Faith Without Fruit

One misunderstood passage in the Bible comes from the book of James, "faith without works is dead; being alone." People often define "works" as them being a good person, being involved in church functions, never committing big offenses like robbery, rape or murder, and sometimes people think works is giving money to charities. There is nothing wrong with any of those behaviors as they are associated with being decent. The "works" James is talking about and what the Bible means hasn't really anything to do with self-accomplishments. The problem in understanding what works are arises when people fail to make a distinction between the requirement for salvation, and the result of salvation! You would be surprised how many people, including Christians, believe doing good things count toward being saved as if God is keeping points. The Bible repeatedly and plainly teaches that salvation is by faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the Bible also teaches that TRUE FAITH will always result in good works. We need to understand what is meant by "works." James taught that if a person really has the goods of salvation, there will be some fruit to back it up...some after effect or outcome. It's really just that simple. In 2 JAMES 14-26, he defines for us A FAITH WITH NO FRUIT. So let's look at it!

In his book, James is not speaking of one who has faith, but rather one who claims to have faith. If you will take some time to read the passage you'll understand he's contrasting what a person claims to have, and what he really has. We're not Christians just because we say we are. There are many claims, but not many convictions. It's sad, really. Many profess, but not many possess! If a brother or sister in Christ is in need and you do nothing to try and help them, is that real faith? James isn't implying God will save us if we help the needy, or feed the hungry; but, that if one truly has genuine saving faith, they will display that by compassion for others. One of the FRUITS of the spirit is love. Looking at someone and saying, "Have a nice day, be careful, stay warm. I hope you find something to eat," is not an indication that a person has genuine compassion. Just saying "Good Luck" to someone who needs food doesn't relieve his hunger; so, too, faith BY ITSELF WITHOUT ACTION, is dead! Look at the example from Luke 10:30-37 regarding the good Samaritan. A priest and a Levite (one of the priestly line) passed by the beaten man. A man, who all we know about is that he was a Samaritan, went to where the beaten man was and ... it says: "he had compassion on him." (verse 33). You see, the first two men were men who wore the title of faith, but the Samaritan was the only one who demonstrated his faith. Thus, James' focus is not on works for salvation, but salvation that produces works. Understand?

Faith that produces no fruit is not genuine faith. Matthew 7:20 says, "Wherefore by their fruits, you shall know them." What do the actions of people tell you? Fruit is the outward behavior of an inward belief. Who hasn't heard this statement, "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" If faith has no works, then it is just faith by itself, and it is a dead faith. Ask yourself, "Is my Christianity based on what I believe, or on what I do? James had something to say. He said, "Show me your faith without any fruit, and I'll show you my faith by my fruit." Again, James is not saying a person is saved by goods deeds/actions; but, that a person who is saved will have good deeds! The bottom line is, good works (fruits) come from being genuinely saved. Perfect church attendance, giving to the charity of your choice, being moral or an upstanding citizen has no effect on whether a person is saved. My point is, it's not that the presence of fruit proves the presence of faith, but the absence of fruit proves the absence of faith.

James also points out in verses 20-26 that the man who believes that after he's saved that he can live any way he pleases is a fool. The man James describes is someone who has a lot to say, but little to show. So, although we cannot be saved by our good works, when we are saved, we will produce fruit. Just as a baby will grow after birth, so a believer will grow after his or her new birth. We grow at different rates and in different ways, but a live birth results in growth. If a baby never grows, there is something very wrong. No one expects a baby to stay a baby forever. As he/she grows, the child begins to look more and more like the parents. In the same way in a spiritual sense, after salvation, we grow, and we begin to look more and more like our Heavenly Father. This is only possible as we "abide in Him" and allow Him to reproduce His character in us (John 15:4). Good works DO NOT PRODUCE SALVATION. Good works are THE PRODUCT OF salvation! Jesus said to His followers, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
Until next time,
-Pat-