Dynamic Faith (James 2:20–26) - Part 2

[continued from yesterday]

​The Bible teaches a lot about justification. Justification is when God says that a sinner who believes is righteous because of what Christ did on the cross. It is not a process; it is an act. God does it for the sinner when he trusts Christ, not the sinner himself. It happens only once. It never changes.

How can you tell if a person is justified by faith if this relationship is only between the sinner and God? Abraham's example provides a definitive answer: the justified individual experiences a transformed life and adheres to God's will. His actions show that he has faith.

James used another event from Abraham's life, one that happened a long time after Abraham became a Christian. This event is when Isaac is put on the altar (Gen. 22). Abraham did not get saved by following God's strict order. His obedience showed that he was already saved. In James 2:22 we read, “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" His obedience proved that he already was saved. His faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. Faith and works are perfectly related. "Abraham wasn't saved by faith and works, but by a faith that works," someone said.

How could Abraham be "justified by works" (James 2:21) when he had already been "justified by faith" (see Rom. 4)? He was justified before God by faith, and his righteousness was declared; he was justified before men by works, and his righteousness was shown. No one saw Abraham put his son on the altar, but the inspired record in Genesis 22 lets us see the event and see how Abraham's faith was shown by what he did.

Dynamic faith listens to God and shows itself in everyday life and work. Unfortunately, we still have church members today who fit the description given in Titus, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him,” (Titus 1:16). Paul also said, "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works." (Titus 3:8).

Joshua 2 and 6 tell the story of Rahab, who is his second example. Israel was getting ready to attack Jericho, which was in the land they had promised them. Joshua sent people into the city to see what it was like. There they met Rahab, a prostitute, who protected them and said she believed what God had said and what he was going to do. When the city fell, the men fulfilled their promise to save her and her family.

It's an interesting story. But it is one of the best examples of saving faith in the Bible (see Heb. 11:31). Rahab heard the Word and understood that her city was going to be destroyed. This truth made her and the people around her feel so sad that their hearts melted (Josh. 2:11). Rahab reacted with her thoughts and feelings, but she also acted on her will: she did something. She put her own life in danger to protect the Jewish spies, and she put her own life in danger again by telling her family the good news of their rescue. The Hebrew word that is translated as "harlot" in Joshua 2 can also mean "an innkeeper." The spies went to Rahab's guest house because it was normal for them to do so. In James 2:25, the Greek word "harlot" definitely means someone who is immoral. This is also what Hebrews 11:31 says. Matthew 1:5 says that she married into Israel and became an ancestor of our Lord. What a blessing! You can't help but think of the "bad Samaritan" in John 4 when you read about Rahab, who was one of the first people in the Bible to win souls.

Rahab could have had a dead faith, which is just an intellectual experience. Or she could have had a demonic faith, which would have opened her mind and stirred her emotions. But she had dynamic faith: her mind knew the truth, her heart was moved by the truth, and her will acted on the truth. She showed her faith through her actions.

When you see how little information there is, you can see how amazing Rahab's faith was by looking at what she did. Today, we have the whole truth about God through His Word and His Son. We live past Calvary, where the Holy Spirit teaches us the Word and shows us what's wrong. " For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:  . . ." (Luke 12:48). Her faith stands as a condemnation of the disbelief prevalent among contemporary sinners.

James 2 stressed that a mature Christian lives by the truth. He doesn't just believe in old teachings; he lives by them every day. His faith is not the dead faith of the intellectuals or the evil faith of the spirits that have fallen. Men like Abraham and women like Rahab had a living faith that changed their lives and worked for God.

Every professing Christian should look into his heart and life to make sure he has real saving faith, or dynamic faith. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  . . . " (2 Cor. 13:5a). Satan is the master of lies, and one of his tricks is to copy others. If he can make someone believe that fake faith is real faith, he has that person under his control.

As we look inside ourselves, we can ask ourselves these questions:
1. Did I ever really understand that I was a sinner and tell myself and God this?
2. Did my heart ever tell me to run away from the coming wrath? Have I ever really been scared about my sins?
3. Do I really get the gospel, which says that Christ died for my sins and came back to life? Do I know and admit that I can't save myself?
4. Did I really feel sorry for my sins and stop doing them? Or do I secretly love sin and want to enjoy it?
5. Have I put my faith in Christ alone for my salvation? Do I have a living relationship with Him through the Word and the Spirit?
6. Has my life changed? Do I keep doing good things, or do I only do them sometimes and not very well?
Am I trying to grow in the things of the Lord? Is it clear to others that I've been with Jesus?
7. Do I want to tell other people about Christ? Or am I embarrassed by Him?
8. Do I like being with other Christians? Do I enjoy worship?
9. Am I ready for the Lord to come back? Or will I be embarrassed when He comes for me?

Not every Christian has the same personal experience, and there are different levels of sanctification. But for the most part, the spiritual inventory that came before can help someone figure out where they really stand with God.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Ps. 139:23–24).