Faith Speaks

I believe that many Christians believe James is talking only about fruit. In other words, if you have faith, people will see the fruit of your Christian life. However, if we look at the context of what James is saying and not look at an isolated verse, we will see a deeper truth. Remember the Bible was not written in chapter and verse. Men did that at a later time in order to make it easier to look up Scriptures. Verse. 26 is the last verse. of chapter 2. If we will continue reading into chapter 3 without breaking the train of thought of faith and works, we will see the power of what James was saying by the unction of the Holy Spirit. Lets start again with 2:26. and then continue reading on into chapter 3.

James 2:26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

3:1. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

8. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12. Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring can yield both salt water and fresh.

After James said faith without works is dead, then he continues on to define exactly how faith produces. He goes on to talk about the tongue and the power of it. The result is what you bear, the fruit of your lips will be a product what comes our of your mouth. Your faith will always produce when spoken out of your mouth. Fresh or salty, it is our choice and ours alone. Out of the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses let everything be established. Lets look at some more Scriptures that say a similar thing.

Proverbs 12:14 A man will be satisifed with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

Proverbs 13:2 A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

Proverbs 18:20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, and from the produce of his lips he shall be filled.