James 2:20-26

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” You find that statement in James 2:26. James is not telling us that we’re saved by faith plus works; I want to make that clear. Or that we are saved by works apart from faith. No, James is simply saying that you prove your faith by the life that you live. 

He gives us two Old Testament examples. He talks about Abraham in James 2:21 through 24 and then he talks about Rahab the harlot in verses 25 and 26. This is an interesting selection isn’t it? Here’s Abraham a man, Rahab a women. Abraham a Jew, Rahab a gentile. Abraham a morally upright man, Rahab she started off as a harlot, became a believer. And yet both Abraham and Rahab had faith, and this faith was proved by their lives. I think James chose these two examples to say to us, “Whether you’re a Jew or a Gentile, whether you are a man or a woman, whether your previous life was moral or immoral, if you have trusted Jesus Christ, you’re going to prove it by your works.” 

You see Rahab and Abraham were different from each other and yet they had much in common. They trusted the same Lord. They gave evidence of this faith by their works and God made note of it and God says to us follow their example.

Dead faith is faith that does not lead to works. Why cannot dead faith lead to works? Because there’s no life down inside! When you put your faith in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you and the power of the Holy Spirit transforms your life. We are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, that God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” Paul wrote that in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10. Abraham proved his faith by his willingness to sacrifice his son. Rahab proved her faith by her willingness to risk her life to hide the messengers. True faith is always shown in faithfulness. Let’s not have dead faith, let’s have a living faith that works and brings glory to God.