Your cv of acts of kindness, no matter how long the list, is not in itself proof that you are a good person. For even generosity can be given for gain. But if it flows because of your belief and relationship with Jesus then it becomes a dynamic faith.
Works are not an addition to faith, they are a result of placing faith in Christ. Works are not done apart from faith, but done in faith, not done instead of faith but rather done because of faith.
“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. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2 v 18-20)
- Useless faith is unverified faith.
Works authenticate our faith. Without works, our faith is not authenticated in anyway. Works verify the faith. Authenticate it. Not works of religious rituals and routines, no, works of love. It is the Royal Law of 2 v 8. Actions that express love for others. True faith will produce fruit, John 15 v 4-5, the fruit of works comes out of relationship with Jesus.
He is the vine and we are the branches who produce good works that bear fruit.
Most nations have national symbols for example, a dragon, lion or a unicorn! Israel has the Menorah and 2 olive branches but the national symbols are also the fig tree and the vine. There was a golden statue of a vine on the altar of their 2nd Temple. Even their coins were inscribed with a vine. The vine was all around them. Jesus says the vine needs to be in them. It wasn’t strange that Jesus on walking from their Passover meal through the Kidron valley to the garden that he would talk about the vine.
At their meal there had been a traditional blessing on their 3rd cup of wine: “Blessed are You O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.”
What was strange was that the vine was never spoken of referring to an individual, but only as a nation. Plus when it was used it was always in terms of God’s judgment on His people.
Isaiah pictures Israel as a vine that has run wild, they are not what God intended. Jeremiah pictures Israel as a vine that is in a degenerate, unhealthy state. Hosea pictures Israel as a vine which is empty, it bears fruit only for themselves, not for God.
The vine, Israel and their God was the same as people who when talking of Church would think of people, a building and their God.
What Jesus says is this: I am the true vine. Not you. Me. Remain in me. Then you will bear fruit. The world will see you as my disciples and the Father will be glorified. Relationship with me not empty rituals is the key.
And so, no we’re not saved by works, we’re saved by faith, but it’s a faith that leads to works that we’re saved by. Otherwise all we have is useless faith because it is not verified.
- Useless faith is unseen faith.
Bede the Venerable (English monk 8th century, buried in Durham Cathedral) said “Faith with love is Christian, but faith without love is demonic.” “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
Every Jew knows the Shema: Deuteronomy 6:4-9. It’s the first passage children recite. It is prayed twice a day and at the end of festivals. “’Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
It starts with the word Shema = Listen or Hear.
Understand, consider, allow the words to sink in and then decide to do something with them.
Those words are that the Lord is one. So resist idolatry. Only worship the Lord nothing else. Love God alone. Don’t give your allegiance to other gods and idols that demand your time and energy. God deserves your best, your total love. This love is not emotional only but it is an action word that demands loyalty and faithfulness. Love needs action for it to be love.
A faith that affirms truth but doesn’t change your life in any way is useless. Intellectual belief is not genuine faith, it is useless. Intellectual revelation is not enough, even the demons have that! The demonic know the Shema, they are also monotheists! The difference may not be what you think. The demons and those who have faith without works respond differently. One of them shudders/trembles at what they know and the other doesn’t! Even the unseen faith of the doctrinally pure is useless to them personally because it provokes little response.
Moses continues in Deuteronomy with laws based on our love for God. These laws which were primarily about order within community were not trying to earn God’s favour but a demonstration of our love for Him.
That’s why Jesus said the second important commandment is to love others. So the Shema is a worship prayer of declaring there is only one God for you and He is God alone. That’s faith. But it is also a faith declaration that you will demonstrate your love for Him by your love for others.
There is a faith that is useless because it is not verified and verification happens through faith being seen.
Missions Paul 