"So you see, faith by itself is not enough. Unless your faith produces good deeds,
it is dead and useless."
Remember the "Wanted" posters from the old western movies. A Reward was offered if you brought in the fugitive, DEAD OR ALIVE! If God had a poster made it would read "IS YOUR FAITH DEAD OR ALIVE?" The One Truth Today tells us how to know the answer. Unless your faith produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Having faith and nothing to show for it is the same as a living fruit tree that produces no "good fruit". How about you, have you "got fruit"? It is a natural consequence of being "born again", into a new eternal life, that you would change from the old sinful nature and become a person of faith and righteousness. How can you, your family or friends, and the Lord tell if you have a new spirit and a new faith? You will perform good deeds because of what the Lord has done for you, it will be easy and natural!
Your faith will be dead and useless unless there are some good deeds and good fruit to show for it. Have you demonstrated your faith by doing good deeds for others? Can God and your fellow humans easily see the difference in your new nature? Are you alive in Jesus Christ the Lord God. The threshold question, IS YOUR FAITH DEAD OR ALIVE? You will be known by your fruit, which is expressed in your actions and good deeds. Faith that is unproductive and spiritually deficient is not alive and might as well be dead! If you claim you have been Saved and are born again, but you are the same old person, doing the same old things, your faith is dead and useless!
If you want to be justified and acceptable to the Lord God you must prove it by your actions, words, and deeds. You will never have been saved by any works that you may have done and all the Glory for your new life belongs to God. However, the natural consequence of being more like the Lord is that it will be your desire to do good deeds for others. God loved you even when you were a sinner and because of His Love in your heart and life you will want to love and help others. If you belong to God you will want to be more like Him. You will want to please the Lord and be obedient to Him. Because of your faith in the Lord and His promises you will be inclined to express that love in loving others. You will produce good deeds as naturally as a healthy fruit tree produces fruit. Check your fruit. IS YOU FAITH DEAD OR ALIVE!
