Faith

One of my friends was doing a Bible study with her teenager. He wanted to know what her Facebook friends thought James 2: 18 means.  

One of the first things I thought of was that Jesus said, You will recognize them by their fruits. Then he said, Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. (Matt. 7:16-17)  
But then I also thought of the fact that we are all sinners, and it is Not works that saves us. It is the act of accepting God's free gift (grace) that saves us, and that takes Faith. Galatians 5:6 says, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love." They will know we are Christians by our love, and we have to have faith to know God.

So, I could say it is complicated, but only because we make it so. We have to believe like a child does, which is simply and completely. Of course, I know that it seems complicated when we let sin enter into our lives: however, I don't know about you, but when that happens, I am always reminded of God's free grace, as well as the fact I should forgive others as He has forgiven me. Also, I need to live out my faith, and be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer.

Prayer: 

Father God, I praise and glorify Your Holy Name. You are love. And because of You, I feel loved. I pray that I will live my daily life in a way that pleases you. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen