There is something that is called word association. Meaning that when you hear or think of a certain word there is another word that you immediately think of as well. For an example here are few words. When you hear the word thunder, what is often associated with it? Lightning, because thunder comes after lightning. Someone may ask for a pen and what? A piece of paper. These things just go together, like peanut butter and jelly.
Likewise, when a person says that they have faith in Jesus, if it is truly faith they will have some kind of an action or a work that shows their faith.
James 2:14-26 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
We probably all know what faith is but I will define it anyways. Faith is “knowing, without direct observation, based on indirect evidence and experience, that something is true, real, or will happen: belief, confidence, trust, conviction.” It is the belief in something unseen.
While a “work” is effort expended on a particular task. Something on which effort is expended.
Faith and works will always be together if it is truly faith. If you truly believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God then that belief will cause you to want to do things for Him.
It will cause you to preach the gospel. It will cause you to love others. You will want to spend time in prayer to God to show Him your love. You will shun the sinful ways of the world, walking on the narrow path of Christ instead of the wide road of sin that the world travels on.
Faith if it is really faith will have works to go along with it. You will be able to see some kind of a reaction, like pouring baking soda into vinegar. As soon as you mix those two ingredients they will begin to foam like crazy.
Countless examples of the faith of men of God are told in the Bible, and they all have something in common in that their faith was visible by the actions and works that they did. Noah was warned of a flood that was going to destroy the Earth, and he was instructed to construct an ark to save himself, his family, and numerous animals from the destruction of that flood. Year after year Noah spent building that ark, and year after year his faith was shown by his actions. He didn’t witness the flood coming at the time, but his faith in the words from God was shown by what? His works.
The faith of a young David was shown when he went to go and fight Goliath. Even when experienced soldiers refused to go and fight the Philistine because of his great size, David was not afraid. Even refusing to wear armor, because David knew that the Lord would protect him. He had faith, and it showed.
So how is your faith in Jesus shown? What are your works that go with your faith?
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 