Lesson#3: Faith, Works and Love
This Sunday we're looking at James 2. The whole thing.
Some food for thought while studying out this passage:
What's the deal? We spent the last few Bible studies together talking about how we aren't saved by the good works that we do. We even said that our good works don't earn us favor with God. So then what's James 2 talking about? Why does he harp on deeds so much? Are we really saved by works?
Martin Luther struggled with the book of James. In fact, he called it the straw gospel. He had come out of a system that had emphasized works so strongly that to hear anything remotely like Catholicism made his sick. We'll talk more about it this Sunday.
Comments
I truly don't understand the dilemma. We are saved through faith and faith only...because if salvation required work, than Jesus would not/should not have died for me. I believe what James is saying is that a Christian, true Chrisitan, should be characterized by good works because they bear the fruit of the Spirit. For example, if someone asks us for some bread, shouldn't as Christians we give them bread to fill a need. That is good works. This does not mean we are going to Heaven (because there are others who are not saved who will/can fulfill this need). So it is definately not that. The difference is a person who is not saved but does good work to help others, make themselves look better, feel better about themselves, show other or other such motivations. However, a Christian does it or should do it because it glorifies God and it is for him. That does not mean we might not feel good about helping others, but it is for his glory.
Posted by: Rahul | November 12, 2006 09:45 PM
Like I may have said before... I look at it a lot like stars vs. moons. A star will burn on its own fuel until it burns itself out and really doesn't shed much light on the earth... the Moon is a reflection of the Sun, doesn't burn its own strength at all, and can shed a lot of light... I think that good works are a reflection of Christ in us and while non-believers can also do good works it won't have the same effect. Also, much like Rahul has said, the work you do shows the reflection of Christ, I am still a moon no matter how much light I put out, but the more light I put out the more of HIM I am showing and the more effective I am... but that's just my take.
Posted by: Jenna | November 12, 2006 09:55 PM
Like I may have said before... I look at it a lot like stars vs. moons. A star will burn on its own fuel until it burns itself out and really doesn't shed much light on the earth... the Moon is a reflection of the Sun, doesn't burn its own strength at all, and can shed a lot of light... I think that good works are a reflection of Christ in us and while non-believers can also do good works it won't have the same effect. Also, much like Rahul has said, the work you do shows the reflection of Christ, I am still a moon no matter how much light I put out, but the more light I put out the more of HIM I am showing and the more effective I am... but that's just my take.
Posted by: Jenna | November 12, 2006 09:57 PM
Dude and Dudettes,
Totally had a cool revelation. Faith leads to Love leads to Works which then strengthens Faith and the whole things starts over again...What do you think?
Posted by: Rahul | November 15, 2006 01:59 PM