Title: Perfect Faith/James 2:14-26
Content Faith is a gift from God, and the increase in receiving that faith must be shown through works. Faith without works is dead faith as the body without the soul is dead. So it demands complete faith. This does not mean that we have been saved by works, but that we are saved by faith, and we do not require works to earn salvation, but the actions of those who have been saved.
“(Ephesians 4:1) Therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”
1. Belief in the only God.
The text says, "(James 2:19) Do you believe that there is only one God? You are good. Even demons believe and tremble." If you believe that there are many Gods and only have the name of God, what you are trying to plant is not believing in God, who is the only God. The most important thing is to believe that there is only one God who created us and saved us, the God who created the heavens and the earth. Only then can you have complete faith. You should not insist on pantheism (the religious view that all things are God and all things are all things), which believes that there is no God like Buddhism and that anyone can become a Buddha. God is one.
2. Faith and works go hand in hand.
(James 2:22) And you see that faith worked together with his works, and faith was made perfect by his works (James 2:23). And he was called the friend of God (James 2:24), so we can see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:25). Were not we justified by works at that time? (James 2:26) For just as the body without the soul is dead, so faith without works is dead."
This is not to say that we can be saved even by works, but rather the content of refuting those who cry out for faith only with theories, ignoring works and denying the works of faith. No one can be saved by their own works. If you have faith, you have to show the evidence that you have that faith through your actions. That is what complete faith is.
Knowing that there is only one God is the same with demons. Knowledge or conscious confession of faith cannot be faith in itself. Only when we put on the garment that knowledge is works can we become perfect in that faith. Abraham's faith was always accompanied by works, and God counted his faith as righteousness, and he was called God's friend.
Rahab the prostitute received the spies by faith.
Rahab the prostitute must have been recognized as righteous because she kept her promise to the spies by faith and works.
It is said that Raham, the prostitute, sent the spies to life because it was an act of faith, so he was justified by his works.
Therefore, what the book of James teaches is that faith is not achieved only in the mind and heart, but only when faithful works are performed in our lives to prove the righteousness of our faith and to show the evidence that we have living faith.
3. Be proactive in doing good.
(James 2:14) “My brethren, if a man says he has faith, but has no works, what profit is it? can that faith save him? (James 2:15) If a brother or sister is naked and has no daily bread, (James 2:16) What profit does it have if any of you say to him, “Go in peace, keep warm, and be full, and do not give the body anything necessary for it?” (James 2:17) It is dead in itself (James 2:18). Some say, "You have faith and I have deeds; show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my works."
This is a problem because there is no act of faith while claiming to have faith and comforting oneself. So full faith is positive and positive. When you see good works, you actively participate in them and put them into practice. Thus, the evidence of faith is clearly shown.
To die means complete loss of ability with cessation of activity. Even a person praised for having good faith holds on to a dead faith, and that faith has no effect. Our faith must be a faith in action. Faith in action is a living faith, and power works. I hope that you will lead a life of faith like this. We must strengthen our faith so that there is no loss due to a dead conscience or dead faith.
Perfect faith is not just saying you believe in words, but living a life worthy of your faith so that you can actually show your faith. The proof is to believe in the one and only God and to actively participate in good works to show the glory of God.