faith without works

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

if we have learned anything this year from our study of the new testament, it is that we have a great capacity to be deceived when it comes to our salvation. when our Lord Jesus says that "many will come to [Him] on that day . . . ", only to be cast out, He means "great multitudes" in the church who thought they were in a right relationship with Him. james states that the genuineness and substance of our faith are proven by our good works.  we are not saved by our good works, but our good works proves the genuineness of our faith. 

it is not enough, james argues, to have the mere sentiment of feeling bad when you see someone suffering, a momentary pang when you see a person going through a hard time.  "Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? sometimes i think that we are comforted and assured about our faith when we experience these fleeting instances of compassion, as if the "feeling bad" is some proof positive of genuine faith. this passage does not allow us that comfort. james clearly shows that "feeling bad" but not acting upon it in terms of actively helping or giving or caring, is to our condemnation--proof positive of a lack of saving faith.

james continues the same line of reasoning when he asks, what good is it if we merely believe, or give mere "intellectual assent" to the right doctrines if it doesn't translate into works of compassion, love, mercy, and giving? it is no good at all, says james--your faith is dead, non-existent. let us not deceive ourselves or turn to a blind eye to this truth. if our life is not evidenced by good works, our faith is useless. "can such a faith save [you]?", james asks. the obvious answer is no.  believing the "right things" is not enough to save you. even demons believe the right things--there is none more orthodox in his beliefs than satan.