Faith Without Works Is Dead (Breakdown)

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26

The verse above is usually ones go-to when attempting to "prove" that we are still under the law of Moses. Many people read this verse as saying "faith without the works of the law of Moses is dead" rather than reading it within its proper context, which we'll get to but first lets talk about CONTEXT real quick.

Reading scripture within the proper context is an absolute non negotiable when it comes to obtaining the correct understanding. Scripture taken out of context is scripture that is bound to be misinterpreted! The reason many people take scripture out of its proper context is because they are leaning on their own understanding or the understanding of man, rather than relying on the Spirit of Truth to reveal to them the proper context. It's very easy to interpret scripture in a way that makes the "most sense" to our human logic. But we must remember that the Most High's ways are NOT our ways, and His thoughts are NOT our thoughts. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours!  In order to understand the ways and thoughts of Yah, we MUST rely on His Spirit to reveal to us the deep and spiritual things of Him and it is ONLY by His Spirit that we will be able to understand! 👇🏾

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

 Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Adonai. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

                                             Isaiah 55:8-9

"👉🏽But Alohiym has ✨revealed✨ them to us ✨through His Spirit.✨ For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of Alohiym. 👈🏽 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of Alohiym except the Spirit of Alohiym. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from Alohiym, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by Alohiym.

 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 👉🏽But the ✨natural man✨ does not receive the things of the Spirit of Alohiym, for they are foolishness to him; ✨nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.✨👈🏽"

                               1 Corinthians 2:10-14

Okay, now lets get back to James 2:26. So again, many people think the works that's being talked about in this verse is the works of the law of Moses. They are led to believe that works of the law of Moses is what's supposed to accompany our faith in Mashiach in order for one to obtain salvation. Many will often say something along the lines of "We don't keep the law to be saved, we keep it because we love Him and it shows our faith." And while the sentiment itself isn't a bad one to have, I too used to say the same thing, it's just not the truth. We ARE supposed to prove our love for Him but it's NOT by attempting to keep and be justified by the law of Moses. Not only by attempting to do so are you setting aside the grace of Alohiym and making Mashiach's sacrifice in vain, so in actuality you're denying Him, but you will also be placed under the curse of the law! 👇🏾

"I do not set aside the grace of Alohiym; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Mashiach died in vain.”

                                          Galatians 2:21

"You have become estranged from Mashiach, 👉🏽you who ✨attempt to be justified by law;✨👈🏽 you have fallen from grace."

                                          Galatians 5:4

"👉🏽For as many as are of the ✨works of the law are under the curse;✨👈🏽 for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of Alohiym is evident, for “the just shall live by faith."

                                        Galatians 3:10-11

Now you may be asking, "well if its not the works of the law of Moses, then what works are being referred to in James 2:26?". Well, lets take a look at verses surrounding verse 26. 👇🏾

"14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 👉🏽15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 👈🏽 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

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 Alohiym. 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? 👉🏽21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 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 Alohiym, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of Alohiym. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

                                              James 2:14-26

Okay, so notice in verses 15 and 16 James talks about  a brother or sister being in need and those who are able to help, they only say in word "be warmed and filled", instead of helping them by giving them food and something to keep them warm (blanket, jacket, hat, etc). That scenario is used as an example to show us how unprofitable faith without works is! In verses 21 and 22, James goes on to point out how Abraham was justified by his works when offering Isaac at the altar, why was he justified? Because in him offering Isaac at the altar, it showed that he believed Alohiym, which is WHY it was accounted as righteousness, because his faith produced works. Notice that the law of Moses is not mentioned in either scenario! Also, keep in mind that it is written that by the works of the law, no man will be justified (Galatians 2:16, Romans 3:20). So if Abraham was justified by works yet no man will be justified by works of the law then what works will one be justified by? The answer is works of faith! 👇🏾

"👉🏽remembering without ceasing your ✨work of faith,✨👈🏽labor of love, and patience of hope in our Adonai Yahusha Ha'Mashiach in the sight of our Alohiym and Father,"

                                         1 Thessalonians 1:3    

True faith produces works! So what is the work of our faith in Mashiach? It’s believing the things that He said. If we say that we believe in Him, then we WILL follow His instructions, because we trust that He is indeed the way, the truth, and the life and the only way to the Father. We will trust that by repenting and picking up our cross and following Him, we will obtain eternal life just as He promises! Otherwise, we don’t truly believe, which makes our faith dead. One who doesn’t believe in their heart, will not follow His instructions or keep His commandments and therefore will not obtain righteousness nor salvation until they do so. 👇🏽

 “Yahusha said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

                                                    John 14:6

                                  

“From that time Yahusha began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

                                                  Matthew 4:17

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

                                                  Mark 16:16

                                           

“Then Yahusha said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

                                                Matthew 16:24

“that if you confess with your mouth the Adonai Yahusha and believe in your heart that Alohiym has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

                                                Romans 10:9-10

In following His instructions and in keeping His commandments (check last post), we are proving our faith, showing that we believe that salvation is obtained by Mashiach alone and that righteousness is obtained through our faith in Him & that it’s truly not by OUR works of the law but by grace! And as a result we will receive the Spirit of life and bear good fruit.

I hope this post provides clarity about this matter. PLEASE urgently take it back to Abba in prayer with an UNBIASED heart, this is a salvation issue so the sooner, the better! As always, much love and Shalum 🤲🏽🤍✨