“Faith without works is dead.” That’s what St. James wrote. It’s right in the Bible in James 2:26.
But wait. What? Let’s go back over this. Can that be right? Listen to these Bible verses.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” “Believes.” That’s all, right?
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are you saved, through faith, it is a gift of God, not of works.” “Grace and faith.” That’s all, right?
And just to verify, Romans 1:17 says, “The righteous shall live by faith,” which certainly leaves out “works.”
As a Lutheran, I know that Martin Luther did not care for James’ take on this. In fact, he called James’ letter “an epistle of straw.” That’s pretty strong from someone who held all of Scripture in the most high regard and authority. One of Luther’s non-negotiables was “Faith Alone.” And it remains one of ours still today.
But guess what? I’m going to defend Brother James and hopefully help us all understand what he means and how it is true, even for us.
First, I want to re-phrase what I believe God is saying through James. I’m going to use the phrase Priscilla Shirer used in one of her Bible teaching videos. The re-phrase is simply this, “Your faith needs a job.”
Ah-ha! That takes salvation out of the picture, doesn’t it?
So, consider with me, “Your faith needs a job.”
First, your faith needs a job that works upward, upward to God. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments we are called to the “work” of worship. In fact, the word “liturgy,” which many of us know to be the formation of our worship, means “the work of the people.”
We are called to “go to work” with singing hymns and spiritual songs, and to “pray without ceasing.”
We are all called to “go to work” Sunday after Sunday in worship services with our fellow Christians. Let me say here, “Hey, Christians, the quarantine of the pandemic is over!” Let’s all get back to worship in our home church, or find a church to start worshipping in right now. Yes, your faith needs a job that works upward. Let’s get to work.
Second, your faith needs a job that works inward, inward to your soul, and even inward to your faith. This starts with Bible study by yourself or with others. John 5:39 says, “Search the Scriptures for in them you have eternal life.”
Our faith needs the job of feeding itself, working inward. We have so many resources for this job. We have Sunday School classes, Bible study groups, daily devotions, and maybe hundreds of ways to encounter God’s Word and feed our faith using our computers and our phones.
Yes, your faith needs a job working inward. Let’s get to work.
Third, your faith needs a job that works outward, outward to the world around you. Over and over God’s Word calls us to get to work, to get busy loving, helping, and serving others. The opportunity for this job is limitless. Just look around you with a discerning eye, identify your opportunities, and get to work.
I want to highlight a particular job for your faith to work outward. I bring two things together. First, God’s call through Isaiah, “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Fear not, your God will come.’” Second, the tragedy of the shooting and killing at Apalachee High School recently.
Put your faith to work outward this week and say to someone with an anxious heart, “Fear not, your God will come.” Declare to someone with an anxious heart that God is still sovereign, God is still in control of our fallen world, even when evil raises its ugly head. God can handle this. God is still in the power seat. Declare to the anxious of heart that God loves you, and He will love you through eternity because of Jesus, His only-begotten Son.
Most important of all, tell all of this to your children and your grandchildren. Tell them these great Truths about God, which remain True even when tragedy and evil strike. Encourage the children in your life to live life with appropriate safety measures, but with the absolute joy and certainty of God’s constant and loving presence. Your faith has this job. Please go to work.
I’m all in. Yes, your faith needs a job, and has a job, working upward, inward, and outward.
Let all God’s people say, “Amen!”
[Dr. Justin Kollmeyer, a thirty-eight year resident of Fayette County, is a retired Lutheran pastor. He offers his preaching and teaching ministry to any church or group seeking or needing a Christ centered, Biblically based, and traditionally grounded sermon or teaching. Reach him at justin.kollmeyer@gmail.com.]
