James wants us to think about how we are using our faith. He asks what good our faith is if it isn't doing anything for anybody. If we believe in Christ, but we don't do the things Christ has told us to do, and if we don't do the things Christ has shown us by His own example we should do, then our faith is profiting us very little and our faith is profiting those around us not at all.
We've recently been studying the letters of the Apostle Paul, so you will recall him speaking of the various gifts that are dispensed to believers by the Holy Spirit. Some are given the gifts of preaching or teaching. Some are given the gifts of singing the Lord's praises or of being able to play musical instruments for worship. Some are given the gift of being an encourager. Some are given the gift of serving others in various capacities. So when we come to the faith but display no gifts that help others, we are in fact resisting the Holy Spirit. It is His intention that we become profitable servants of Christ who are able to lead others to the faith.
James is worried that some will claim the have the gift of faith but not the gift of works, or vice versa. He's going to tear apart this erroneous doctrine right now. "But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." (James 2:18)
How can we show someone our faith without deeds? We can't! I can tell my neighbor that I have faith in Christ, but if the way I live my life doesn't back up my claim, he's not going to believe me. Those around us need to see Christ in us, and the way they see Christ in us depends on how we behave. Do we love others? Do we have a compassion for their troubles that causes us to take action to lighten some of their burdens if we can? Do we lovingly share the gospel with unbelievers? Do we have a forgiving attitude? Do we maintain self-control when faced with exasperating circumstances or when confronted by temptation? We are doing both Christ and our fellow man a grievous disservice when our faith isn't displayed by our actions. Failing to bear fruit as Christians robs our Lord of the honor due Him and it puts a stumbling block in the path of those who have not yet found their way to Christ. If unbelievers find nothing admirable in believers, why should they want to join our ranks?
To back up his strong words about the impossibility of proving we belong to Christ without doing good deeds, James uses the spiritual forces of darkness as an example of faith without works. It could be said that even the fallen angels have faith, for they know God exists. But what good did that knowledge do them? They rebelled against Him. Their belief in God didn't produce any good works in them. Instead they do the exact opposite of what faithful angels should do. Instead of pointing man's worship to God as the faithful angels do, they point man's worship to himself or worse, for they often steer humans into occult practices. "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that---and shudder." (James 2:19)
James says, "Don't brag about believing in the one true God. Even the demons can say that. The question is: do you love God? Do you want to serve and obey Him? If so, then your faith is going to bear fruit. Your actions are going to back up your claim of faith. You are not only going to talk the talk, but you are going to walk the walk."
People around us (whether believers or not) want to see proof that we are the real deal. It encourages our fellow believers when they see our faith in action. I think even most unbelievers want to see our faith proven true instead of false. They are watching us not because they want to see us fail, but because they want to see us succeed. They want evidence that there is goodness in the Lord and goodness in those who follow Him. We live in a scary fallen world where everyone is looking for something to light up the darkness. We who are in Christ are supposed to be that light, as He said Himself in.Matthew 5:14. We can't light anyone's way out of spiritual darkness if we don't do what Jesus has told us to do.
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