James 2:17-18
2:17. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
2:18. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
A Dead Faith
The real definition of our own personal faith is in the way we act.
How does a person show faith?
James askes, “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
You can’t really show faith. You can talk about it. Our actions always demonstrate what we believe. Think about all the daily deeds you do. We get a glass of water from the kitchen tap. We expect to get water because we paid our bill, and we have faith the city will supply water. We have faith that the city has properly purified the water and it’s safe to drink. We have faith that our glass will hold water and nobody is trying to pull a prank and replaced it with a dribble glass or something. We are demonstrating what we believe. Our faith has actions.
Our faith is assured because at some point we tested it. On our first day living in the house, we opened the tap and water came out. We have assurance in our faith because of the reputation of the city, that it operates on good will, for the benefits of it’s citezens, that the water service is reliable.
Our faith is continuously strengthened as we daily take actions.
God is far better than the city water department. The bible records his promises. God’s promises can be trusted, and take action on them.