Faith And Love

If I have all the faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am no one.1 Corinthians 13:2

It is by faith we please God and faith without love does not profit, Paul writes. "That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring."Romans 4:16 So we see that it is through faith, that it be according to grace, or by grace through faith, not of the law. Now, James asks is not faith without works dead? One is not justified by faith alone? Paul writes we are justified by faith not by works? However, in context of scripture, we will see that they agree as it is conditional; faith and love.

by grace you are saved through faith and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone boast.Ephesians 2:8

Paul writes we are saved not by works. James asks is not faith without works dead, for example, "brothers what does it gain if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Not power faith to save him? Now if a brother or sister without clothes and is lacking daily food, and someone says to them, Go in peace, be warmed, and be filled however doesn't give to the them the things the body needs what does it profit?"4 Does faith have power to save us? According to Paul, "we take into account by faith, a man is justified apart from works of the Law."5 Paul writes justification is by faith, "therefore being justified by faith..."6 James would seem to contradict Paul but Paul speaks of works of the Law. And is not James' question similar to that of John?

if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?1 John 3:17

James asks how does this man have faith but John asks how does he have love. Now, we have more insight into the "works" James is saying that faith should produce, if I love God I would love orphans and widows too. It is through deeds of love; the royal law, benevolence, helping the poor, not showing partiality... Now doesn't Paul write the same? He says justification is by faith, without works of the law, but he says faith without love is nothing. John writes love requires deeds, "we should not love in word nor in tongue but in deed and in truth."1 John 3:18 If faith requires love and love requires deeds then faith requires love and its deeds. Thus faith produces works of love. Though I like better Paul's reasoning, that it is "faith working through love," he and James agree. 

 

Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.1 John 4:8

James defines loving your brother as works of faith but John defines it as agape love. James argues in a different way that justification is by faith with works because faith without deeds of love doesn't profit us. Paul writes we are justified by faith, not by works, but also he writes faith without love profits nothing. We see that love is the work of faith that James writes of, thus Paul and James agree. It is a conditional statement; Faith and Love. "By grace are you saved through faith..." Such can best be summed in the writings of Paul as "faith working through love." Such is how we are saved, by grace through faith.

Through this faith that according to grace, for to be sure the promise to all the seed, not to those of the Law only, but also to those of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.Romans 4:16

We see that it is according to grace so that it not be by works of the Law, "For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith."10 Paul writes righteousness is a gift we receive in Christ and both faith and love is a fruit of the Spirit.11 Thus we see again that James and Paul agree and Paul writes it is according to grace we are saved, not by works, not in adhering to the letter of the law, but it is those who walk according to the Spirit that fulfill God's requirements. James writes that faith is justified by works but the works he mentions is according to grace or love.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.Galatians 5:6

James writes as a mirror into our soul, looking into truth, not being a hearer only, but a doer of truth. There is no greater truth than that God is love, and that he loves us, and He requires if we say we love Him then we should love others. This is not a list of things that we use to compare ourselves to others, measuring one another with one another, but it is a matter of being judged under the law of liberty, where mercy triumphs judgment, as we look into the truth, we see more clearly as face to face with Christ as we are truly known, being transformed from glory to glory. It glorifies the Father that we become like Him.

The writings of James as well as Paul should be contemplated by all who think they "know" God. Paul warns of boasting in self-righteousness, justification by works of the law, and of a faith without love. James warns of a faith without deeds of love, a believing that neglects Christ, "you believe that God is one...," one where judgment is chosen over mercy, of a tongue unbridled, and of a believing that is a "head" knowledge of God without a relationship with Him or others. Both together agree that it is faith with deeds of love, or "faith working by love."

"Let all that you do be done in love" (1 Corinthians 16:14). Love must be done in deed and truth (1 John 3:18). "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14-17). As faith without works is dead, works without God's love is nothing. Show me your love apart from your deeds, and I will show you my love by my deeds. Those strong in their faith, love, and hope should bear the infirmities of the weak, not for pleasing selves, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, having the mind of Christ toward one another, in one accord with one mouth, glorifying God -- Love of God."

For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,Matthew 25:42

Jesus warns that those who know Him will not neglect "deeds" of love. James speaks as Christ did, "if a brother or sister without clothes and is lacking daily food..." and as John asks, how does the love of God abide in such a person? Faith is a knowing, of personal relationship, which is a faith that produces deeds of love, love is who God is and as Jesus said this is the difference between the sheep and the goats. Love is how the world will know the disciples of Jesus from the goats, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”15

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld the glory of Him, a glory as of the only begotten, with a Father full of grace and truth.John 1:14

Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, sent His Son to save, deliver, redeem us, "in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast."17 In Christ we have such bold access to a Father full of grace and truth. What profits us is faith working by love; faith and love.

To Live Is Christ