The Book of James: Authentic Faith Is VisibleНамуна

Faith That Acts

You’ve probably noticed that some people talk a good religious game, but when you look closer, there’s no spiritual fruit or obvious obedience. They’re full of opinions or even convictions – but low on action. None of us is above falling into this category. Our issue is perhaps not that we don’t have access to truth – it’s that we don’t always respond to truth.

James shows us that a mark of genuine faith is listening deeply – which means being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger – and obeying decisively. He warns us that being a hearer of the Word but not a doer of the Word leads to self-deception. God’s Word has power to reveal who we are, but if we won’t listen and act on it, we’re not letting it change us. God blesses us when we look closely at His Word and then act it out in our daily lives.

What’s more, authentic faith isn’t private. It changes how we live, and so it affects those around us. Our faith is spiritual, sure, but it’s also social. Personal obedience should flow into public behaviour – treating people right, especially the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized – because partiality contradicts the gospel. We should never be accused of elevating one person’s dignity above another’s, or of justifying favouritism or discrimination in our cities or communities. Jesus’ saving grace is available to every human being made in God’s image.

James 2:14–26 is a controversial and often misunderstood portion of scripture, because at first glance you may get the impression James is contradicting other New Testament writers like Paul. But James isn’t pitting faith against works. Instead, he’s exposing fake faith that’s all talk and no action, a faith that hands out Bible verses instead of bread. James goes so far as to say that faith without action is dead. If you’ve really come to saving faith in Jesus, it will unstoppably show up in the way you live and love others. So, James isn’t undoing teachings like Ephesians 2:8–9, which make it clear we’re saved by faith alone and not by doing good works. Paul warns against works replacing faith. James warns against faith pretending to exist without works. The two writers are addressing different dangers.

Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself, thinking your faith needs works in order to come alive. The answer to a lack of works as evidence of authentic faith is not more works; instead, it’s drawing near to the Father, the giver of every good gift, and asking Him to give you authentic faith through Christ so you’ll produce good works that honour God. This is the kind of living faith that doesn’t get stuck in our heads; it shows up in our hands. It obeys the Word and treats every person from every walk of life with mercy. Thank God that obedience isn’t legalism – it’s liberation. Thank God that He transforms us, calls us into freedom, and gives us a vibrant, visible faith that changes the world.