"So you see, faith by itself is not enough. Unless your faith produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."
Have you seen the wanted posters from the old west? They offer a reward and state that you can claim it whether the fugitive is brought in DEAD OR ALIVE! If God had a poster for His children it would read ALIVE AND NOT DEAD! Faith that is not alive is dead and not useful to produce good fruit in the Kingdom of God. We would look at a fruit tree in the garden and the important question is, "Got Fruit"? What is the answer you would give if we ask you the same question, "Got Fruit"? When you came to the Lord you became a new person with a new spirit. You were filled with the Holy Spirit and with new faith and Hope. As a new man you abandoned your old sinful ways and demonstrated with your new faith a life filled with goodness and righteousness. You did good deeds unto others as God had done for you.
Have you continued to demonstrate your faith by doing good deeds? Are your actions such that God and others know of your faith? If your faith does not produce good deeds it is inoperative and useless. Is your faith dead and useless? How can God or others know that you are still alive in Christ Jesus? You will be known by your fruit and you will be known by your good deeds! Faith that is unproductive and spiritually deficient is inactive, ineffective and worthless! IS YOUR FAITH DEAD OR ALIVE?
You will be shown to be justified and acceptable in God's sight by your actions and your works and deeds. You are not Saved by any works that you do, and all the glory belongs to God, but because of your Salvation you will as a consequence do good deeds. It is natural to be more like God because you belong to God. An example is that Abraham brought his son Isaac to the alter in obedience to God and that action spoke volumes about his Faith in God. Abraham's actions were done in co operation with God's plan and request. This is a true expression and exhibits full belief in God. A man is justified and pronounced righteous by God through what he does and not alone by his belief or faith in God. We to must do works of obedience as well as believe and have faith in God. Have you produced good deeds lately? IS YOUR FAITH DEAD OF ALIVE?
