James 2

In chapter one James tells his readers to be doers of the word and not hearers only (1:22). He follows with an analogy of a man who looks at his reflection in a mirror, but goes away forgetting what he looked like. Here, James explains that idea a little further.

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?" (vs 14). A person who has faith, but not the fruit of good works in their life, does not have the saving faith of the Bible. When James asks if that faith can save a man, he's speaking of a faith which is useless (vs 20).

Rather, James is arguing for a faith that is shown to be genuine, saving faith because of the works it produces. That kind of faith is active because it results in active works (vs 22). Just like a body without the spirit of life in it is dead, so faith which does not result in good works is dead (vs 26).

Does the pattern of your life confirm the faith you profess? If it doesn't, then maybe this is a good time to consider asking God to give you the sincere faith that James describes here—the kind which not only professes to be saving faith, but produces good works to prove it.