EXPOSING DEAD FAITH Saturday June 28, 2014 What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself (James 2:14-17). Jesus said, Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Your righteous deeds illuminate the path to God by reflecting His power and grace to others. That brings Him glory and proves your faith is genuine. Your deeds also serve as the basis of divine judgment. If you practice righteousness, you will receive eternal life; if you practice unrighteousness, you will receive wrath and indignation (Romans 2:6-8). God will judge you on the basis of your deeds because what you do reveals who you really are and what you really believe. Thats why any so-called faith that doesnt produce good works is dead and utterly useless! James illustrates that point in a practical way. If someone lacks the basic necessities of life and comes to you for help, what good does it do if you simply wish him well and send him away without meeting any of his needs? It does no good at all! Your pious words are hypocritical and without substance. If you really wished him well, you would do what you can to give him what he needs! Your unwillingness to do so betrays your true feelings. Similarly, dead faith is hypocritical, shallow, and useless because it doesnt put its claims into action indeed, it has no divine capacity to do so. I pray that your life will always manifest true faith and that others will glorify God because of your good works. Suggestions for Prayer: Perhaps you know someone whose claim to Christianity is doubtful because his or her life doesnt evidence the fruit of righteousness. If so, pray for that person regularly and set an example by your own good works. For Further Study: Read John 15:1-8. • What illustration did Jesus use for spiritual fruitfulness? • What is the prerequisite for fruitfulness? John 15:1-8 NIV “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Ne. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples. From Drawing Near by John MacArthur. May God continue richly blessing you / Dios continúe bendiciéndole ricamente! Jesús Martín Romero
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 15:04:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015