Putting Faith into Action
Table of contents
God’s Word says that faith without works is dead. It also essentially says that faith and action cannot be separated. That we must turn faith into actions in order for our faith to be living… to have any power or authority.
Join us as we discover how putting faith into action creates change, life, and aligns us with Heaven!
The Importance of Putting Faith into Action
James 2:14-26 gives us not only the importance of faith, but of faith in action. Not just having faith in our hearts, but having it flow through our hearts into our words and deeds.
Decreeing that God is alive and alive in us by our actions… decreeing truth. Honoring our Father through choosing to be like Him.
God does not just stand by when we need help. He listens to our prayers. He sees our tears. And He acts.
We are made in the image of God. And since we have a good God who does not just sit by, but actually acts… then should we not do the same? Should we not apply action to our faith?
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
—James 2:26
What Are Our Actions Saying?
Most of us have heard the saying, “actions speak louder than words.” This is not necessarily true—after all, it was God’s Words that created action, not the other way around—however, our actions do hold power.
It is often by actions that a person’s fruit is made known…
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
—James 2:14-17
Consider James 2:14-17. Certainly, we are told within those verses that faith is important… but it also demonstrates why actions are important. And why not taking action causes faith to ‘die.’
If we have faith in our hearts, even if we speak it out, yet our actions do not support that faith… what fruit will come of that faith? What life?
God loves us. He acts upon that love. And His acting upon it is what makes His love so powerful. Pure. And real.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
—Matthew 7:11
In that same way, our faith is made powerful, pure, and real when we add action to that faith.
Having a warm, fuzzy feeling in one’s heart is nice, but no one will credit it if nothing is done; no one will see that our faith is strong without application of it. No one will come to know our Creator through our faith, or honor Him by it, if we keep that faith only in our heart.
The Body cannot afford faith without action. We cannot be a people of ‘lifeless’ faith.
How Action Grows Faith
Faith in action has many purposes:
- It confirms faith
- It honors God
- It grows good fruit
- It brings forth life
- And Much More!
But another important thing it does is build faith!
One way we can think of this is along the lines of trust or confidence—partners of faith.
Let us consider two examples…
- With driving, for instance, the first few weeks behind the wheel of a car can feel odd. It is unfamiliar, and, generally, we do not trust our abilities or have confidence. Particularly if we face heavy traffic or inclement weather…
Yet, years later, with regular practice, most of us will have greater trust in our abilities; even greater confidence that we will be able to succeed in less-than-ideal conditions.
- Or consider a child standing four or five feet up from their parent, preparing to leap into the outstretched arms right below them. At first, this can feel scary. That first leap taking tremendous trust in the person preparing to catch them…
Yet, that same child, after repeating this leap of faith several times, will almost always feel joy and freedom when leaping down.
By repeatedly allowing our faith to become action, we are doing the same thing…
When we regularly get ‘behind the wheel’ of faith or take that leap of faith to jump into our Father’s awaiting arms… we grow our faith. Our trust and confidence in God, and in our ability to do what He desires us to do… they grow. Our faith turned into action empowers and builds our faith, allowing us to take greater leaps of faith and enter into the bigger and better things God has prepared for us!
What Does It Mean to be Justified by Faith?
“But someone will 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 one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
“Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?”
—James 2:18-25
James 2:18-25 reminds us how faith in action causes us to be justified. And how putting faith into action allows faith to be made perfect.
Abraham was justified by his act of faith—being willing to offer his son Isaac to the Lord. Yes, God and Abraham had relationship prior to this event. Yes, God blessed Abraham before this, as can be seen by Isaac’s very existence. But in the willingness to act upon his faith, Abraham’s faith was made perfect. And it was accounted to Abraham as righteousness!
Are We Ready to Put Action to Our Faith?
“…God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
—Genesis 1:27
We are made in the image of God. We are loved and blessed by Him.
As God’s children and as Believers, we have faith in this. We believe in God and in His goodness. However, do our actions confirm this? Does our fruit speak of our faith?
We do not receive salvation because of works. We are not pushed aside if we fail to ‘perform.’ Works or actions have other purposes. Purposes that bring life, bear good fruit, and grow faith. Purposes that honor our Father, bring justification, and the perfection of faith!
Choosing to act upon faith is a decision of LOVE.
It is a love note TO God.
It is a part of bringing HIS KINGDOM to earth.
Deciding to put action into our faith is not legalism. It is not unkind or bondage. Instead, it is like a child jumping into their Father’s arms in faith… laughing as they experience the fullness of love and freedom. And that, that is the sort of faith we can have when we are willing to take that ‘risk’ and leap!