How would you answer the question, "You're a Christian, prove it?"
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:18-26 (NIV)
Now add to the mix the works verses faith debate. For a sincere Christian this can be a bit of a conundrum. I think it is hard to divide the inward and outward aspects of faith and this is one reason why many people struggle with the assurance of their faith.
Inwardly I know that God is in my life because the Bible says that no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:3). Any recognition of God within myself is actually proof of the Holy Spirit in my life, because in my dwells no good thing.
Outwardly is where I often struggle because "what do I do because I am a Christian"? I think if I look at these verses I see two valuable examples of faith. One in Abraham and one in Rahab. Abraham knew God and his obedience was the mark of his faith. Rahab did not know God but her actions, hiding the spies was considered an action of faith.
Abraham trusted God with his son. Rahab trusted God with her future. There are many lessons to be learned from these two hall of faith members. Abraham was asked to sacrifice and Rahab was willing to leave her culture and trust in the God of the Jews.
Sometimes our faith calls us to sacrifice and sometimes we are called to leave some things behind. We act not to earn salvation but because of our salvation. At some point we should be able to point to things we have done, not as actions that merit our faith, but, actions that demonstrate or "prove" out faith.
Father, thank you that you have prepared good work for us to do. Praise be to you in us today!
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.