Following Faith, I find it very important to show from Gods word that Faith without Works is dead. Before we begin, lets’ look at the manuscripts. We find good deeds and wicked deeds. All are what we are Judged on. Repentance is the only way to cover our sins, and that begins with Faith. Lets’ get started in the Old Testament.
H4639 In the Strong’s, Mahaseh in the Hebrew, means “deed or works done. Can also be wicked deeds.”
G2041 ERGON in the Greek, means “deed or works done.” Hebrews for the Old and Greek for the New Testament.
We begin in Jeremiah chapter 1:16 and it reads.
Jer.1:16] And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
So, we see here that God punishes His children when they worship other gods. We know better. We have had his word and his laws since Moses. From the time we came out of Egypt, when Moses when up on the mount they built a golden calf, and worshipped it. And now Jeremiah continues in chapter 25 with this warning.
Jer.25:4] And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
[5] They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:
[6] And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
[7] Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
Again, they( Israel) could not keep his commandments. And they worshipped other gods. He sent the prophets to warn them but they did not listen. Prophets, that means, we today, must heed what they warned about for his wrath is meant for the “end times.” That is what prophesy means. So, what will happen to us in these “end times.” Lets’ read on.
Jer.25:8] Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,
[9] Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
The king of Babylon of the end times is Satan. At the 6th. trump he will sit in Jerusalem. 2Thes.2:4. Claiming to be God. destroy is another word for Satan. This is why studying the prophets is so important to us in these end times. This is why I ask that our eyes and ears be opened by our Father. Now lets’ go to Isaiah and see what he has to warn us about.
Isa.29:14] Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
[15] Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
Look around today, have our leaders lost wisdom and understanding? Do you think that your sins are hidden? You can’t hide from God. God is all knowing and lest you repent, your sins remain. Now let’s look into what Jesus had to say about works. We find in John chapter 6 after Jesus just fed 5,000 men and their families also. They that just witnessed miracles of healings and ate bread and fish, are now asking him for a sign. And it reads.
John 6:26] Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
[27] Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
[28] Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
[29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
[30] They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
They just saw miracles and still have a hard time believing. I can’t wrap my head around that. But Jesus with compassion continues.
[31] Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
[32] Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
[33] For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
[34] Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
[35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
We all know John 3:16. “That whomsoever believeth on Me shall have everlasting life.” Belief is your faith. Your deeds are your works. Jesus is giving us his sacraments. His body is the bread and his blood is the wine. Getting back to works. We now go to the book of James and chapter 2:14 reads.
James 2:14] What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
[15] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
[16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
[17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
If you see that they are hungry and you don’t feed them, your sin is great. Because your faith was weak, your works brought on sin. Your works became wicked deeds.
[18] 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.
[19] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
[20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
here we see that works is “deeds done for another person in the flesh”. out of love for one another.
[21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
[22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
[23] And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
[24] Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
[25] Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
[26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
That last verse made me think of Ecclesiastes.
Ecc.12:7] Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
This means that Faith is of the flesh. And that Works are of the spirit. Knowing that we have two bodies, our flesh and spirit within, we can begin to understand how that faith without works is dead. It is what we are judged on, by our Father. Now lets’ look into 1 John 3:18 and it reads.
1John 3:18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Deed is works
[19] And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
[20] For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
[21] Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
[22] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
[23] And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
[24] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
It is an awesome experience to feel the Holy Spirit within. Now lets’ go to the book of Revelations and find out why it’s so important for good works. Rev.14:12 reads.
Rev.14:12) Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
[13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Catch that, our works follow us. They are the only thing we can take with us. No gold, no money, just our works. Now chapter Rev.20:11 reads.
Rev.20:11) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
[12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
[13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
[14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
[15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
So, our works are the only things we take with us. We are judged on them. You have heard one good deed covers a multitude of sins. Works are of the spirit, upon repentance, sins are forgiven. Faith is really important, because without it how can we know we sinned. Therefore, how can we repent. Show me your works and I will see your faith. Lets’ go to his throne.
Heavenly Father we thank you for your word. We ask that you bless all that love you. In Jesus’s precious name, Amen.