Works are an essential part of the Christian faith. Many people have had doubts about the necessity of good works in Christianity because of some misunderstandings regarding faith and works. Faith does not mean that we just acknowledge God as our creator; it also means that we trust Him as our Redeemer and Savior, believe in Him as our God, and rely on Him for guidance. Faith is a gift from God that no one can achieve by their own effort; however, faith is not passive but active—it involves action, not just belief. Works are what result from true faith, not a prerequisite to it. We cannot become Christians without works—that is why faith without works is dead.
What does the Bible say about faith and works?
The Bible tells us that faith without works is dead. It also says that a person is justified by faith, not by works; however, this does not mean that works are not important. – James 2:17–20 – “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by some good works, is dead. Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith was active along with his works, and faith is kept alive by works. As the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” – Ephesians 2:8–10 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” – 1 Timothy 1:15 – “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
Why is it important to understand the relationship between faith and works?
There are many people to whom faith and works seem unrelated. Their idea is that you can have faith without works or works without faith, and they do not understand that works are both the evidence and the result of faith. We all have faith in something and put our faith into action. Some have faith in their job, some in their spouse or partner, some in their sports team, and some in their religion. However, faith without works is dead—it is just a mental exercise or theory. Faith without works is not real faith—it is just lip service. True faith is demonstrated with action, and works are the proof that it is a living faith.
How do we know if our faith is alive?
We know our faith is alive if it produces good works, not just words. It means that we apply our faith in our daily lives and not just in church. We demonstrate our faith through our actions and deeds, not just by what we say. Faith and works are not mutually exclusive. True faith produces works and results in good deeds. It is not just a mental exercise, not just a feeling or a theory, but also a way of acting in the real world.
What are some common misunderstandings about faith and works?
There are some common misunderstandings about faith and works. A person might think that faith without works is a good thing—having faith without applying it in daily life. However, this is not true. It is better to have a living faith that produces good works than to have a dead faith that does nothing. A person might also think that you can do whatever you want and still be a Christian—that you can sin and still be saved. We are saved by faith, not by works; however, true faith produces good works—it is not an abstract concept without any application in real life.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, we can conclude that faith without works is dead. Faith is not just a mental exercise or theory—it is also a way of acting in the real world. True faith produces good works, and works are the proof that faith is a living and active thing. Faith and works are interrelated and cannot be separated. It is important for us to understand the relationship between faith and works so that we can grow in our faith and walk in the journey of being a Christian.