Why do people hide their faith? Why has it become a quiet, reserved, ‘personal’ kind of faith? Does our Bible say this is the way it should be? Shouldn’t the private devotion we have between us and our Father, go on display for His glory? Didn’t Jesus say so Himself to His disciples in Matthew 5? “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (16). Why has it turned so silent?
I cannot help but see the agenda Satan has worked against true faith. How he has duplicated and cheapened so many areas of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 1.3). Is it that same faith today? Does it look the same? I want to serve Him… truly with all my heart. I am willing to move, even to another part of the world. I just want to see Him work. I want to see disciples multiplied. I want more of Him. I can’t see how that is possible so long as we endeavor to keep our faith silent.
Continuing in thought, James specifies in chapter 2, by saying— “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (17). To say you have faith, but yet do nothing for God, makes your faith a dead faith. Now, James uses a shock to rattle the complacent believers by comparing mediocre christianity to a demonic faith. “Shew me your faith without your works” (18). The point is: It cant be done! The only way to demonstrate real faith is through righteous deeds.
We should put on display our faith by our works. Ephesians 2.10 says— “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Someone may say, ‘I believe in God.’ In those days Jews were strictly and uniquely monotheistic. Deuteronomy 6.4 clarifies— “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:” So a Jew may say, ‘I believe there is only one God.‘ Therefore, James is sarcastic with his answer in 19— “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” It’s like saying— ‘Good for you, so what, the demons also believe and tremble, are they saved?’ There isn’t a demon who is an atheist. All of them believe in one God; and they know Jesus is God.
The demons believe that Jesus is God: “And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.” (Make 3.11-12). The demons also believe that Jesus is the Judge: “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8.29). They know that Jesus will be the one who judges them in the end days. The demons also believe in a place of eternal punishment: “And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.” (Luke 8.30-31). The greek word for the “deep” is bottomless pit 9 other times in the New Testament. The demons accept the facts intellectually, and even react emotionally (they trembled). But, their conviction is shallow. It does not change them in any way. Knowing there is a hell and not wanting to go there is a pretty good motivator, but doesn’t bring about change based upon real faith.
Such faith is not real faith at all. According to verse 20– “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead”, it is dead faith because it is without works. There is no following, no obeying. Conversely, real faith is alive! It is more than being scared of hell; it is more than getting special feelings about God; it is more than just knowing and affirming a set of doctrinal beliefs. James is confronting his readers with a frightening reality; that it is possible to go through the motions of Christianity and still be eternally lost. Just ask a demon…
You can be enlightened in your mind and stirred in your heart and yet still not be saved.
Real Faith will be evidenced by righteous deeds, not by empty claims. It is the product of a changed life. Ask yourself: Is there evidence in my life, evidence that sticks if I were to go before The Judge today? I no longer want a silent faith… I want one that counts. How about you?