What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (James 2:14-18, NIV).
One of the objectives of The Well Church of Lewisville is to help people learn how to put their faith into action. That sounds great, but what does that really mean? Isn’t faith alone what saves us? Well the answer to the second question is yes. Faith in Jesus Christ alone is what saves us. However, if we truly have faith in Jesus Christ, then shouldn’t our actions be centered on this faith?
Jesus said, keep my commands (John 14:15).
What did Jesus command? In the gospel of John, Jesus said,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35).
So, to put our faith into action means to love one another, and in doing so, you will be known as a disciple of Jesus Christ. When you go to church, are you asking yourself, “what will I get out church today”? Or are you asking, “what can I do to be an active part of the church today”? To look at this in a larger context, we don’t really go to church, we are the church. When we view ourselves in this way, the natural response is to take ownership and responsibility for the actions of the church. We each have a role to play as part of the body of Christ.
James argues that our faith should be more than talk. People listen to others when they see their actions backing up their beliefs. When we go out of our way to love others the way Christ has loved us, then we will see a trail of transformed lives. We will see the hungry eating meals, the poor with clothing and shelter, the sick being cared for and the broken hearted comforted. This is how the body of Christ displays true faith. This is faith in action. Will people know that you belong to Christ by your deeds today? Will you be a willing vessel to be used by Christ and be known as a man or woman of faith through your actions? May God lead you and guide you into a faith that is known by your actions today.
Be blessed in all you do!
Your brother in Christ,
Tim
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (James 2:14-18, NIV).
One of the objectives of The Well Church of Lewisville is to help people learn how to put their faith into action. That sounds great, but what does that really mean? Isn’t faith alone what saves us? Well the answer to the second question is yes. Faith in Jesus Christ alone is what saves us. However, if we truly have faith in Jesus Christ, then shouldn’t our actions be centered on this faith?
Jesus said, keep my commands (John 14:15).
What did Jesus command? In the gospel of John, Jesus said,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35).
So, to put our faith into action means to love one another, and in doing so, you will be known as a disciple of Jesus Christ. When you go to church, are you asking yourself, “what will I get out church today”? Or are you asking, “what can I do to be an active part of the church today”? To look at this in a larger context, we don’t really go to church, we are the church. When we view ourselves in this way, the natural response is to take ownership and responsibility for the actions of the church. We each have a role to play as part of the body of Christ.
James argues that our faith should be more than talk. People listen to others when they see their actions backing up their beliefs. When we go out of our way to love others the way Christ has loved us, then we will see a trail of transformed lives. We will see the hungry eating meals, the poor with clothing and shelter, the sick being cared for and the broken hearted comforted. This is how the body of Christ displays true faith. This is faith in action. Will people know that you belong to Christ by your deeds today? Will you be a willing vessel to be used by Christ and be known as a man or woman of faith through your actions? May God lead you and guide you into a faith that is known by your actions today.
Be blessed in all you do!
Your brother in Christ,
Tim
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