BoL,
Faith and belief in the Greek language are the same word,
pistis.
Let's check what James 2:14-20 (NLT) teaches:
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
This section teaches:
- Faith the is not followed by actions is not saving faith (v. 14). However, actions follow faith; they do not precede faith.
- What kinds of actions? The example given is ministering food or clothing to a Christian in need (vv 15-16).
- Unless faith produces good deeds it is 'dead and useless' (v 17). So, a person does not have genuine faith if it is not followed by good works. James is clear that actions come AFTER faith to demonstrate faith's genuineness.
- How can I show my faith in Christ for salvation? 'I will show you my faith by my good deeds' (v. 18). If a Christian is not doing good deeds, then the faith is not genuine. James is definite that good deeds demonstrate faith - AFTER faith for salvation.
- Having faith in one God (without actions) is what the demons have and that is not genuine belief (v. 19).
- 'faith without good deeds is useless', i.e. we have useless faith if not followed by good deeds (v. 20).
James is not teaching that faith alone in Jesus Christ alone does not bring salvation. He teaches that genuine faith is demonstrated by actions.
I ask all of us: What good deeds of ministering food and clothing to Christians and non-Christians have you done in the last month?
Oz