Is the Faith That You Claim to Have, the True and Living Faith?

James 2:17-20 - “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. [18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. [19] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. [20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

The Faith of the Son of God is necessary to be saved. It is based on the grace of God - a gift to enable a sinner to know and be conscious that he is spiritually dead and in need of saving grace. Without faith that comes from God’s Word, (Romans 10:17) it is impossible for man to realize his need for salvation nor accept his depraved and sinful condition. 

It is God’s Word that introduces the law, not to save us, but to show us the need for salvation. The written word is not saved, but it points us to the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Savior and the One who paid our sins on the cross of Calvary. 

God provides the Saving faith for those whom He has chosen to be redeemed and be saved before the foundation of the world. Since the Word of God is quick and powerful, it does not miss the mark. No one can resist the power of faith since the agent of faith is the Holy Spirit; who does not give up until the sinners come to repentance and receive God’s offer of salvation. 

Through the Holy Spirit, the saving faith becomes the living faith present in all genuine believers. This is not the natural faith that enables man to live a normal physical life. It is the faith of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20) that enables all children of God to fulfill the supernatural works of God, overcome the will of the flesh, and live victoriously for the glory of Christ. Without this living faith, no man can live a Christ-like life. 

Our verse today does not teach that the faith that God gives dies the moment we do not work. If that is the case then salvation is also of good works. Since the Holy Spirit remains in us forever, our faith remains alive. The true and living faith is so powerful that it will surely manifest through the believer’s life, despite his failure to obey. No one can ever prevent the work of faith. It is either we enjoy this faith by our works and be blessed and rewarded or the Holy Spirit manifests the faith despite our unwillingness because of His grace. 

Another powerful truth that we need to recognize is the faith of Christ remains active and alive in the believer’s life. His living faith will show. A person who is truly saved will serve. He will produce fruits willingly. If the person who claims to be saved and professing faith, is not producing fruits at all and not serving God, then his faith is dead. It is not because his living faith died, but because the true faith is not in him. He is not saved at all, a counterfeit professing Christian.

How about those people who got saved and did not have time to serve and manifest their faith through their works? We find that example with the thief who was crucified with Christ. When he placed his faith in Jesus, that was enough to prove that his faith was alive. How could one believe in someone

who has suffered and was dying if he did not believe in Christ as the Savior? The Lord recognized the true and living faith in him. 

However, a believer who has the time and the opportunity to serve must show that faith to the world. We produce fruits and good works not for God to see. God does not need our showmanship for He looks at our heart. We are justified by faith before God and we are justified by works before men. How else can men see that we are truly saved if we do not show the living faith by our obedience to God and our righteous living? 

Conclusion:

Are you truly saved? Do you have a living faith? Remember that the faith of the Son of God saved us and lives through us. If you claim to have the living faith, it will manifest willfully and show graciously. If the faith that you claim is not serving and producing fruits, then your faith is dead. You have the natural faith but not the faith of the Son of God. You are spiritually dead and you are not saved. 

Good works will never produce faith but living faith will surely manifest and produce fruits through good works! A person who is saved will desire to serve and live for God.