Faith Works

The Lads to Leaders Convention has come to an end for this year. Our youth have worked hard over the last few months. They prepared speeches, led songs, preformed puppet skits, created artwork, designed scrapbook pages and studied for Bible Bowl. The main theme this year was "Faith Works.” This theme comes from James 2: 17-18 and it is very important to Christian life.

In James 2:17, James writes, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” James is addressing a problem that existed in the early church. People were claiming to possess faith while showing no evidence of it in their lives. Faith was never meant to be an intellectual agreement or verbal confession. True faith produces action. When belief does not lead to obedience, compassion, and service, James says that faith is “dead,” meaning it is useless, and incomplete.

Verse 18 continues the thought: “Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” James challenges the idea that faith can exist independently. Faith cannot be displayed without what a person does. Works are not presented as a replacement for faith, but as evidence of their faith. Just as a tree is known by its fruit, a believer’s faith becomes visible through what they do.

These verses do not contradict passages that emphasize salvation by grace, such as those written by Paul the Apostle. Instead, they address different issues. Paul argued against the idea that humans could earn salvation through the works of the Law, while James confronts the opposite problem, people claiming faith while living unchanged lives. Together, they present a complete picture. The big picture is that salvation is by God’s grace through faith, but true faith will always produce works.

For Christians today, James’ words serve as a practical test of our faith. Belief in Christ should be reflected in how we treat others, how we serve the church, and how we live daily. Faith that remains only in words is empty, but faith that moves the believer to action demonstrates a living relationship with God. As James emphasizes throughout his letter, living faith is a working faith.

- Heath Rosenblum

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