Are we saved by works?

In short, no.

James is considered to be a slightly controversial epistle because some people interpret the second part of chapter 2 as a proposition of salvation by works. It isn't, it is just a different approach from Paul. Ephesians 2.8-9 says that we are saved by GRACE, through FAITH, for GOOD WORKS, and this is the summary of all the New Testament preaches on the subject of salvation. James, in saying that faith without works is dead, means exactly that, a result of our faith in Jesus is that we will want to do his will. In other words, faith leads to action. A faith without good works is not really a faith because you are not responding to the full impact of what God has done for you. It is lazy and selfish.

Our works will never save us; our salvation was won for us when Jesus took our rubbish upon himself on the cross, thus allowing us to die to our old life and rise to live a new life (2 Cor 5.17) dedicated to him. We simply believe in his death and resurrection on our behalf and trust that he will bring us through death to live with him eternally. But, and it's a fairly big but, the way we SHOW that we have undergone this change is by living in a new way; going out of our way to look after those who may be marginalised by society, not judging people or showing favouritism and watching what we say and the language we use. Christians should stand out from the crowd, and not just because they wear socks and sandals or because they have a fish on the back of their car; you should stand out at school or college because you talk to the new kid, be friendly to everyone and stick up for your less popular classmates, not to mention that your friends should notice that you do not swear or join in with the classroom gossip. Let us start making our communities better places by putting our faith into action.

Favouritism God's way

How many of you, if a homeless man walked into church on Sunday, would go and say 'hi' and invite him to sit next to you? Why/not? Would you be scared, or think that someone else would do it, or would it be because you couldn't be bothered? Now would that change if someone who clearly had money to burn walked in looking lost, Alan Shearer maybe, or someone not so famous, but obviously wealthy? It makes you think, doesn't it? I'm ashamed to say that I would be much more likely to be welcoming to someone who seemed more like me, and dare I say it, a bit more respectable and socially aware. But that is all it is, perception.

James tells his readers in no uncertain terms that it is wrong to show favouritism because, quite simply, we are equal as far as God is concerned. The church is a place where sinners saved by grace can get together to build one another up and worship our amazing God. In the kingdom it is not money that matters; James reminds his readers that poor people have amazingly big faith in God and that they too have as much of a share in the kingdom as millionaires. If you want a good rule of thumb, James' advice is to remember the greatest commandment and love our neighbours as ourselves (verse 8). In fact to ignore this and continue to show favouritism is to sin (verse 9). James doesn't mince his words and we need to seriously consider what God is saying to us.