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What good is it,
my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?
Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food,
and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,"
and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So
faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
James 2:14-17
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Martin Luther struggled with the book of James
because he felt that the book discredited grace. After he, himself, tried to
work so hard to prove his own faith, Luther came to the conclusion that
salvation is by grace alone. He also realized that even our works are an act
of God's grace. Verses like those above stumbled him because earlier in his
life he tried to earn his salvation and to prove his faith through works,
instead of grace. It is not works that save or justify or affirm your faith;
it is a result of your faith that you desire to work for the things of God.
When Luther ended up exhausted, burned out and lacking peace in his works,
then he let faith be his guide to do what God called him to do. The
Reformation is a result of his faith, not of his work. The Reformation
resulted as a work of God through the faith of Martin Luther.
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Our confirmation students are not being
confirmed because they have achieved sufficient theological knowledge, but
because they demonstrate faith. Our members didn't provide almost 250 Easter
baskets for needy children because they were trying to buy their way into
heaven, but because their faith provided the motivation to do so. Likewise,
those who donated to the Facelift Fund did so because their faith told them
that keeping God's house in good condition is an important part of this
ministry--an outward expression of an inward faith.
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As the Bible says, God causes all things to
work together for good. Today, there are countless churches and
denominations reaching the world through the means and convictions That God
has placed on each one's heart. God works through movements in His churches,
but His works are still accomplished through individuals. That work is a
result of the outpouring of love we have for the Lord. His burden is easy
and His yoke is light. Titus 3:5 says "not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" meaning
that we do works of righteousness but those deeds are a result of God's
mercy, saving us and then working in us through faith. Today, allow the Lord
to develop and strengthen your faith. Rest in His saving mercy and He will
accomplish His work through your faith.
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Office Phone: 219-884-4244