Notes of Faith May 16, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Studies in James
March 16, 2003
“THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF FAITH
James 2:14-26”
Is a professed but silent faith, void of tangible fruit, a valid faith? This was a paramount problem among Jewish believers to whom James wrote. It is also a problem among professing believers in every era of Christianity. James 2:14-26 exposes the fallacy of such thinking and spells out the principles of true, saving faith.
Fact #1 - A profession of faith without the presence of accompanying works reflects a lack of genuine faith. “Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone.” James 2:14 NLT Can professing to be a Christian without living as Christ would have you live save you? Obviously not.
Fact #2 is illustrated in verses 14 and 15: “Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, ‘Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well’ – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” The old saying, “actions speak louder than words” again shows a lack of true faith. Words without actions are useless.
Fact #3 – A faith without action is a dead faith. “So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all – it is dead and useless. v. 17”
Fact #4 – The presence of works with the profession of faith reflects a saving faith. “Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ I say, ‘I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.’ v. 18” James is asking believers to show him their faith by the way they live and the good works that they do and he himself is an example of this kind of faith.
The difference in these two kinds of faith is shown in verses 19 and 20: “Do you still think it’s enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?”
James reminds believers of two Old Testament saints that demonstrated true faith in verses 18-25. The first is Abraham. “Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was declared right with God because of what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?” You see, he was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to do. His faith was made complete by what he did – by his actions. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: ‘Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.’ He was even called ‘the friend of God.’ So you see, we are made right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.”
Rahab was the second example. “Rahab the prostitute is another example of this. She was made right with God by her actions – when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road.”
James sums up his argument in verse 26: “Just as the body is dead without a spirit, so also faith is dead without good deeds.” Let me emphasize here that doing good deeds or works does not save you. You cannot work your way to Heaven. Faith alone saves, but a true faith will be demonstrated by a changed life, a life lived for the glory of God.
How is your faith today? Is it accompanied by good deeds or are you just mouthing a cliché? We each must examine our own hearts and lives. Let’s glorify our Savior with lives that are pleasing to Him. God bless.
Pastor Charles Covington
Heb 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Eph 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it (faith) is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
God’s grace saves us through His gift of faith to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. But as a result of that gift and resulting salvation, the expression of that faith is lived out through good works that God prepared for the life of every believer!
We see then that faith and works go hand in hand though we also recognize that God’s gracious gift of faith is what is necessary to be saved! The expression thereof for the rest of one’s life is an outpouring of righteous good works in His name! Works will not save you but true faith must produce the fruit of good works! Examine yourself and get to work producing good fruit for God!
Pastor Dale