James 2:18

 Over the course of the next few days we will get through verses 18-20. There is a lot to consider. Going into verse 18 today we will examine some teachings from Christ in reflection to this. We should look to our own salvation and consider the depth of it by the fruit we bear. Shallow conversion can be costly and deadly. 

"But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by works."

It needs to be reminded, restated and remembered this is 100% not saying that salvation is earned by merit or that through our works we 'keep' our salvation. When we come to Christ we have nothing to offer, we are dead in our trespasses, and it is Christ alone who gives us salvation and keeps us till the end. If we could lose our salvation, we would. We are sinners. 

Our works do not prove our salvation in the way that we must do good deeds to prove that we love Christ, its more to the fact that because we love Christ we desire to do good deeds. Our works are a byproduct of our faith. The result of loving our Savior.

In John MacArthur's commentary on James, he writes:

    We might say that it costs us nothing to become a Christian but everything to live fully as one. We will bear fruit and should bear much fruit. Nothing we possess could merit the least part of salvation; but once we are saved, everything we have belongs to the Lord. That, or course, is what lordship means, and it was Jesus' point in the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field," He said, "which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he has and bought it" (Matthew 13:44-46).

Do you have that saving faith in Christ? Where, having encountered the goodness of Salvation have sold all that you had and bought the field? Or do you flirt with a causal encounter with Jesus, saying you believe but living at if you don't? By your fruit you will be known.

Jesus says, I am the vine and you are the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing...By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:5,8)

Is your faith evident by your works? What or who do you represent on a day to day basis? Again, our deeds can never earn our salvation- but they can clearly demonstrate to all that Christ is our King.

Worship for today: Yet not I