Faith then Works – The Presidential Prayer Team

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. – James 2:17

Many admire those who do wonderful works such as feeding the hungry, building homes for the homeless, or holding clothing drives for the poor. Some may say, “If anyone goes to Heaven, it’s the people who do those kinds of things.” And they could be partly right.

Today’s verse declares faith without works is dead, but works without faith are just as dead. Paul declares definitely that righteousness comes through faith in Christ. By faith, salvation is received. Then, out of love for and thanksgiving to the Lord, those who are saved yield themselves to His will to do good works. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

While believers are called to do good works, like offering food, clothing, comfort, or hospitality described in Matthew 25:35-36, salvation is through faith in Christ. Praise God for His salvation, then allow the Spirit to lead you to help others. Pray for the governing officials and citizens of the United States to open their eyes to the saving work of Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to move in them to live selflessly, as the Savior did.

Today’s Verse: James 2:17

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: John 3:9-21

⁹Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? ¹¹Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. ¹²If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

¹⁶“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ²⁰For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. ²¹But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”