Today's passage is challenging, convicting and can even in its simplicity be tricky. So bear with me.
V14 James is asking not if the faith without works can save a man, but if a hollow empty proclamation of faith can save a soul. For over century now, even since I would dare think the Second Great Revival a movement came about where you could just proclaim your faith. That you could say a pray, or repeat a prayer or check a box on a note card and mail it in; and you would be saved. Or that there is a certain order of words that must be made to receive your salvation. This is so dangerous. It is not in the Bible and has given false hope to millions who make an emotional plea and then go about their lives the next day, staking Christianity on account of a false pretense. Do not hear me wrong, there are thousands upon thousands of sincere believers who have sat and prayed; but the prayer itself is not the means of salvation. Christ is. Romans 10:9-10 says if you confess with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised Christ from the dead you will be saved. We are saved not by our own merit. Salvation does not occur if you get a word order just right... that is terrifyingly confused with an incantation. Salvation is not a spell. Prayer is not a summoning of "special powers by saying a certain phrase," Salvation is freely given to all who repent, or confess and believe. It is a gift of God! Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches us this!
James, millennia prior, what already encountering empty professions. Those who would claim Christianity and then as we read through the passage, be dead in their faith. It would come out as dead in their works. There was no love of Christ in their hearts thus no live of Christ could abound.
It is a good thing the example he chose, one who walks by a person in need, says I will pray for you, and does not a thing. They carry about their day. Oh how we can be guilty of this. How many times do people have physical, emotional or spiritual needs; and we say "I will pray for you," as a cop out so that we don't have to be bothered. AND THEN NOT EVEN PRAY. We should not use these words lightly. To pray for someone, you are saying I love the Lord and I love you; and I will bring your need to my Father and pray His will be done in your life. Do you realize there are persons you encounter, that you say you will pray for, that you might be the only person praying for them in that day over that need. That is a great responsibility! Do not take it lightly. Prayer is not something we do because we are Christian, prayer is something we do because we trust the Lord, love the Lord and know there is no greater thing we can do then go before the Father on their behalf.
We can also meet them where they are at. What good is it, if you neighbor has a house fire, and you say I will pray for you, go in your home and shut the door. We are called to be the extension of Christ through our hands and feet. If you see a person in need, help. We learned in chapter one that it is a good thing to care for and love the widows and orphans. We can all do this. We should be known by our love for one another and our love for others. Every time you offer help and hope to a neighbor or stranger or need, you are able to put your faith into works.
James is not saying that works prove you are saved. Nothing outside of the blood of Jesus Christ saves you. But he is saying- in verse 17, faith without works is dead. Does your walk match your talk? Or are you a Christian in name only.
Jesus teaches in Matthew 25:35-40 this very thing.
Friend, may we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and may that love radiate out as actions, kindness and service to those around us.
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