Have you heard the saying, there are three sides to every story?
Well, the bottom line is we all see things differently, but God knows the truth. Paul and James are two apostles who presented two different viewpoints on faith and following God, which they heard from Jesus' followers. They both wrote books that are in the New Testament and wrote while in prison.
Paul said that we were saved by faith alone. Ephesians 2: 8- 9 “ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
If we know and love God, then we can love others well. Doing something out of love for someone else and not expecting anything back in return can be an act of love that reflects our faith in God. This is an act of kindness and can bring others to want to know where our hope comes from. I do believe this is not a showy work, nor one that one can boast about. However, this exemplifies faith from God above.
James said that we must do good work to emphasize and reveal our faith to others. James 2: 14- 17 - “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James offers a valid point. Just like we breathe, our hearts beat and our brain sends signals for our body to work, faith is revealed to others by our works. I do believe that boasting about our works contradicts our faith behind any good works we contribute.
This same subject of faith with or without works is revealed to us with different perspectives by two of God’s chosen men. This one example that is presented differently is an example of how we as humans interpret things differently, not black and white. However, it does not appear that one is right and one is wrong. God knows the true heart, and it is not for man to decide the eternal fate of another man or woman.
Make sure your faith has feet…walk the walk. I say this, and I find so many faults in my own thoughts and words this week. Thankfully, I have faith in Jesus Christ, who came and died for all of us, knowing that we are sinners. I am thankful for this amazing gift of grace.
Love well 🩵
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