James 2:20-26 “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Dynamic Faith is a faith that is real. It has power and the results of that power is a changed life. Faith is an informed acknowledgment of what God has revealed in his Word. We receive our spiritual rebirth through God’s word. In this section of James Chapter two, James uses both Abraham and Rahab to illustrate dynamic faith. As I mentioned in the devotions, “Dead Faith” and “Demonic Faith”, we all have faith in something. The important question is what is your faith in? No matter how much faith you have if it is not in Jesus it will make no difference where you spend eternity. Without faith in Him, you will spend eternity in Hell. No “good intentions” or “this is what I think” will change that outcome. We are not saved by faith in faith, we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ as revealed in His Word. Let me be clear it is dynamic faith that saves!
Dynamic faith is the whole package. It involves the intellect, the emotions, and the will! This is the whole person. Our mind understands the truth; the heart desires the truth, and the will acts upon the truth. This faith leads to action and it is the obedience that leads to a changed life. James reminds us of that again in verse 20. We must have works to back up what we believe.
Justification is the beginning of the work that God does in us. It is where God declares us Just-as-if-I’d-Never- Sinned, based on the finish work of Jesus on the cross. It happens instantly when we repent and place our faith in Him. The act of justification is not something we do. It is an act of God. When this happens to us, those around us will notice we are different, because we are living a changed life. We will demonstrate our faith by our works.
Abraham passed the test. God instructed him to take his only son Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice to him. Abraham, step by step, did exactly what God told him to do. When God saw Abraham was committed to obeying him God provided a lamb. For this beautiful story of real dynamic faith read Genesis chapter 22. I cannot imagine what must have been going through Abraham’s mind as he bound his son and laid him on an altar. However, we get a real view of what kind of man Abraham was when we see the son obeying. Abraham had been the kind of father that was completely trustworthy, loving and purposefully obedient to God. This is the result of a dynamic faith and his son trusted him because he knew it was real. I’m sure because of his father’s faith it was easier for Isaac to transfer those feelings to his heavenly Father, to have real faith!
Rahab also believed and obeyed. We see in Joshua chapter two and six her story. Read those for yourself and see what a loving compassionate God we serve. See how he is no respect of persons and longs to see all come to him. God saved her and her family from total destruction based on her dynamic faith. Rahab, in almost every narrative, is mentioned as the harlot. She lived a life of a harlot before her conversion, but of course, when she placed her faith in God she lived a changed life. I think God allowed us to know this about her to show us that anyone who wants to have a dynamic faith can.
