Faith Without Works? Pt 2

James, (James 2:21-22) explains a bit about how faith and works go together:

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?” You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected, or made complete…   

James is exhorting you and me, telling us what we should do, what we should aspire to. As he explains that faith without works is dead, he uses the life of Abraham as an example. Abraham’s faith, his trust in God, that is what made him righteous. It wasn’t his holiness, his purity, his labor, but only his faith that was credited to him as righteousness.   

It might be easy, having looked through this passage, to tell yourself that all you’re required to do is give a little money and take your used clothing to the Goodwill or Salvation Army. Until you look ahead to James 5. In verses 13 – 16, you can see that the work(s) of faith isn’t giving a little money or donating clothing. The work of faith is effective prayer.  

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James

5:13-16    

Every item in the list James has given requires faith. It requires faith to pray when you’re in trouble, when you feel you’re at your weakest. It requires faith to sing songs of praise when you’re happy. It surely requires faith to anoint someone with oil and pray with them in faith, believing they will be healed. And Man! It requires faith in God and your friends to confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed.   

We have works to do and we’re going to need faith to do them!