Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ. Ten Holy Martyrs of Crete (249-51).
James 2:14-26. Mark 10:46-52.
Read James 2:14-26
One of the major errors that has come out of the Protestant Reformation is the notion that faith alone is necessary for salvation which thereby excludes the salvific and sanctifying quality of good works. It is believed that one of the most important figures in the Reformation wished to exclude the passage found in today’s epistle from the canon of scripture for this reason.
The Apostle James however could not be clearer: without works, faith is dead, lifeless, without value. Faith without good works cannot save.
Works, on the other hand, flow from faith and perfects it. They are not just a sign of an authentic faith, but contribute in a meaningful way to our salvation. Good works not only build character, they increase the life of God in our hearts since they are incarnated expressions of God’s love that we enact in our lives. They therefore not only increase God’s life in us, but communicate God’s love to others, building others up.
With this in mind, let us always look for avenues for good works, ways that we can communicate God’s goodness to people around us. These good works are sure to sanctify us and others, and conform our hearts to Christ’s, whom we seek to love and serve all the days of our lives.