Saving Faith

Today’s reading: James 1:19-2:17

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” - James‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As you can already tell from our time reading James, he loves to talk about faith and action (works). He mentions “faith” 13 times in his little book and speaks of “works” 16 times.

In the original language (Greek), James is doing somewhat of tongue in cheek. The word used for “faith” is the word pistis. Volumes and volumes have written about this one word! Another way to translate it is as “trust” or “faithfulness.”

So faith, by itself, is defined as active. It is definitely not a passive word. All we have to do is re-read Hebrews 11 to see that faith is an activator and that it brings a level of constancy that is needed to sustain the Christian life.

Do we see needs around us? Meet them.

Do we see racism around us? Actively love those that look differently.

Are we tempted to shirk the poor to complement the rich? May we repent and look for ways to show mercy.

“Mercy triumphs over judgment.”