"A man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works" (James 2:18).

Faith is the work of God in the soul. Works, then, are the proof of this faith, the evidence of it that others see. We really believe only the truths which are evidenced in our lives, and our faith may be measured by this. How then, do faith and works balance out in our lives? How deep is the work of God in us as professed believers?

First of all, it must be stated clearly that God's salvation for us is not based on our faith, much less on our works. This salvation is based solely upon the atoning, sacrificial work of Christ upon the cross. "When He had by Himself purged our sins, [He] sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). In that grand gospel type found in Exodus 12, this truth is confirmed by Jehovah declaring, "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you" (v. 13). The Lord does not say, "when you see the blood," but "when I see the blood." The value is in the blood, not in our faith. We could not possibly add anything to the eternal preciousness of the blood of Christ to God (nor detract from it, either, thank God). Blessed be God for this plain and glorious truth! We come into all the infinite value of this salvation offered to us when we accept it in faith for ourselves personally, and not before: believing what God says about us, and believing what God says about His Son.

It is in our lives, then, as Christians that we are to give proof of our faith. We cannot show that faith itself to men ("with the heart man believeth"); we cannot show faith apart from works. It is impossible. We are to show—and this is the appeal of the Scripture quoted at the beginning—our faith by our works. Profession of faith is common enough today. Reality is needed: "They which have believed in God" are to "be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8). If we have "believed in God," this faith is to be projected practically in our personal life, our habits, our attitudes, our very appearance and our language. It is to be witnessed also in our conduct toward others, through a spirit of meekness, by uprightness in business dealings, by having a forgiving spirit, and having an active practical concern for people to be saved. Over all, this faith is perfected in acknowledging the rights of God over our hearts, living soberly.

What will motivate us to show our faith? How will we be stirred up? Let us, I suggest think much about the grace of God. Let us direct our thoughts, and focus our attention upon the riches and the glory of that matchless grace. "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). As we meditate, in the spirit of worship, upon the glory of that grace—"shining in the Saviour's face"—as the poet expressed it—we will know what, in all this world, is real: the holy, unchanging grace of God in Christ. If we acknowledge our fallen and absolutely ruined condition as sinners, and that we are utterly helpless to remedy it, that reform is thoroughly hopeless, we find that divine grace is the only thing greater than our sin: "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20,21). Constrained by His love, we will want increasingly to live unto Him, to let others see and know His grace—His saving grace—by our testimony to saved and unsaved. Our faith, then, will work, but it will be a work that draws its energy and strength from personal communion with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; a work that is sustained by the sense of the imminent return of our Saviour from heaven. It is only—I repeat, only—until He comes that we have opportunity to show our faith, yet the results and fruit of our testimony through the power of the Holy Spirit, will remain for eternity, for Christ's glory and our joy. This stupendous fact, prayerfully weighed and realized, will give urgency and endurance to our work.

Our Lord Jesus openly declared: "If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him" (John 10:37,38). May we be spiritually aroused, dear believers, to "Let [our] light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

—Joseph S. Butler