James

Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. Yes, a man may say, You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is only one God; you do well: the devils also believe and tremble.

But will you know, vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? See how faith wrought with his works and by works was his faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness…

You see then how by works a man is justified and not by faith only. Likewise was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way? (James 2:17-25).

Works prove and vindicate the faith that God gave you. Without these works there is no evidence of faith. So the evidence of faith is not tongues, prophecies or words, but the life of fruit. These works spring from faith and do not bring forth or make faith. Faith is a gift. The fruit comes from the tree. We do not try to bear fruit. Christ in us bears it. We just have to be grafted into the tree. Jesus said good trees bear good fruit.

God brings forth the works He is pleased with. These are not dead works of the flesh. These are God’s works in us. “He works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13). “You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He preordained.” (Eph 2:10).

No man judges the works. No man judged Abraham’s works, or Rahab’s. They were works of the faith within, obeying God’s will and command. Most men would have looked past them. What most men would count as good works God would not. This is why Jesus was rejected.

Certainly, he who says he has faith and has not godliness, love and integrity is self-deceived. Works vindicate and prove the faith, making it complete.

James did not mean that we are made righteous by works. We are justified by faith without works. God’s faith bears fruit in us that justify the faith it in the sense that they show that the faith is real. God’s faith is justified by Him and that is why the works come forth from it. Every believer that has God’s faith also has its works, springing not from self, but from Him within.

These are works of faith, not works of law: works from faith, not works to get faith.