James 2:14-19
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 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? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 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. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder!
These verses are about the need for deeds to demonstrate our faith. Verse 17 says "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead". This can apply as well to our purity, for if we believe in purity but do not act accordingly, then our "purity" is "dead". For our actions demonstrate what we really believe, beyond what we say we believe. Often we claim to want to be pure, yet our hearts still lust, so we act in contrary ways. If that is true, how can we really say that we want to be pure? Purity can easily become more of a "should" than a "want". Jesus often taught about the fruit that we produce being a sign of what is inside us. If our visible fruit or works are sexual immorality, then that is a sign that we need to change what is inside us in order to produce works of purity.
Lord, help my actions and beliefs to both match Your will.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 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? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 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. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder!
These verses are about the need for deeds to demonstrate our faith. Verse 17 says "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead". This can apply as well to our purity, for if we believe in purity but do not act accordingly, then our "purity" is "dead". For our actions demonstrate what we really believe, beyond what we say we believe. Often we claim to want to be pure, yet our hearts still lust, so we act in contrary ways. If that is true, how can we really say that we want to be pure? Purity can easily become more of a "should" than a "want". Jesus often taught about the fruit that we produce being a sign of what is inside us. If our visible fruit or works are sexual immorality, then that is a sign that we need to change what is inside us in order to produce works of purity.
Lord, help my actions and beliefs to both match Your will.