The True Words of Faith
by Christopher Hendrix
Living at an intersection of various cultures has taught me many things. Some of these include similarities between all people. For instance, people enjoy laughing. God has created humor; people tell stories and jokes to make others laugh. Another example involves eating. Each group prides themselves on some dish or food from their nationality, and people enjoy eating. However, one of the most common similarities all cultures have is the use of words. People make statements about who they are or what they will do. Yet, these declarations end up being hollow and empty. They float from the mouth and disappear into the air. They are vapors that fizzle out with no backing.of it. No one is good except the Giver of the Law.
In the West, within the past few years, we have seen cultural bandwagons such as anti-racism, COVID-19, and sexuality come to the front. Those who act as cultural priests have laid out the proper narrative to receive justification and forgiveness of sin. If someone says the right things, gives assent to the account, and keeps his or her words in line, then that person is righteous. It doesn’t matter if actions follow, just as long as words agree with the predominant belief. For example, the sexual revolution big wigs preach tolerance. Yet, when someone speaks the biblical definition of marriage, only intolerance follows towards the Christian. Other examples include speaking out against the overreach of the governments during COVID-19 classified people as domestic terrorists. All the while, leaders went to parties without masks and apologized for getting caught afterward.
Watch Pastor Chris Hendrix’s sermon on James 2:14-20.
The undergirding thread in these examples, and across cultures, is the abuse of words. This easily slips into the church. From our sermon series in James, he hits at this very issue. James 2:14 says,
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
A mere declaration that someone is Christian does not guarantee a person is saved. In fact, our words don’t save us at all. It’s the work of God that saves us. Faith is given to us as a gift. We believe in the Triune God because of His work in our hearts. Places like Romans 9:16, Ephesians 2:8–9, and 1 Peter 1:5 show us that faith originates with God, not us. So then, it’s not our words that bring us faith, but God’s Word. The same God who created all things by the power of His Word is the same God who makes us alive by the power of His Word. So then, when people declare faith in Christ, they declare that salvation has been gifted to them. They are declaring to have received something from the outside and given inside. They are declaring an invisible act of the Spirit has worked in their hearts to bring them new life because of Christ. The Christian’s words aren’t filled with power, but they communicate power.
The proof of this power is seen in their works. James tells us that the declaration of God’s work is affirmed by the works in that person’s life. Contrary to the world that focuses only on words, the Christian life is one of action in conjunction with words. If someone says he or she is a Christian, their life should look like it. If someone says he or she is united to Christ, that person should look like Christ. Works don’t complete the process of salvation or finalize the work of faith. Works give testimony to the presence of faith, but not just any kind of faith, a saving faith.
When someone speaks a statement of belief, faith is present. The question isn’t, is faith there? The question is, what kind of faith is there? Is it a saving faith or a dead faith? That’s James’ question in James 2:14–20. True saving faith is evidenced through godly and holy works. A dead faith stops at words. A dead faith gives assent to the truths of the Bible but does not act by the Bible. A dead faith claims belief in God, but by the works seen, actually believes in the self. The self is the highest authority, and the actions reveal this underlying faith.
So, are you a self-proclaimed Christian but merely virtue signaling? Have you only declared to be a Christian, but your life does not match up with loving, serving, giving, sacrificing, and dying to self and sin? Then, repent and believe. Repent for your sin, your lying, and your abuse of words. Believe not just the intellectual facts‑though they are essential—but upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe in His nature and work, and look to Him as Savior and King. Trust Him, then go and live from this faith. And as you see your life conform more to the image of Christ, then know your words are proven true through the Spirit’s sanctifying work. For this, give God praise for the true words of faith.