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Faith Demonstrated by Works, April 19
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me
thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my
works.
James 2:18
.
The part man has to act in the salvation of the soul is to believe on
Jesus Christ as a perfect Redeemer, not for some other man, but for his
own self.
Christ imputes His perfection and righteousness to the believing
sinner when he does not continue in sin, but turns from transgression to
obedience of the commandments.
While God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits
of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s
righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties.
The apostle James saw that dangers would arise in presenting the
subject of justification by faith, and he labored to show that genuine faith
cannot exist without corresponding works. The experience of Abraham
is presented. “Seest thou,” he says, “how faith wrought with his works,
and by works was faith made perfect?”
James 2:22
. Thus genuine faith
does a genuine work in the believer. Faith and obedience bring a solid,
valuable experience.
Faith and works are two oars which we must use equally if we
[would] press our way up the stream against the current of unbelief.
The so-called faith that does not work by love and purify the soul
will not justify any man. “Ye see,” says the apostle, “how that by
works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
James 2:24
. Abraham
believed God. How do we know that he believed? His works testified
to the character of his faith, and his faith was accounted to him for
righteousness. We need the faith of Abraham in our day, to lighten the
darkness that gathers around us, shutting out the sweet sunlight of God’s
love, and dwarfing spiritual growth. Our faith should be prolific of good
works; for faith without works is dead.
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