True Faith Produces Good Works.

“So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” - James 2:17

Somewhere along the lines of church history, we lowered the bar of what salvation truly is. We replaced the powerful and transforming nature of the spirit in salvation with a lackluster belief that a confession/profession is the seal of salvation. It’s not. We see in scripture that our seal is the Holy Spirit. This leads us to ask “If the spirit were truly active in my life wouldn’t it have an effect?”

James seemingly indirectly answers this question through the statement “So also faith by itself if it does not have works is dead.” He says “A person is justified….. not by faith alone.” But if our orthodox doctrine of faith alone in Christ is taught this passage seems to not fit. Yet we know that scripture is true and we should submit ourselves to scripture. Some would teach that James is merely saying a hyperbole and that as a Christian you must be active in faith. Others would teach that you must work to say you have faith. Yet, I am persuaded here that we may operate and overlook a powerful truth. Effectual grace. Grace present in the life of a believer will have its effect. This leads to the belief that we should not desperate faith and works but place faith over works under the truth that, faith leads to good works always. Works do not earn faith, rather, true faith produces works.