Read: James 2:18
Martin Luther was not a fan of the Book of James because he felt it placed too much value on deeds and not enough on faith alone. He’d been at loggerheads with the Roman Catholic Church over teaching that good deeds were necessary for salvation, and here was Jesus’ brother writing about the importance of those very deeds!
Since then, we’ve come to better understand James’ message about deeds and salvation. A person who has been saved, who puts Christ in the center of his or her life, feels called to do what he can for others. Saving faith results in action. Even Satan knows Jesus is the Son of God, but just knowing that doesn’t do him any good.
If I’m in a large building and someone rushes into the room and says there’s a fire on the second floor, I will flee to safety and thus be saved. If I believed the person and did nothing, I would die. Like the horse and cart, faith leads and deeds follow.
Martin Luther would appreciate the joy a Christ follower experiences in volunteering in, say, a soup kitchen because their love for Jesus spreads out to others. He would shake his head in sorrow at the poor soul who hates every minute of their self-imposed “sacrifice” in the soup kitchen, thinking to atone for sin.
Thank You, Jesus, for atoning completely for my sin so that I am now free to love and serve You with joy. I know that at the end of my days, I will gaze on You for all eternity.
