James 2.19 You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils believe the same thing, and they tremble.
Oh, I believe in God, Pastor Ray. Okay. Who doesn’t, except some fool? The Bible says the fool is the one that says there is no God. So when you say that you believe in God, it only proves one thing. You are not a fool. So just because you say that you believe in God doesn’t save you. Satan believes in God. The devils believe in God. In fact, they probably have a knowledge of God that surpasses what you and I do. The demons said to Jesus, “We know who you are, you’re the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24). Likewise, many people today say, “Oh I believe Jesus is the holy One of God.” I said “the sinner’s prayer.” So what? Have you submitted your life to His lordship? Are you doing His works? Are you obeying His commands?
Remember that Jesus said not all who say, Lord, Lord, are going to enter the kingdom of heaven. Just saying Lord, Lord, is not going to do it. Jesus said, “not all who say, Lord, Lord, are going to enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of the Father” (Matthew 7:21). James is telling you the very same thing. It isn’t just saying that I have faith, it is demonstrating the faith as faithful Abraham did. Abraham’s faith, though not perfect, was real because of the works of his life in the case of Isaac were in harmony with what he declared to believe. If I say that I have faith in Christ, but there is no evidence of fruit and good works in my life, then my faith is a fraud. Why? Because what I say and do do not correspond with what I’m declaring that I believe.
Beloved, do your actions really show that Jesus is the Lord of your life? Are you hungering and thirsting after righteousness? Is your faith in Christ demonstrated by good works and holiness? That’s what James is saying. Saving faith is more than words. Saving faith brings forth the deeds and fruit that demonstrate that Jesus is truly Lord. Do you have the faith of Devils, or the faith of Abraham?
Pastor Ray,
Unfortunately the faith of devils is alive and well today. We see so called Christians, rape, cheat on and abuse multiple ex-spouses, do drugs, be peeping Tom’s, go on killing rampages, and claim to be “saved by grace”. The media then refers to them as “Christian extremists” or “Christian fundamentalists” out of total ignorance of the word of God or to promote their foolish secular agendas.
We are indeed witnessing the faith of devils to an extreme. However, we should not sit on our laurels and point to lunatics thereby justifying our own sinful nature. It is better to say the sinner’s prayer than to reject it or view it with contempt. But is that enough? As James points out do we practice faith without works? The faith of devils or the faith of Abraham? Let us all set our course and faith as Abraham did, seeking perfection although never attaining it in this world. A challenge given the endless distractions we face today.
Is our faith real as was Abraham’s? Jesus provided the path and the way. It is our responsibility to be real and follow Him.
Blessings,
Jose