Excerpt from Conversion and Discipleship by Bill Hull
A Faith That Saves
This quite familiar text asks the relevant question. “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?” [1]
The obvious answer is no, it is not a faith that saves because it is not faith at all. The remainder of the paragraph illustrates James’ belief. He employs the example of helping those who are cold, hungry and in need. A proposed faith that does not help the needy is dead and useless. [2] Another of James’ arguments is the same as Bonhoeffer, “I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” [3] Faith is only real in obedience. He even ridicules such a belief saying it not superior to what demons themselves believe.
“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” [4]
“Christians are saved by faith alone but not by faith that is alone.” Martin Luther meant by this that true faith would produce works. He even stated that while people were arguing whether faith produced works that true faith was already in the streets doing good works. Even Luther along with the majority of the church fathers believed that saving faith produced fruit or good works. [read more]
This quite familiar text asks the relevant question. “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?” [1]
The obvious answer is no, it is not a faith that saves because it is not faith at all. The remainder of the paragraph illustrates James’ belief. He employs the example of helping those who are cold, hungry and in need. A proposed faith that does not help the needy is dead and useless. [2] Another of James’ arguments is the same as Bonhoeffer, “I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” [3] Faith is only real in obedience. He even ridicules such a belief saying it not superior to what demons themselves believe.
“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” [4]
“Christians are saved by faith alone but not by faith that is alone.” Martin Luther meant by this that true faith would produce works. He even stated that while people were arguing whether faith produced works that true faith was already in the streets doing good works. Even Luther along with the majority of the church fathers believed that saving faith produced fruit or good works. [read more]
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