Tangible Grit

05.06.09

J.A. Matteson

"For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." James 2:26

As the spirit supplies biological expression to the body, good works testify of regeneration by the Spirit, supplying tangible grit to professed faith. Good works and faith cannot be separated as each gives expression to the other, neither exists apart from the other any more than fire can exist without heat, where one is found the other accompanies. Justification is by faith alone, but justifying faith is never found alone and is always accompanied by good works.

All Scripture bares witness to the inseparable relationship between faith and good works. Abel’s offering was esteemed by the Lord while Cain’s was not, one expression found its inception to action by genuine faith while the other did not. Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh enduring suffering, forsaking the passing pleasures of Egypt, for he believed Him who is unseen. Ten men spied out the land of Canaan and only Joshua and Caleb brought back a favorable report while the majority did not; two men believed the Word of the Lord previously spoken while the others doubted, “It shall be when the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey…” (Ex. 13:5). The just recompense of their unbelief was to perish in the wilderness. Stephen lifted his eyes towards heaven as the rocks hurled at him crushed his bones, entrusting himself to Him who judges rightly, eagerly anticipating the bestowment of his inheritance as an heir of the King, that which does not perish or suffer corruption.

Faith is intrinsically kinetic and not static, finding its expression in forward movement, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). The good works of faith find their origin in Him who calls, being ordained before the foundation of the world was established. Circulating today is a contrary definition of faith from that found in Scripture, a faith that is fundamentally cognitive in nature, divorced from the substance of good works, being analogous to fire without heat, or sight without perception, or hearing without audibility, or speech without sound. It is in fact the pseudo-faith the apostle warned of repackaged, “You believe that God is one. You do well, the demons also believe, and shudder” (Jas. 2:19). This reconstituted pseudo-faith can be readily observed by its deficiency in kinetic progress in grace. The cognitive information about the Christ and His Kingdom is recited perfectly, a positive affirmation about Christ and the Kingdom is expressed; but, perilously lacking is Spirit infused trust in Him in the face of uncertainty and danger. Confronted with trials Spirit generated faith continues to move forward in childlike trust, while counterfeit faith stops or retreats in fear and doubt. While the saints in the face of adversity may experience moments of hesitation, even faltering, their trajectory in grace and trust is ultimately forward, “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus” (Rev. 14:12).

The pseudo-faith Scripture warns of assists in understanding the perplexing disconnect in the culture, where Jesus Christ is fashionably professed but the fruit of the lives of many claiming allegiance to Him is indistinct from the bitter fruit of unrighteousness found in the world; to this end the exhortation of the Apostle is warranted, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). And in as much as it is the Spirit who causes the saint to delight in performing that which is pleasing to Him, the Spirit also warms the heart in the midst of difficulty to press on, exulting in His marvelous promises, looking forward to His glorious appearing.

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