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General Epistles

Jul 03, 2022 | Pastor Tony Boos

Faith vs Works - What saves you?

Do you ever feel like you need to do good things to please God or wonder how what you do for others relates to your faith? If you do, then you’re not alone. God knows that all humans struggle with this, and the book of James addresses this directly. Join us this week as we look towards the hope we have in only Jesus and the reason why we do good works.

James 2:14-26
Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 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? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 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. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Series Information

The eight books of the Bible from Hebrews through Jude are often called the “General Epistles”; and in many ways, they are like the thirteen letters written by Paul. However, Paul tended to write his letters to a specific church or person; whereas the General Epistles are usually written to broad groups of churches or are not specifically addressed at all.

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