James 2:25
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Rahab was counted as right with God because her trust showed itself in action when she took in the messengers and sent them out another way to help them. Mere claim to believe, even belief that Christ died and rose, has no saving worth when heart and conduct are unchanged, for real faith is not only thought or form but a changed life seen in works. Faith is brought to fullness and kept alive by works, and without corresponding works it is dead, so faith alone is not enough and works alone are not enough but together they do much. What counts as genuine is love shown in action, working by love and cleansing the life so that it brings forth obedience and righteous deeds. God calls for deeds and not for words or pretense alone, and in the end each person will be judged according to the deeds done in the body.
Genuine Faith Shown by Works
James 2:25 belongs to the practical instruction of James's second chapter, which is to be read and lived out daily as faith put into action. Applying these principles in character building brings happiness of spirit, a strong experience, and a sight of God's salvation. Rahab's receiving the messengers and sending them out another way demonstrated her faith through obedient action that helped others.
A mere profession of faith has no saving value and does not distinguish Christians when heart and conduct remain unchanged. Even belief in Christ's crucifixion and resurrection alone does not make one a Christian without good works and imitation of Christ's self-denying life. Genuine faith is not merely theoretical, a ceremonial claim, or formalism, but is active in a changed life and shown by works. It is proved by its fruit in words, conduct and character, with each person doing his own duty in reliance on Jesus for support and strength.
What counts as genuine is love demonstrated through action. Even small acts done from love are accepted and rewarded by God. Faith is made perfect, kept alive, and called into exercise by works, and courage and hope grow with working faith. Without corresponding works it is dead, so professing great love for truth while doing nothing for its advance leaves faith dead and shows conversion has not broken the power of covetousness.
Believing God's word means relying on His promises and acting in accordance with that faith rather than waiting for feelings or circumstances to change first. Faith alone is not enough and works alone are not sufficient, but united they accomplish much. This union joins the inward working of the Holy Spirit with outward practical godliness in daily practice of the law of right. It requires refusing indolence and inactivity, since no one is at liberty to fold the hands and do nothing, and those who win eternal life face constant conflict.
True faith is not feeling and is in no sense allied to presumption, which is Satan's counterfeit of faith. True faith rests on the promises and provisions of Scripture and brings forth fruit in obedience, and does not claim God's favor while refusing to meet the conditions of mercy. Presumption claims the promises and Heaven's favor without complying with the conditions on which mercy is granted, using them to excuse transgression. As faith would have led the first parents to trust God's love and obey His commands, presumption led them to transgress believing His great love would save them from sin's consequences.
Active Obedience in Life
True faith works by love and purifies the soul, producing obedience and righteous works. Merely professing to keep God's commandments and often speaking of the importance of obeying God's law is not living faith when a person fails to work righteousness and walks against God's law. God sends messengers to warn those who profess without practicing, to turn them to the paths of righteousness, but those who do not have this working faith refuse to heed the warnings.
The proof of heart-love is obedience to God's commandments, including loyalty and truth to the Sabbath and through obedience to the Sabbath truth to every principle in the Decalogue. Faith and works are combined as the inward working of the Holy Spirit with the outward demonstration of practical godliness in daily practice of the eternal law of right. All who love God study His words, eat His flesh and drink His blood, and live and act in constant submission to His will. God is responsible for every such soul, securing his title as heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ to an incorruptible inheritance.
Genuine faith is joined to repentance and a changed character, and is proved by its fruit in good works in words, conduct, and character. A profession of faith alone does not save and does not prove a saving connection with Christ. Faith that does not lead to resisting wrong inclinations and following God's expressed will at any cost is not genuine, for true conversion requires overcoming selfishness. Each person must do his own duty, relying on Jesus Christ for support and strength.
God calls for works and not for words, profession, pretense, or semblance alone, and future happiness depends on active faith in the Word of God including obedience to His will. In the day of final judgment every person will be judged according to the deeds done in the body, when nothing will remain but the character formed and the law of God, revealing each one as either righteous or unrighteous. People are known by their fruits.
No one is at liberty to fold the hands and do nothing, for it is utterly impossible to be saved in indolence and inactivity. Those who win eternal life face constant conflict. Faith is called into exercise by good works, and courage and hope grow in accordance with working faith. Personal effort to bring friends and relatives to Christ exercises faith, so those engaged in the work God gives them to do will have faith increased and will advance in the divine life with a bright living experience, while those who do nothing to gain a living experience do not have it.
Benevolence belongs beside faith, love, and Christian diligence, so no one can be a good Christian while closing ears and heart to God's calls for liberality. Professing great love for the truth and speaking of interest in its advance while doing nothing for its advance leaves faith dead unless it is made perfect by works. True conversion does not leave a soul under the power of covetousness. Joining faith with practical works includes relieving the sick and helping them live in ways that honor God, as Rahab's deeds aided others and demonstrated her faith. Faith must be accompanied by corresponding works and is shown by acting on it rather than resisting the judgment and advice of physicians while claiming to trust God.