Those of us who has received a revelation of New Covenant grace (myself included) tend to emphasize the finished work of Jesus – that Jesus has done it all and that we do not have to work for what He has freely given us. We have received a revelation that countless hours of prayer, confession together with much fasting and many other spiritual disciplines do not GET GOD to do anything… our works do not move God, persuade God, or earn blessings from the Lord. Under the Law, which was a works-based system, works were the pathway to blessing, so for years the children of Israel attempted in vain to earn blessings, only to fail repeatedly!
Jesus fulfilled the Law and now, in Him, every blessing is freely given and then received by grace through faith – so, what then is James talking about, “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?”
James is talking about ‘works of faith’, or ‘faith actions’ – he is not talking about works that attempt to move God, persuade God, or works that are designed to get things from God. A faith action is a fruit of true faith, a ‘works mentality’ tries to shake the ‘God’ tree and tries to artificially stimulate the tree to bear fruit – faith works, or faith actions, on the other hand, receive the fruit through grace, and then the received fruit is distributed to those in need.
The Mirror Bible says it this way, “My friends, if your faith is not practical and visible in your conduct it is fake and cannot benefit you in any way. Faith is not in competition with works; the one cannot operate without the other. Faith remains invisible without action; indeed the only way to communicate faith is in doing the things prompted and inspired by faith. Hey man, if you have nothing to show for your faith your faith is meaningless; it remains a dead doctrine.”
True faith produces works of faith… New Covenant faith has actions – as your faith is stirred up through the Word, that faith serves as spiritual rocket fuel to launch you into a lifestyle of doing the works of Jesus, ‘healing the sick, preaching the gospel, making disciples, casting out devils, caring for the needy and releasing miracles in His Name!
Blessings on you, Nick
