James 2:14-24
Faith and Deeds
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
St. James teaches us the faith is very important...But also we must show and express this faith outwardly...In verse 24 St. James can be interpreted as saying we need both faith and deeds...Jesus in His parable of the separating of the sheep and goats, is in a sense discussing deeds...The Hebrew author in 10:24 says "let us spur one another on toward love and good deeds"...God saves us by His grace and our belief in that He sent His Son, Jesus, to save us...Maybe St. James is saying that God wants us to walk in a Godly path externally and outwardly and show the golden rule of love, which Jesus taught...