What does it mean when one says, "faith without works is dead?"

James 2:14 and 17 tells us, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?... So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

A believer with an unbalanced view of God would look at this scripture and most likely think that faith must be accompanied by works in order to receive salvation, breakthrough or provision. This is not what James wants to convey in this message.

Works are not the other ingredient to a life lived by faith. Rather they are the outcome of a life lived by faith. When we truly have faith in Christ, good works come out as a result of that faith. Faith is not dead without works because faith needs works to work, but because faith that does not produce works is not faith at all.

Why is it important to always look for good works when living a life of faith?

God's Spirit enables those who believe in doing good works

To say that God doesn't enable people who believe in Him to be a blessing to others through good works would be a great delimitation of His power. When we put our complete trust in Jesus and His finished work on the cross, we are moved to react in good works -- loving others, being generous, sharing the gospel to the lost, and serving those in need.

Galatians 5:22 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law." The Spirit of God will always bring fruits that spur us on toward good works.

Faith is congruent with obedience

Taking a look at the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11, the characters mentioned all did one common thing -- they obeyed God. Abraham, by faith, obeyed God and went to a land that he was unfamiliar with. Noah, by faith, built an ark that ate up a chunk of his life, believing that God would send down rain. Rahab, by faith, trusted and obeyed God by helping Hebrew spies escape Jericho.

Faith will always result in obedience because faith comes as an expression of our surrender to God's lordship over our lives.

Faith works

Hebrews 11:1-2 says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation." Sometimes, we can't explain how or why, but faith just works.

When we put our faith in a faithful God, He will prove Himself to be mighty and faithful to see us through the promises He has made for us.