What Is Living Faith?

What doth it profit, my brethren,

though a man say he hath faith,

and have not works? Can faith

save him? if a brother or sister 

be naked, and destitute of daily

food, and one of you say unto them,

depart in peace, by ye warmed and 

filled; not withstanding ye give them

not those things which are needful

to the body; what doth it profit? 

Even so faith if it hath not works,

is dead, being alone. Yea, a man

may say, Thou hast faith, and I

have works: shew me thy faith

without they works, and I will shew 

thee my faith by my works. Thou

believest that there is one God: thou

doest well: the devils also believe, 

and tremble. But wilt thou them know,

O vain man, that faith without works

is dead?

James 2:14-20

     I apologize for not being able to write my blog for the last two days. I was being seen by a doctor for a problem that arose  when I had my last surgery. It looks like another surgery coming up. Will know more after I meet with the doctors at the Veterans Hospital at Mather Field in Sacramento. So pray that all goes well and that from this my faith will demonstrate Jesus Christ to all who attend to me and to those friends that do not believe.

     "Can faith save you?" This is a good question as James under inspiration wrote those words and made this statement. So, what is meant? Let us look at the word "faith," so that we have an understanding of it how it is used. First, faith is confidence, or a trust in a person or thing and is not based on proof. If you have proof of a thing or person you have no need to have faith in that person or thing. To simply say that you have faith is nothing more than words and another person has no reason to believe in what you say to be true. Faith without works is a "dead faith," for it has no substance that demonstrates what is said. "Can faith save you?" Yes! If that faith is built upon a truth even if you cannot see that proof in reality, or person. This is true for one to have faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot see Him, but we can see what He did, and know what He said, and by our checking this out we can have a faith that is assured. Do you have faith? Is your faith accompanied by works? You cannot work your way to heaven or salvation, but your faith can demonstrate what you say is true for your faith. 

     I have recently due to my surgeries and time away from the congregation found that people say that they will pray for you, that is, if they took the time to know that you need prayer. Yes, pray is a way to demonstrate your faith in God, not that He will answer your prayer, but that you believe in Him, have faith in Him, that He is providential and will work all things for good. What I did find out was that no one took the time to check on me and in a time where electronic technology makes us a dial away from another person. Now, this example, a true example, shows that for many people going to Church will go to hear a sermon, (and then after hearing it never to speak of it again), and to have fellowship, but no one is taking time to check out why a person is not at Church, and if they can help. But they will "pray," (go in peace, be warmed and filled) seems to be the way most people go to Church and will not "bother" themselves to be involved in other peoples lives. This is one of our responsibilities as a Christian, and Authentic Christian and to do less means that you say you have faith but it is a dead faith for there is not works attached to it. 

     Works, the Greek has two words used for works, one is poiew which means more to the object and end of an act, to accomplish, to do a thing once for all: i.e., to build a house. The other word is epyon, that means to toil to have and effort, in other words to work. This word used by James is important for it is simply telling us to be a person of action especially towards those in your congregation, and to extend that to others as well. To be one who is accomplishing works is one that has taken time to examine the needs and to develop a way to handle those needs. There is more to this: and I have found many people denigrating Jehovah Witnesses for going about door to door or to sit with a tripod with literature ready to discuss their faith with anyone who will ask (1Peter 3:15). I do not know what his denigration, are they not putting their faith into action? Yes! Where are the Christians who attend various Churches doing this as well? Some things are done, but for the most part, most Christians do nothing, so their faith is dead. Are you equipping yourself so that you can take the Gospel to the world as we have been commanded to do? 

     James is not letting us off the hook. We must consider what he wrote and determine if we are demonstrating our faith by our works. Are we willing to take time to go out and speak to others about our faith? Yes, you may have to make other arrangements to make this time to "work" but what else do you have that is more important? Jesus commanded us to do this, and the Holy Spirit had Paul, Peter, and James especially to remind us or our responsibility as an Authentic Christian. We must make a decision: will we have "live" works, or will or faith be a dead faith? It is all up to us. Salvation does not come by works but due to our salvation we have, or should have, a desire to bring what saved us to our world, to others. Apathy will not be tolerated by God. 

O Lord, I beseech thee, let now

     thine ear be attentive to the

prayer of thy servant, and to the 

     prayer of thy servants, who 

desire to fear thy name: and prosper,

    I pray thee, they servant this day,

and grant him mercy in the sight of

    this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

                           Nehemiah 1:11

May this be your prayer

Richard L. Crumb