I believe that it means that...If you truly profess to have faith in Jesus Christ, then your actions should manifest that. If we as Christians are claiming to have faith, but our outward actions aren't manifesting that faith, then something is wrong.(Faith without works is a mere empty profession...You cannot have one without the other)...Just like it says in Matthew 7:15-23 "By their fruits ye shall know them...) I suppose the pharisees would be a good example of empty "works" without saving faith. Their faith was in their works! So we as believers need to make sure that our outward actions, manifest the faith that we profess to have!! Anyway...Those are my thoughts on the passage!
Thanks you for posting this!
Leisel
P.S. I thought it was really funny that you should post this, because I have just been going through the book of James!
this reminds me of what religions nowadays are doing. One religion is all about works, while another is all about faith. Each is arguing about which "has it" and in reality, it's neither!! You can't claim to truly know the heart of God and say that the outward doesn't matter, "we're not under the law. as long as it's not illegal, I can do what I want. Faith is all you need." But neither can you claim to have an intimate relationship with Him and say that works is so important that it outweighs faith, "skirts are immodest and un-Biblical only dresses should be worn, red cars are un-Godly, you shouldn't play sports, you shouldn't eat that or drink this, thats too worldly, thats too wild, that music is satanic, that movie is from hell, the internet is devil-driven.." etc. Faith and works both go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other and really and truly know the heart of God and have an intimate relationship with Him. Godliness is an outward sign of what's been done on the innards. :) And maybe I got a little of-track there, but anyhow, I reckon I gave you my opinion of the passage PLUS! :) ~Manda
I believe that it means that...If you truly profess to have faith in Jesus Christ, then your actions should manifest that. If we as Christians are claiming to have faith, but our outward actions aren't manifesting that faith, then something is wrong.(Faith without works is a mere empty profession...You cannot have one without the other)...Just like it says in Matthew 7:15-23 "By their fruits ye shall know them...) I suppose the pharisees would be a good example of empty "works" without saving faith. Their faith was in their works!
ReplyDeleteSo we as believers need to make sure that our outward actions, manifest the faith that we profess to have!!
Anyway...Those are my thoughts on the passage!
Thanks you for posting this!
Leisel
P.S. I thought it was really funny that you should post this, because I have just been going through the book of James!
I absolutely agree. totally. thanks for commenting!!! 'preciate it!
ReplyDeletethis reminds me of what religions nowadays are doing. One religion is all about works, while another is all about faith. Each is arguing about which "has it" and in reality, it's neither!! You can't claim to truly know the heart of God and say that the outward doesn't matter, "we're not under the law. as long as it's not illegal, I can do what I want. Faith is all you need." But neither can you claim to have an intimate relationship with Him and say that works is so important that it outweighs faith, "skirts are immodest and un-Biblical only dresses should be worn, red cars are un-Godly, you shouldn't play sports, you shouldn't eat that or drink this, thats too worldly, thats too wild, that music is satanic, that movie is from hell, the internet is devil-driven.." etc.
ReplyDeleteFaith and works both go hand in hand.
You can't have one without the other and really and truly know the heart of God and have an intimate relationship with Him.
Godliness is an outward sign of what's been done on the innards. :)
And maybe I got a little of-track there, but anyhow, I reckon I gave you my opinion of the passage PLUS! :)
~Manda