. Perhaps today God wants you to look at the fruit in your life. Maybe today God wants you to invite a friend who is mature in the Lord into that conversation. Perhaps today God would have you submit your life to His Lordship. Maybe today there is an area of your life that God desires you to show Him love by obeying Him in.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 134–141). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 240). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 2:19–26). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 163–180). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 150–155). Zondervan Publishing House.