Tag: Bible verses about faith without works being dead

Bible Verse of The Day – 6-17-19

James 2:20 (NKJV) 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Faith without works. What exactly is James referring to here?

Most times we hear this expounded on with regard to helping others. And while this is accurate, there is also another side to this that James mentions, but we rarely hear about.

Most times we think of and refer to works as something we do for others. We help them, we support them in prayer. We encourage them. We may even give them things.

But what else was James referring to when he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this?

He was referring to the things we do for God, in obedience to His spirit.

James 2:21 (NKJV) 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

You see, we can display our faith by helping others. And we should do this.

But if we fail to follow God’s leading in the areas where He requires something of us, then our faith isn’t really as strong as we might think, is it?

Obviously, God doesn’t ask us to sacrifice our children on an altar. But He may ask us to make other kinds of sacrifices, such as financial sacrifices, sacrifices of our time, or even sacrifices of our will.

And even though we may be happy to surrender ourselves by way of helping others, are we willing to sacrifice ourselves when God asks us to step out and follow Him in other ways that might not be as easy or straight-forward?

Abraham was. And his faith to do so was credited to him as righteousness. And he was called a friend of God.

James 2:22-23 (NKJV) 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page. 

Please consider making a Donation.

Get our mobile app here: 

Android: http://goo.gl/oQ6qa7 

Apple: http://apple.co/2lZdgYy

Tagged with: , , ,

Bible Verse of The Day – 8-13-18

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Our walk with God is based on faith. As we grow closer to God, our faith will grow. And as our faith grows, we will see more and more of God’s work in every aspect of our lives.

But how do we grow our faith in God? How do we get to a place where we show that we trust God with everything about our lives with our actions, not just with our words?

The absolute most important step is spending time in His word. It’s hearing His word that gives us faith. His word feeds our spirit. A strong spirit is able to hear and obey God more easily than a weak spirit.

In addition to spending time in His word, we also need to put action behind our words. Having faith is not based on our works, but without action, our faith is not worth much.

James 2:20 (NKJV) 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

James says that faith without works is dead. In this particular verse, dead can also be translated as “useless”. So, if we don’t put action behind our words and show God that we trust Him by the actions we take, then our faith is useless. Those are pretty strong words right there.

Many people think this verse refers only to what we do for others, by helping people or giving to people. But it also means that we need to put action behind our words by doing what God asks of us.

Peter stepped down out of the boat, onto the water, and walked to Jesus when Jesus called out to him to do so. Peter’s steps were an outward sign of his faith in Jesus. If Jesus had simply asked Peter if he trusted Him, all Peter would have had to do was say “yes”.

But when Jesus beckoned Peter and called him to step out of the boat, Peter’s faith had to be put into action. And Peter suddenly found himself literally walking on the water, toward Jesus.

It was only when Peter looked at the water through his natural eyes, and he began to doubt, that he started to sink.

By speaking, we tell God that we have faith. By doing, we show Him that we have faith.

Let’s show God that we have faith in Him, not just with our words, but with our actions also.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page. 

Please consider making a Donation.

Click the player below listen to today’s devotional.

Get our mobile app here: 

Android: http://goo.gl/oQ6qa7 

Apple: http://apple.co/2lZdgYy

Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Bible Verse of The Day – 7-17-18

James 1:22 (NKJV) 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Knowing God’s word is a good thing to do. But doing God’s word is even better!

Many of us like to think that we know God’s word very well. Some can even quote chapter and verse for hundreds of different scriptures. And this is very good.

But God wants us to go beyond just knowing His word. He wants us to walk it out in our lives. If we fail to walk it out, it is just knowledge that does no one any good.

In fact, James said that if we hear the word but don’t put it into action, we are deceiving ourselves!

James also told us that if we have faith, we need to put action behind it and do something with it.

James 2:20 (NKJV) 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

So, if God has told us to love others, then we need to be doing so. If He has told us to give of our finances, we need to be doing so. If He has told us to pray for others, we need to do so. If He has told us that we need to be His ambassadors, by living out His word in our lives, then we need to do so!

It’s time to put action behind His word and show the world who God is by more than just telling others. We need to live it out right before their eyes.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page. 

Please consider making a Donation.

Click the player below listen to today’s devotional.

Get our mobile app here: 

Android: http://goo.gl/oQ6qa7 

Apple: http://apple.co/2lZdgYy

Tagged with: , , , ,

Bible Verse of The Day – 7-10-15

James 2:18-20 (NKJV) 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

This is a foundational principle of our relationship with God.

We hear so much talk about faith. We can hear about it on TV, the radio and on the Internet. Sometimes it might seem like we’re getting overwhelmed by faith messages.

Faith is good. Without it, we have no relationship with God. Without it, it is impossible to please God.

But faith alone, by itself, isn’t good. Faith must be accompanied by works… things that we do in the natural that prove that we have faith.

If we say we have faith, but we don’t walk it out in the things we do, then our faith is no more than just a wish or an idea.

Faith must  be displayed in our lives by helping others, giving to others and loving those around us. If we say we have faith, yet we can’t love our neighbor or pray for our enemy, then our faith is weak and feeble, at best.

This is a hard teaching. It’s one that can cause some people to get offended. It’s not all about warm fuzzies or goosebumps. But it’s one that needs to be taught and one that we all need to hear and heed.

God wants the very best for each and every one of us. And this is why He will sometimes put things in front of us that challenge us and cause us to grow, even if it’s sometimes hard to swallow.

So let’s ask God today to show us where our faith is weak, and then ask Him to help us build our faith muscles and start walking it out in our works.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

To have the Bible Verse of The Day delivered to your inbox each day, please Click Here and then enter your email address in the box near the upper left corner of the page.

Please Consider Making a Donation.

Tagged with: , , , ,