By Pastor John Bingham
James 2:17-18, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
James makes the case that good works are a natural result of faith. Faith is what gives life. Works prove that life exists. In our backyard, we have a rose bush. Each winter it lies dormant, the leaves have fallen, flowers are long since disappeared, and all that remains during the cold winter months is the branches.
Each spring I look forward to seeing life blossom once again. The evidence of the life that is in that rose bush are the leaves that begin to sprout and the flowers that bloom. These do not give life; rather, they are evidence of a life that already exists. If it did not demonstrate evidence of life, I would rightfully proclaim that this bush is dead! I would tear it out and dispose of it because there was no evidence of life in it.
In the same way, good works give evidence to the life that exists through faith in Jesus Christ. If you examine your life, what evidence is there that the life of Christ dwells in you?