“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” Jas 2:26 ESV
While Faith saves us, works show we are saved. James is not contradicting what Paul says in the Book of Ephesians (Eph 2:8-9), he is merely saying, “Ok, God has saved you by Grace through Faith, but for what purpose?” If we keep acting like we used to, if we continue to fall into sin, if we are not loving others the way God loves us, then what good is it to be saved? I will say it again, Salvation is not about going to Heaven, although praise God we get to go there when our time here is done! Salvation is all about transformation. First in our spirit, from death to Life. This seals us in the Holy Spirit, now and forevermore. Then we begin the renewal of our minds where we begin to think like Jesus, more and more. And the way we think will eventually lead to the way we act.
I have shared this before but it is so worth repeating. I call this the Cascade of Life. Our beliefs influence our thoughts, which affect our emotions, which inspire our will, which direct our actions, which give us results. If we believe we are saved, then the next thing to be transformed is our thoughts, which will eventually lead to a change in behavior. If you are having a result in your life right now that you are not pleased with, check your heart. Pay attention to what you are believing because that will influence your thoughts, which will affect your emotions, which will…well, I hope you get the idea.
Every problem we encounter in this world can be traced back to a spiritual issue, what are you believing? And if we do not work with God to correct any lies we have been believing, it will show up in our lives, giving us results that we do not like. But praise God the opposite is true also. If we work with God and correct any false beliefs, God’s good healing will show up in the way we speak and act towards others. We will be “doing good works” as the Bible puts it.
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
1- Jn 3:16
2- 2Co 5:17
3- Jas 2:26
<>< Peace, Diane
