You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! James 2:19

Quickpage: Birds Singing by unknown

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18

quickpage: Dolce Farniente by Valentina Creations

Please also see the messages that accompanied layouts from the past few days.

full passage:

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:14-26

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26

quickpage by Scrapper@Heart with kit: Splendor

full passage:

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:14-26

We believers are the Body of Christ. (1Cor. 12:27, Eph. 4:12-16, 5:23, Col. 1:18) Since He dwells IN us, wouldn't you agree that saying that we have faith, and yet  somehow it doesn't work its way OUT in our behavior over time, is almost like suggesting that Jesus sins? (Phil. 2:12-16, 1Cor. 6:17-20, 1John 3:9-10) But His Spirit is HOLY, and He does NOT sin (2Cor. 5:21), nor does He inspire us to do so. (Heb. 4:15) Nor does He approve of our sin, but rather He died to wash our sins away, NOT so that we could continue in them. (1John 1:5-10, Rom. 6) Our spirits are joined as one with His, as He is one with His Father. (John 17:20-26, Rom. 8:9, 1Cor. 3:16-18, John 14:15-26, 3:3-8, 1Thess. 4:8, Titus 2:11-3:8) And His presence produces GOOD fruit. (Rom. 7:4-6, 6:20-23, Jam. 3:9-12, Gal. 5:16-25, John 15:1-10, 14:15-26)

Seeking to please God by our behavior is not working for salvation, but a result of being saved. (2Cor. 5:14-15, 1Pet. 1:14-19, 1Pet. 2:9-12) God knows our very thoughts and the intentions of our heart. (Heb. 4:12-13, Rev. 2:23, Prov. 17:3, Psa. 139:1-6, 23-24, Jer. 17:10, Mark 7:20-23, Luke 6:45) Saying we will follow Jesus and obey, but not doing it is being hypocritical. (Matt. 24:45-51, 10:37-39, Luke 9:62, Heb. 10:36-39, Rom. 2:4-11) The stories of the "giants of the faith" in Romans 11 would not be recorded as examples for us if they had done such a wicked thing as to try to TRICK God by claiming to believe, but refusing to do His will. (Luke 6:43-49, 1John 2:28-3:10, Eph. 5:15-21) In fact, there are also plenty of events recorded for us as BAD examples NOT to follow. (1Cor. 10:1-13, also see what immediately precedes it in 1Cor. 9:24-27.) Let's learn from them what TO do and what NOT to do.