Faith And Works: Putting Our Beliefs Into Action

Introduction

In the Bible, there are many different passages that can seem to contradict each other. One such example is James 2:14-17, which seems to suggest that faith without works is dead, and Ephesians 2:8-9, which states that we are saved by grace through faith alone. Similarly, Matthew 7:15-24 warns against false prophets and emphasizes the importance of putting Jesus' teachings into practice. In this exegesis sermon, we will explore these passages and attempt to reconcile them by examining their context, historical background, and theological implications.

James 2:14-17

Let us first examine James 2:14-17: "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 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? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

At first glance, this passage seems to contradict Ephesians 2:8-9, which emphasizes that we are saved by grace through faith alone, not by our works. However, we must remember that James and Paul are addressing different issues in their letters. Paul is addressing the issue of legalism, which is the belief that we can earn our salvation through our good works. James, on the other hand, is addressing the issue of antinomianism, which is the belief that we can have faith without doing any good works.

In James 2:14-17, James is not saying that we are saved by our works. Rather, he is saying that true faith will naturally result in good works. If we claim to have faith but do not have any good works to show for it, then our faith is dead and useless. This does not mean that our good works are what save us, but rather that our good works are evidence of our salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Let us now turn to Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

This passage emphasizes that our salvation is a gift of God's grace, and that it is not something that we can earn through our good works. This is important to remember, as it prevents us from falling into legalism and thinking that we can earn our salvation through our own efforts.

However, we must also remember that this does not mean that our good works are irrelevant. While our good works do not save us, they are evidence of our salvation and a reflection of our faith. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Matthew 7:15-24

Finally, let us turn to Matthew 7:15-24, which warns against false prophets and emphasizes the importance of putting Jesus' teachings into practice. In this passage, Jesus warns his followers to beware of false prophets who come disguised as sheep but are actually ravenous wolves. He then goes on to say that we will know them by their fruits, and that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree bear good fruit.

This passage emphasizes the importance of discernment and the need to test the teachings of those who claim to be prophets. It also emphasizes the importance of putting Jesus' teachings into practice, as those who do not put Jesus' teachings into practice are like the foolish man who built his house on sand. When the storms of life come, his house is washed away because it has no firm foundation. In contrast, those who put Jesus' teachings into practice are like the wise man who built his house on rock. When the storms of life come, his house stands firm because it is built on a solid foundation.

This passage reinforces the idea that true faith will result in good works. The good fruit that Jesus refers to is not just the works themselves, but also the character of the person doing the works. A person who is truly following Jesus will exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, which is "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

So how do we reconcile James 2:14-17 with Ephesians 2:8-9 and Matthew 7:15-24? The key is to understand that these passages are not contradicting each other, but rather addressing different aspects of the same issue. We are saved by grace through faith alone, but true faith will naturally result in good works.

James 2:14-17 emphasizes the importance of putting our faith into action. If we claim to have faith but do not have any good works to show for it, then our faith is dead and useless. This does not mean that our good works are what save us, but rather that our good works are evidence of our salvation.