Faith made Perfect James 2:22

James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, taught the people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” concerning “faith” without corresponding “works”. He employed Abraham as an example of a person who demonstrated his “faith in God” by offering his son Isaac in a “working” obedience to what he believed. In chapter two and verse twenty-two of his letter, James continued to share as he showed how Abraham's “faith” was “made perfect” by his “works” where we read:

Do you see how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

The verse begins, “Do you see how faith wrought with his works,...” James began with the words “Do you see” or “Can you discern, perceive, look and descry” “how faith” which means “the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ and a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God” “wrought” or “working together, helping, partnering and putting forth power together to assist” “with his works” which refers to “business, employment, enterprise and undertakings”. James showed how Abraham's “works” “helped and partnered with” his “faith”.

The verse goes on to say, “...and by works was faith made perfect?” James continues, “and by works” or “business, employment, enterprise and undertakings” “was faith” which means “the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ and a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God” “made perfect” or “completed, accomplished, finished and brought to an end”. James questioned whether his readers would understand how Abraham's “works” “completed,finished and brought to an end” the “faith” with which he began.

When we consider these words of James, we see the correlation between “faith” and “works”. They go together, and when we have “faith” we should demonstrate validating and corresponding “works”. Jesus Christ showed more “faith” than any other person, and His “works” completed and finished the “faith” he utilized. We are to emulate Jesus, and in doing so, we should hold and keep “works” that align with our “faith”, and “faith” that aligns with our “works”. Both are important in our walk with the Lord. May the Lord Jesus help us to know the value of “working faith”.

Next time James writes about how “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.