March 17, 2025

March 17     James 2

I apologize for not posting this past week. I was not feeling well and just couldn't come up with anything to post.  I hope you continued to read according to the plan.  

"Faith without works is dead" is not statement that we must work for our salvation.  Rather, it is a confirmation that our salvation works and produces change in us.  Faith is the starting point.  Faith in Jesus Christ is essential to be a Christian.  When we put our faith in Jesus Christ it changes our lives and should produce fruit.  We don't do works to earn God's love and forgiveness.  God gives us love and forgiveness and we respond with action, not to earn something but rather because we have received it already.  

When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, he transforms our hearts and sets us out on a new mission.  Our old mission in the sinful nature was to serve ourselves and make ourselves happy.  Our new mission as a new creation is to serve the LORD and to bring Him glory by how we live, which includes how we treat other people. Truthfully living for the LORD should also make us happy and should fill our lives with joy.