Faith That Works through Love Is Living Faith That Saves
- Jack Selcher
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 16
You cannot row a boat in a straight line by pulling on only one oar. It takes two. Faith and works are the two oars of the Christian life.
God declares you righteous before Him by faith alone. But not by a faith that is alone. Living faith changes character and conduct.
Some who profess faith do not possess it (James 2:14). Those who grow up in the church are often familiar with gospel words. That can be dangerous.
They know all about Jesus, but inoculation with gospel words without life change saves no one.
Christianity is more than a mental agreement that the Bible is God’s word, Jesus is God’s Son, and Jesus’ death on the cross saves you. Living faith radically changes your life when Jesus takes center stage.
James illustrates a faith that does not affect everyday life (2:15-16). One who professes faith but ignores the desperate needs of other Christians is a living contradiction.
Love for God, others, and yourself reveals true faith. That love actively meets others’ needs.
Living faith is visible. Its works disclose its presence. You judge a bean seed by the taste of its fruit. You judge the quality of faith by the actions it motivates.
Living faith is more than “believing in” God. Faithful Jews twice daily recited a creed from Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
It is true. But repeating it has no saving power. The demons know there is only one God.
As a result, they shudder with fear (James 2:19). But their “belief” does not change how they live.
By contrast, living faith is the commitment of the self to Christ. Peace with God is the result.
Believing God exists does not save anyone. Knowing about Jesus is different from having a relationship with Him that changes character and conduct.
Obedience demonstrates living faith. James presents two historical examples.
In James 2:22, we see that God justified Abraham because his faith and actions worked together. The latter verified the existence of the former.
God declared him righteous by faith alone before Isaac was born (Genesis 15:6). Thirty years later, his obedience validated that faith when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac.
Living faith generates obedience and love. Living faith produces good works. A crabapple tree can claim to be a Winesap tree, but its fruit proves otherwise.
Rahab the harlot was a Gentile woman and a harlot. She stood on the bottom rung of the social ladder.
James assumes you know the story. She acknowledged the God of Israel when she said, “The LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below” (Joshua 2:11 NIV). Her active, breathing faith risked protecting the Israelite spies Joshua sent to Jericho.
Like Abraham, God declared her righteous by a faith that produced good works. Living faith changes character and conduct. What is your takeaway? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.
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