Real Faith

Text: Jam. 2:14-18
More Lessons: Eph. 2:8-10 Bible Reading in One Year: 1Sam.4-7

The Christian faith is described by Paul as ...the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen: Heb.11:1. Faith is bringing into reality that which has never been. Believing in what you can see is not as real as believing so much in what you have not seen. Biblical faith is active, not passive. Real faith produces a changed life. Heb.11:2 says For by it the elders obtained a good report. Active faith is a great force on earth. We can achieve so much by it if properly exercised. God's gift of salvation as the result of genuine faith must result in good works as we can see in verse 2 of our text. Verse 15 of our text says turning away a friend who is cold and hungry with empty words “be warmed and full” but doing nothing to help is like somebody saying that they have genuine faith when their lives give no evidence of being changed.
Faith in Christ should produce the good works that God's Word teaches. Talking about Jesus and being aware of what He can do is not enough. Real faith is total commitment to Christ and the Word of God which brings about a changed life. It is faith that is more than just words; it is faith that works. Verse 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Since your work is a proof of your faith, you can know the dimension of your faith by the size of your work.
Laziness which people exhibit by just confessing the word and not doing the work in it is not of faith because James 1:25 says there is work in every word ... he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,.... God's blessing comes when we take steps of faith and do what we should because we know that God brings increase upon man's labour and He rewards people for their labour of love and faith. The names of Abel, Noah, Abraham and others entered the chronicles of faith because they exercised their faith. It is about time you begin to put your faith to work because faith without works is dead.

Prayer/Action
* I receive power to activate my faith.
* Father help me to honour you every day by the way I live my life.

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