For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
As the body without breath is dead, so faith without obedient action is lifeless and has no life in it. Faith and works belong together and each is dead when alone, for faith alone is not enough and works alone cannot suffice. Genuine faith is not mere profession or understanding of truth but is expressed in obedience, works by love and purifies the heart and life, and is made complete and shown to be real by what a person does. Works do not earn salvation but are its fruit and effect through Christ's grace, while mere profession without obedience is presumption of the same kind as the belief of evil angels. A profession of faith alone cannot save, for in the final judgment every person is judged according to deeds done in the body and only living, acting faith that overcomes selfishness and does practical Christian work will endure.
Words of the Comparison
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without obedient action is lifeless and has no life, and faith without corresponding works is dead and must be accompanied by action. The principles of the chapter are to be lived out in daily conduct, and putting them into practice as part of character building brings happiness of spirit and an experience of strength. Living faith acts in line with God's word and promises, and it is made perfect and manifested by works rather than waiting to feel healed or waiting for a change in feelings or circumstances before making an effort. Faith without works is lifeless, and love of money, worldly friendship, and life's cares can choke faith so that it bears no fruit. Faith is put into practice through faithful stewardship of what God entrusts to a person, and withholding resources from God's cause or leaving them to be squandered is unfaithfulness for which each person must answer to God.
Faith and works go together and each is dead if alone, for faith alone is not enough and works alone are not sufficient, but together they can accomplish much. Works do not save, for they are the fruit of faith, and living faith reveals itself in action. Faith and obedience are the conditions of salvation for receiving the gift of eternal life Jesus offers, requiring cooperation of the human with the divine in coming to Christ and following Him. Merely understanding and believing the truth, or being able to teach it, is not enough, for faith without works is dead. Living faith works through love, purifies the soul, and brings every action and emotion into harmony with God's truth and righteousness, while outward religious forms without the reality they once represented are dead formalism.
A confession of faith without works is like saying without doing, and mere words, profession, pretense and semblance are dead and worthless, while God calls for works and character is known by fruits. Faith must be expressed in a life transformed by the Holy Spirit, including self-denial and following Christ. Faith must be active in obedience to the Word of God, including His will and His law, and must produce works and fruits. Living faith is manifested, made complete, made perfect and shown to be real by works, for faith alone is dead while living faith acts and works testify that a person truly believes the truth. A person's daily life — including dress, speech, home, and associations — testifies to the faith possessed and should agree with profession of faith.
Faith is the inward working of the Holy Spirit and works are the outward demonstration of practical godliness. No one is at liberty to fold the hands and do nothing, and it is utterly impossible to be saved in indolence and inactivity, for winning eternal life requires constant conflict, and faith and works go hand in hand.
Nature of Living Faith
Genuine faith is not mere profession but is expressed in obedience to God's law, especially through practical love and benevolence toward others. Compassionate help like the Samaritan's embodies the spirit of the commandments, while profession without action like the priest and Levite's does not.
Living faith works by love and purifies the soul and heart, bringing every action and emotion into harmony with God's truth and righteousness and leading to righteousness. Merely understanding and believing the truth, or being able to teach it, is not enough, for faith without works is dead. Genuine faith leads to obedience to the law of God and is needed to truly honor God, and claiming to believe while disobeying God is presumption, not genuine faith. Works do not save as a means of earning salvation, but genuine faith appears in active obedience and allegiance to His law. Those who profess to obey God but act against His law lack this living faith and may refuse His warnings.
Genuine faith must accomplish the sanctifying of life and character, with works corresponding to profession and revealing the entrusted truth to the world; a faith that produces no change is of no profit. It goes with repentance, transformation of character and the fruits of the Spirit, shown in practicing what one teaches and obeying God's expressed will. Without moral courage to resist inclination and impulse, a person can be overcome rather than bring forth those fruits.
True faith works by love and purifies the heart, producing self-denial and self-sacrifice in imitation of Christ's life so believers become living epistles read and known of all men. It removes selfishness, bigotry, spiritual pride, self-centeredness and spending on selfish gratification, and uses every penny to bless others and carry the good news to perishing souls in cooperation with God who gave His Son and opened all heaven's treasures. Genuine faith always works by love and supplies a motive power; it is not an opiate but a stimulant. Looking to Calvary does not quiet the soul in non-performance of duty or compose for sleep, but creates faith that will work and purify the soul from selfishness. Laying hold of Christ only begins the work, because corrupt and sinful habits must be overcome through vigorous warfare and fighting the fight of faith. A follower therefore cannot remain sharp in deal, hard-hearted and without sympathy, coarse in speech, a surmiser of evil and accuser of the brethren, full of pomposity and self-esteem, overbearing, or harsh in censure and condemnation.
Works are the fruit and effect of faith made possible through Christ's grace; believers deny self and sin, take up the cross and follow Christ. Genuine living faith is made visible through sacrifice, devotion to God's cause, obedience to Christ's commands, and a righteous and holy life. Faith and works go together and each is dead if alone, and living faith reveals itself in action. Faith and obedience are the conditions of salvation for receiving the gift of eternal life Jesus offers, requiring cooperation of the human with the divine in coming to Christ and following Him. Obedience is the fruit of true faith, not a license to break God's law.
Mere profession of belief is of the same kind as the belief held by evil angels and Satan, who believe the truth with fear and trembling but without saving virtue. Faith that claims God's favor while refusing the conditions of mercy, disobeying God or excusing transgression is presumption, not genuine faith. Living faith rests on Scripture's promises and provisions and is expressed in a life offered wholly to God, with the body and every human power kept fit for His service. Professing belief in Jesus, His crucifixion and resurrection without good works is dead faith. Living faith leads people to imitate Christ's self-denying life, without which profession can conceal an unsanctified nature and leave a person useful to Satan.
Faith lives, brightens and increases only by working in the personal effort every follower owes to bring friends, relatives and other souls to Christ rather than selfishly enjoying grace alone or leaving all labor to the minister. Those who do nothing gain no living experience, while those who engage in the work God gives have faith called into exercise and grow in courage and hope in proportion to working faith. A profession of faith alone does not prove a saving connection with Christ; like a living body, genuine faith is not lifeless but produces good works, with changed words, conduct and character conforming to God's will showing that connection. God's commandment-loving people testify to faith by works, as living faith like a living body must be active. Faith is weakened when study absorbs a person and displaces communion with God and practical service.
Salvation and Final Judgment
A profession of faith alone cannot save, for faith without works is dead, while a living faith acts and its works testify that the truth is truly believed. Only living, acting faith saves in the fearful scenes ahead, and genuine conversion is shown by obeying God whatever the cost, walking in His way, overcoming selfishness, and doing practical Christian work. That practical work includes giving means to carry the truth to others so that they may be saved, for a profession must be proved by such action. Faith and obedience are the conditions of salvation for receiving the gift of eternal life that Jesus offers, requiring the cooperation of the human with the divine in coming to Christ and following Him. Works do not save as a means of earning salvation, for they are the fruit of faith, and living faith reveals itself in action.
Believing God's promises means acting in accordance with that belief rather than waiting to feel healed before making an effort. Living faith acts in line with God's word and promises, is manifested and made perfect by works, and does not wait for a change in feelings or circumstances before acting. God's people should not expect rich blessings while living in unbelief, but should recognize that what God has already done is only the beginning of what He is willing to do, with works corresponding to faith. A profession of faith in Christ has no value by itself, for genuine faith is made evident through love expressed in works. In the judgment the use of each entrusted talent and resource, including time, abilities, words, money, influence, and the light of God's word, will be examined and scrutinized at the Lord's coming, and acts done from love, even those that seem small, are valuable to God and are accepted and rewarded by Him.
Future happiness depends on active faith in obedience to the Word of God, including His will and His law, producing works and fruits, for mere words, profession, pretense and semblance are dead and worthless and character is known by fruits. In the day of final judgment every person is judged according to deeds done in the body, when nothing remains but character and the law of God, and all are seen as either righteous or unrighteous. Only those with working faith as imitators of Christ, meek and lowly of heart, will be prepared to meet the Saviour when He comes with power and great glory. Only by giving diligence to do these things is calling and election made sure and an abundant entrance ministered into the everlasting kingdom. True working faith purifies the heart, produces self-denial and self-sacrifice in imitation of Christ's life, removes selfishness, bigotry, spiritual pride, self-centeredness and spending on selfish gratification, and uses every means to bless others and carry the good news to perishing souls.
Every duty performed and sacrifice made in Jesus' name brings a reward, as Abraham's obedience despite his age and the painful command concerning Isaac illustrates faith put into action, and age excuses no one from obeying God. Faith lives, brightens, and increases only by working in the personal effort every follower owes to bring friends, relatives, and other souls to Christ rather than selfishly enjoying grace alone or leaving all labor to the minister. Those who do nothing gain no living experience, while those who engage in the work God gives have faith called into exercise and grow in courage and hope in proportion to working faith, advance in the divine life, share largely of divine grace now, and receive the reward of earnest labor hereafter. Those who live to gratify self lose the favor of God and the heavenly reward and testify that they do not have genuine faith, for genuine faith is proved by works, especially unselfish giving for the need of the saints and for advancement of the kingdom, which testifies that grace has not been received in vain. When such self-gratifying professors try to teach present truth, their words are heard as empty noise, while a living example of Christlike unselfish character has great power upon others.
At the present time there is great danger of taking false positions about faith and works, for faith and works must go together. Satan is ever ready to imbue the mind with his own wisdom, leaving councils with little of God in them, and if he can he will make cavilers and skeptics of all, so that poor souls become confused and walk in darkness in consequence of the words and example of unconsecrated men. A man whose heart has not been changed cannot discern spiritual matters and should not undertake to guide God's servants, and it is not safe for men with little of the Spirit of Christ to hold positions where through temptation they may become tempters leading associates into false paths. Satan tries to make men believe that messages from God's throne are forgeries while leading them to accept as truth the lies he has forged, as when men in leading positions do not respect the messenger or the messages graciously given by God.
Law Obedience and Scripture Examples
Genuine faith leads to obedience to the law of God and is needed to truly honor Him, for belief in Jesus must be lived out in obedience and action by practicing truth in daily life and doing the work God gives, and God's law remains the moral standard for those who believe in Christ. Faith that produces no action has no life, and mere profession of belief is of the same kind as the belief held by evil angels, who believe with fear and trembling but without saving virtue. The living faith of the Bible acts through love and cleanses the soul and heart.
Faith and works belong together in active obedience to the Word, will and law of God, producing works and fruits, and claiming to believe while disobeying God is presumption rather than genuine faith. Mere words, profession, pretense and semblance are dead and worthless, for God calls for works and character is known by fruits. Works do not save as a means of earning salvation, but genuine faith appears in a life of obedience to God and allegiance to His law, working by love and purifying the soul. Genuine faith is not merely profession but is expressed in obedience to God's law, especially through practical love and benevolence toward others in daily life and in loving one's neighbor through true benevolence. Professing loyalty to God's law while neglecting its command to love others is not living faith, while the Samaritan's compassionate help embodies the spirit of the commandments and the priest and Levite's profession without action does not.
Abraham's obedience, despite his age and the painful command concerning Isaac, illustrates faith put into action, showing that age does not excuse anyone from obeying God and that every duty performed and sacrifice made in Jesus' name brings a reward. Living faith is distinct from dead formalism in that outward religious forms without the reality they once represented are dead, and faith in Christ did not require Gentile converts to observe the abolished ceremonial rites, with keeping God's commandments distinct from relying on those rites for salvation. Faith is the inward working of the Holy Spirit and works are the outward demonstration of practical godliness, and the proof of heart-love for God is obedience to His commandments, including loyalty to the Sabbath as the sign of His government leading through that obedience to faithfulness to every principle of the Decalogue. All who love God study His words and eat His flesh and drink His blood by living and acting in constant submission to His will.
A profession of faith without corresponding works is nothing, and a professed Christian who lacks the Christian graces and lives a life of sin has dead faith. He grieves Christ and puts Him to open shame by manifesting a character after Satan's similitude, retaining the same objectionable traits he had before claiming to receive Christ and indulging corrupt tendencies. He is blind and cannot see afar off and has forgotten that he was purged from old sins, because he forgets to be a doer of the Word, does not eat the flesh nor drink the blood of the Son of God, and does not practice Christ's words nor do His works. Only by giving diligence to do these things is calling and election made sure and an abundant entrance ministered into the everlasting kingdom.
Practical Life and Service
Mere profession joined with acting as critics is condemned, for hindering the appointed work in Nashville and the South, having no interest in that field, withholding means and circulating reports that turn funds into other channels is what God calls robbery. God is displeased with that work and calls for reformation, requiring those at fault to look into the divine mirror and not forget what manner of men they are, to read the Word to purpose and act out its instruction, to reason from cause to effect, to show greater wisdom, to stop hindering and help instead, and without delay to do the work needed for themselves. The religion taught is one in which believers put away what hinders them from coming together in unity, make right every wrong between themselves and their brethren, and do not leave sins unconfessed.
Genuine faith is proved by works, especially by unselfish giving for the need of the saints and for the advancement of the kingdom, which testifies that grace has not been received in vain. A living example of Christlike unselfish character has great power upon others, and everyone must show faith by practical love rather than using up every dollar on supposed wants, conveniences and appetite, remembering others who need food and clothing. Faith is put into practice through faithful stewardship of what God entrusts, while love of money, worldly friendship and life's cares can choke faith so it bears no fruit. Living faith is shown by works that exert a powerful influence for truth, and withholding resources from God's cause or leaving them to be squandered is unfaithfulness for which each must answer to God. Benevolence stands beside faith, love and Christian diligence as the working proof of living faith.
A profession of great love that speaks interest in seeing truth advanced but does nothing for its advancement is dead faith. Those who think they can be good Christians while closing ears and hearts to calls for liberality are in fearful deception, because conversion breaks the power of covetousness and produces charity and self-sacrifice for the salvation of others. Professed faith is dead when works do not match profession, for people may claim to know and serve God yet deny Him through conduct, and love of riches can make them selfish, demanding and overbearing and weaken what is noble and Godlike in them. Practical faith is shown by serving Christ and representing the purity of religion at home, in the church and in business, with abilities and talents devoted to worldly gain instead used for God's work. A profession that does not shape life is lifeless, while genuine faith is shown by a corresponding life with good works shining before the world, including daily self-denial in choices about food and dress demonstrating devotion to God rather than bondage to appetite or worldly custom.
Faith without action is dead, so circulating books to bring instruction to people is a practical expression of living faith. Prayer must be joined with giving, with believers offering labor and means for the work they pray to see fulfilled. Accepting truth as theory without accepting the responsibility it brings is not living faith, but believers show faith through actions as they proclaim the present-truth message. That action includes giving means to carry truth to others so they may be saved, for a profession must be proved by such working and faith that does not work cannot save in the fearful scenes ahead. Genuine belief put into practice was seen in Christian Help workers whose deeds proved they were not merely theoretical believers, for by combining faith and works and doing the work God specified they helped enlighten and convict many souls.
Faith and good works must go hand in hand in relieving the afflicted and caring for the sick to fit them to glorify God and help them live honoring God. Prayer for the sick should be joined with treatment and right habits of living, including obedience to the laws of health. Teaching health reform while serving meat and selling unhealthful food contradicts that teaching and fails to make a deep impression, so instruction must be put into practice as well as spoken, including providing healthful food and explaining the reasons for those choices. Putting instruction into practice by serving fruits, grains and vegetables instead of meat made the teaching visible and more persuasive, whereas serving meat and unhealthful foods contradicted it and weakened its effect. The chapter's principles are to be lived out in daily conduct, and putting them into practice as part of character building brings happiness of spirit and an experience of strength. Faith must produce good works and be active in every duty and sacrifice done in Jesus' name, with confession expressed in a life transformed by the Holy Spirit including self-denial and following Christ.
As the body without breath is dead, so faith without obedient action is lifeless and has no life in it. Faith and works belong together and each is dead when alone, for faith alone is not enough and works alone cannot suffice. Genuine faith is not mere profession or understanding of truth but is expressed in obedience, works by love and purifies the heart and life, and is made complete and shown to be real by what a person does. Works do not earn salvation but are its fruit and effect through Christ's grace, while mere profession without obedience is presumption of the same kind as the belief of evil angels. A profession of faith alone cannot save, for in the final judgment every person is judged according to deeds done in the body and only living, acting faith that overcomes selfishness and does practical Christian work will endure.
Words of the Comparison
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without obedient action is lifeless and has no life, and faith without corresponding works is dead and must be accompanied by action. The principles of the chapter are to be lived out in daily conduct, and putting them into practice as part of character building brings happiness of spirit and an experience of strength. Living faith acts in line with God's word and promises, and it is made perfect and manifested by works rather than waiting to feel healed or waiting for a change in feelings or circumstances before making an effort. Faith without works is lifeless, and love of money, worldly friendship, and life's cares can choke faith so that it bears no fruit. Faith is put into practice through faithful stewardship of what God entrusts to a person, and withholding resources from God's cause or leaving them to be squandered is unfaithfulness for which each person must answer to God.
Faith and works go together and each is dead if alone, for faith alone is not enough and works alone are not sufficient, but together they can accomplish much. Works do not save, for they are the fruit of faith, and living faith reveals itself in action. Faith and obedience are the conditions of salvation for receiving the gift of eternal life Jesus offers, requiring cooperation of the human with the divine in coming to Christ and following Him. Merely understanding and believing the truth, or being able to teach it, is not enough, for faith without works is dead. Living faith works through love, purifies the soul, and brings every action and emotion into harmony with God's truth and righteousness, while outward religious forms without the reality they once represented are dead formalism.
A confession of faith without works is like saying without doing, and mere words, profession, pretense and semblance are dead and worthless, while God calls for works and character is known by fruits. Faith must be expressed in a life transformed by the Holy Spirit, including self-denial and following Christ. Faith must be active in obedience to the Word of God, including His will and His law, and must produce works and fruits. Living faith is manifested, made complete, made perfect and shown to be real by works, for faith alone is dead while living faith acts and works testify that a person truly believes the truth. A person's daily life — including dress, speech, home, and associations — testifies to the faith possessed and should agree with profession of faith.
Faith is the inward working of the Holy Spirit and works are the outward demonstration of practical godliness. No one is at liberty to fold the hands and do nothing, and it is utterly impossible to be saved in indolence and inactivity, for winning eternal life requires constant conflict, and faith and works go hand in hand.
Nature of Living Faith
Genuine faith is not mere profession but is expressed in obedience to God's law, especially through practical love and benevolence toward others. Compassionate help like the Samaritan's embodies the spirit of the commandments, while profession without action like the priest and Levite's does not.
Living faith works by love and purifies the soul and heart, bringing every action and emotion into harmony with God's truth and righteousness and leading to righteousness. Merely understanding and believing the truth, or being able to teach it, is not enough, for faith without works is dead. Genuine faith leads to obedience to the law of God and is needed to truly honor God, and claiming to believe while disobeying God is presumption, not genuine faith. Works do not save as a means of earning salvation, but genuine faith appears in active obedience and allegiance to His law. Those who profess to obey God but act against His law lack this living faith and may refuse His warnings.
Genuine faith must accomplish the sanctifying of life and character, with works corresponding to profession and revealing the entrusted truth to the world; a faith that produces no change is of no profit. It goes with repentance, transformation of character and the fruits of the Spirit, shown in practicing what one teaches and obeying God's expressed will. Without moral courage to resist inclination and impulse, a person can be overcome rather than bring forth those fruits.
True faith works by love and purifies the heart, producing self-denial and self-sacrifice in imitation of Christ's life so believers become living epistles read and known of all men. It removes selfishness, bigotry, spiritual pride, self-centeredness and spending on selfish gratification, and uses every penny to bless others and carry the good news to perishing souls in cooperation with God who gave His Son and opened all heaven's treasures. Genuine faith always works by love and supplies a motive power; it is not an opiate but a stimulant. Looking to Calvary does not quiet the soul in non-performance of duty or compose for sleep, but creates faith that will work and purify the soul from selfishness. Laying hold of Christ only begins the work, because corrupt and sinful habits must be overcome through vigorous warfare and fighting the fight of faith. A follower therefore cannot remain sharp in deal, hard-hearted and without sympathy, coarse in speech, a surmiser of evil and accuser of the brethren, full of pomposity and self-esteem, overbearing, or harsh in censure and condemnation.
Works are the fruit and effect of faith made possible through Christ's grace; believers deny self and sin, take up the cross and follow Christ. Genuine living faith is made visible through sacrifice, devotion to God's cause, obedience to Christ's commands, and a righteous and holy life. Faith and works go together and each is dead if alone, and living faith reveals itself in action. Faith and obedience are the conditions of salvation for receiving the gift of eternal life Jesus offers, requiring cooperation of the human with the divine in coming to Christ and following Him. Obedience is the fruit of true faith, not a license to break God's law.
Mere profession of belief is of the same kind as the belief held by evil angels and Satan, who believe the truth with fear and trembling but without saving virtue. Faith that claims God's favor while refusing the conditions of mercy, disobeying God or excusing transgression is presumption, not genuine faith. Living faith rests on Scripture's promises and provisions and is expressed in a life offered wholly to God, with the body and every human power kept fit for His service. Professing belief in Jesus, His crucifixion and resurrection without good works is dead faith. Living faith leads people to imitate Christ's self-denying life, without which profession can conceal an unsanctified nature and leave a person useful to Satan.
Faith lives, brightens and increases only by working in the personal effort every follower owes to bring friends, relatives and other souls to Christ rather than selfishly enjoying grace alone or leaving all labor to the minister. Those who do nothing gain no living experience, while those who engage in the work God gives have faith called into exercise and grow in courage and hope in proportion to working faith. A profession of faith alone does not prove a saving connection with Christ; like a living body, genuine faith is not lifeless but produces good works, with changed words, conduct and character conforming to God's will showing that connection. God's commandment-loving people testify to faith by works, as living faith like a living body must be active. Faith is weakened when study absorbs a person and displaces communion with God and practical service.
Salvation and Final Judgment
A profession of faith alone cannot save, for faith without works is dead, while a living faith acts and its works testify that the truth is truly believed. Only living, acting faith saves in the fearful scenes ahead, and genuine conversion is shown by obeying God whatever the cost, walking in His way, overcoming selfishness, and doing practical Christian work. That practical work includes giving means to carry the truth to others so that they may be saved, for a profession must be proved by such action. Faith and obedience are the conditions of salvation for receiving the gift of eternal life that Jesus offers, requiring the cooperation of the human with the divine in coming to Christ and following Him. Works do not save as a means of earning salvation, for they are the fruit of faith, and living faith reveals itself in action.
Believing God's promises means acting in accordance with that belief rather than waiting to feel healed before making an effort. Living faith acts in line with God's word and promises, is manifested and made perfect by works, and does not wait for a change in feelings or circumstances before acting. God's people should not expect rich blessings while living in unbelief, but should recognize that what God has already done is only the beginning of what He is willing to do, with works corresponding to faith. A profession of faith in Christ has no value by itself, for genuine faith is made evident through love expressed in works. In the judgment the use of each entrusted talent and resource, including time, abilities, words, money, influence, and the light of God's word, will be examined and scrutinized at the Lord's coming, and acts done from love, even those that seem small, are valuable to God and are accepted and rewarded by Him.
Future happiness depends on active faith in obedience to the Word of God, including His will and His law, producing works and fruits, for mere words, profession, pretense and semblance are dead and worthless and character is known by fruits. In the day of final judgment every person is judged according to deeds done in the body, when nothing remains but character and the law of God, and all are seen as either righteous or unrighteous. Only those with working faith as imitators of Christ, meek and lowly of heart, will be prepared to meet the Saviour when He comes with power and great glory. Only by giving diligence to do these things is calling and election made sure and an abundant entrance ministered into the everlasting kingdom. True working faith purifies the heart, produces self-denial and self-sacrifice in imitation of Christ's life, removes selfishness, bigotry, spiritual pride, self-centeredness and spending on selfish gratification, and uses every means to bless others and carry the good news to perishing souls.
Every duty performed and sacrifice made in Jesus' name brings a reward, as Abraham's obedience despite his age and the painful command concerning Isaac illustrates faith put into action, and age excuses no one from obeying God. Faith lives, brightens, and increases only by working in the personal effort every follower owes to bring friends, relatives, and other souls to Christ rather than selfishly enjoying grace alone or leaving all labor to the minister. Those who do nothing gain no living experience, while those who engage in the work God gives have faith called into exercise and grow in courage and hope in proportion to working faith, advance in the divine life, share largely of divine grace now, and receive the reward of earnest labor hereafter. Those who live to gratify self lose the favor of God and the heavenly reward and testify that they do not have genuine faith, for genuine faith is proved by works, especially unselfish giving for the need of the saints and for advancement of the kingdom, which testifies that grace has not been received in vain. When such self-gratifying professors try to teach present truth, their words are heard as empty noise, while a living example of Christlike unselfish character has great power upon others.
At the present time there is great danger of taking false positions about faith and works, for faith and works must go together. Satan is ever ready to imbue the mind with his own wisdom, leaving councils with little of God in them, and if he can he will make cavilers and skeptics of all, so that poor souls become confused and walk in darkness in consequence of the words and example of unconsecrated men. A man whose heart has not been changed cannot discern spiritual matters and should not undertake to guide God's servants, and it is not safe for men with little of the Spirit of Christ to hold positions where through temptation they may become tempters leading associates into false paths. Satan tries to make men believe that messages from God's throne are forgeries while leading them to accept as truth the lies he has forged, as when men in leading positions do not respect the messenger or the messages graciously given by God.
Law Obedience and Scripture Examples
Genuine faith leads to obedience to the law of God and is needed to truly honor Him, for belief in Jesus must be lived out in obedience and action by practicing truth in daily life and doing the work God gives, and God's law remains the moral standard for those who believe in Christ. Faith that produces no action has no life, and mere profession of belief is of the same kind as the belief held by evil angels, who believe with fear and trembling but without saving virtue. The living faith of the Bible acts through love and cleanses the soul and heart.
Faith and works belong together in active obedience to the Word, will and law of God, producing works and fruits, and claiming to believe while disobeying God is presumption rather than genuine faith. Mere words, profession, pretense and semblance are dead and worthless, for God calls for works and character is known by fruits. Works do not save as a means of earning salvation, but genuine faith appears in a life of obedience to God and allegiance to His law, working by love and purifying the soul. Genuine faith is not merely profession but is expressed in obedience to God's law, especially through practical love and benevolence toward others in daily life and in loving one's neighbor through true benevolence. Professing loyalty to God's law while neglecting its command to love others is not living faith, while the Samaritan's compassionate help embodies the spirit of the commandments and the priest and Levite's profession without action does not.
Abraham's obedience, despite his age and the painful command concerning Isaac, illustrates faith put into action, showing that age does not excuse anyone from obeying God and that every duty performed and sacrifice made in Jesus' name brings a reward. Living faith is distinct from dead formalism in that outward religious forms without the reality they once represented are dead, and faith in Christ did not require Gentile converts to observe the abolished ceremonial rites, with keeping God's commandments distinct from relying on those rites for salvation. Faith is the inward working of the Holy Spirit and works are the outward demonstration of practical godliness, and the proof of heart-love for God is obedience to His commandments, including loyalty to the Sabbath as the sign of His government leading through that obedience to faithfulness to every principle of the Decalogue. All who love God study His words and eat His flesh and drink His blood by living and acting in constant submission to His will.
A profession of faith without corresponding works is nothing, and a professed Christian who lacks the Christian graces and lives a life of sin has dead faith. He grieves Christ and puts Him to open shame by manifesting a character after Satan's similitude, retaining the same objectionable traits he had before claiming to receive Christ and indulging corrupt tendencies. He is blind and cannot see afar off and has forgotten that he was purged from old sins, because he forgets to be a doer of the Word, does not eat the flesh nor drink the blood of the Son of God, and does not practice Christ's words nor do His works. Only by giving diligence to do these things is calling and election made sure and an abundant entrance ministered into the everlasting kingdom.
Practical Life and Service
Mere profession joined with acting as critics is condemned, for hindering the appointed work in Nashville and the South, having no interest in that field, withholding means and circulating reports that turn funds into other channels is what God calls robbery. God is displeased with that work and calls for reformation, requiring those at fault to look into the divine mirror and not forget what manner of men they are, to read the Word to purpose and act out its instruction, to reason from cause to effect, to show greater wisdom, to stop hindering and help instead, and without delay to do the work needed for themselves. The religion taught is one in which believers put away what hinders them from coming together in unity, make right every wrong between themselves and their brethren, and do not leave sins unconfessed.
Genuine faith is proved by works, especially by unselfish giving for the need of the saints and for the advancement of the kingdom, which testifies that grace has not been received in vain. A living example of Christlike unselfish character has great power upon others, and everyone must show faith by practical love rather than using up every dollar on supposed wants, conveniences and appetite, remembering others who need food and clothing. Faith is put into practice through faithful stewardship of what God entrusts, while love of money, worldly friendship and life's cares can choke faith so it bears no fruit. Living faith is shown by works that exert a powerful influence for truth, and withholding resources from God's cause or leaving them to be squandered is unfaithfulness for which each must answer to God. Benevolence stands beside faith, love and Christian diligence as the working proof of living faith.
A profession of great love that speaks interest in seeing truth advanced but does nothing for its advancement is dead faith. Those who think they can be good Christians while closing ears and hearts to calls for liberality are in fearful deception, because conversion breaks the power of covetousness and produces charity and self-sacrifice for the salvation of others. Professed faith is dead when works do not match profession, for people may claim to know and serve God yet deny Him through conduct, and love of riches can make them selfish, demanding and overbearing and weaken what is noble and Godlike in them. Practical faith is shown by serving Christ and representing the purity of religion at home, in the church and in business, with abilities and talents devoted to worldly gain instead used for God's work. A profession that does not shape life is lifeless, while genuine faith is shown by a corresponding life with good works shining before the world, including daily self-denial in choices about food and dress demonstrating devotion to God rather than bondage to appetite or worldly custom.
Faith without action is dead, so circulating books to bring instruction to people is a practical expression of living faith. Prayer must be joined with giving, with believers offering labor and means for the work they pray to see fulfilled. Accepting truth as theory without accepting the responsibility it brings is not living faith, but believers show faith through actions as they proclaim the present-truth message. That action includes giving means to carry truth to others so they may be saved, for a profession must be proved by such working and faith that does not work cannot save in the fearful scenes ahead. Genuine belief put into practice was seen in Christian Help workers whose deeds proved they were not merely theoretical believers, for by combining faith and works and doing the work God specified they helped enlighten and convict many souls.
Faith and good works must go hand in hand in relieving the afflicted and caring for the sick to fit them to glorify God and help them live honoring God. Prayer for the sick should be joined with treatment and right habits of living, including obedience to the laws of health. Teaching health reform while serving meat and selling unhealthful food contradicts that teaching and fails to make a deep impression, so instruction must be put into practice as well as spoken, including providing healthful food and explaining the reasons for those choices. Putting instruction into practice by serving fruits, grains and vegetables instead of meat made the teaching visible and more persuasive, whereas serving meat and unhealthful foods contradicted it and weakened its effect. The chapter's principles are to be lived out in daily conduct, and putting them into practice as part of character building brings happiness of spirit and an experience of strength. Faith must produce good works and be active in every duty and sacrifice done in Jesus' name, with confession expressed in a life transformed by the Holy Spirit including self-denial and following Christ.