Dead Faith Series

DEAD FAITH

by

Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid

“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, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding 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 thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. ...

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ...

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2: 18-26, King James Version [KJV], Concerning respect of persons).

Greetings in the Holy Name of Jesus Yahshuah,

My sisters and brothers, you laid the guilt at the table of brotherhood when in fact the guilt lies in your heart for the acts of truth that are not in your heart betray you, one to another [Colossians 3: 9-1O, King James Version (KJV), “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”]. In furtherance, The General Epistle Of James 3: 13, KJV] speaks to true wisdom is peaceable: “Who is a wise man and ensued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” Howbeit, James [1: 21, KJV] dealt with Christian Ethics, in his letter written in the most Jewish style, addressed to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, insisted that works, not words, are a mark of a disciple, for he introduced himself as James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and he wrote, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Let us say, in The Epistle Of Paul The Apostle To The Colossians [3: 8, KJV], a letter well-known for its doctrine and brevity that Apostle Paul insisted upon Lordship of Christ, when he wrote, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, out of your mouth.’ Accordingly Peter describes himself as “Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ “ in The First Epistle General Of Peter [2: 1-12, KJV] and spoke to Christian Ethics when he wrote:

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”