Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 219

August 7, 2021;   James 2:24;   219/260(I);   ‘Faith & Works’

James 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

This verse is easy to understand and makes an abundance of sense once you take time to think about what it says.  We are not saved by works, this is where the confusion comes in.  Good deeds and charitable work cannot save you.  So that is not what this verse says.  Evidently, even when the books of the Bible were being prayerfully assembled, verses like this one caused initial misunderstanding.  Here is what it means.  When someone has the salvation message of the Lord Jesus Christ presented to them that Jesus is God’s Son and that He died on the cross for their sins and sicknesses and believes this, they have faith to be saved.  But suppose they never go further to ask Jesus to come into their heart to be their Lord and Savior.  Their faith alone cannot save them, they must act on their faith (works) and ask the Lord Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.  Here are two more examples.  The Bible teaches the biblical financial principle of tithing.  When a person hears what the scriptures say about tithing, believes that tithing is the way the local church is supported and sees that the Lord will bless them when they do tithe, that is faith.  If they never tithe, the church will not be blessed financially and neither will God be able to bless them financially either.  The corresponding works, would be to tithe.  When someone is not feeling well and is taught from the Word that Jesus is the Healer.  Even if they believe that (faith) yet never act their faith (if they are in bed, their works would be to get up and act like they are well), their faith alone cannot help them.  Hear the Word (faith) and do what it says (works).