Works And Obedience

As I was reading the book of James this week, the Lord allowed me to finally understand what that book truly is about. If I was to summarize the book of James today I would simply say that it is a book of Faith and Obedience.

James 2:17-18, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.”

We have mostly misunderstood this book, beloved. Most think that this book says that if we do good actions, take care of the poor and justly treat everyone good, then we must have faith. But that is not what this verse is saying at all. By taking a brief overview of this verse on surface value, it would almost seem as if James was going against Paul’s message of Faith and Grace. This is why for the past few years I have read through James I came out in the end somewhat confused. James is not teaching any different message than Paul, he is simply using different terminology that we easily misunderstand today. James is simply saying that, you cannot have faith without having obedient actions to follow. One cannot be obedient without also having faith, and one cannot have faith without being obedient, the two are inseparable. If we claim to have faith, and yet are not obedient to the written Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit, then our faith is a façade. If you do not move to the voice of God, then you don’t believe anything and you are rendered faithless. Only by our works of obedience do we have true faith. Works is not just living by some moral code… it is simply being totally obedient to God. I pray this excites you as much as it has me this week. Don’t worry with the works of religion… just simply be obedient and you will always see Jesus.