(James 2:14-18) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
There are some who feel there is a conflict between faith and works. Actually the two go together like inhaling and exhaling. Faith is taking the gospel in; works is taking the gospel out. The book of James balances off this matter of faith and works, and reminds us that the Christian must have both. True, we are not saved by works, but James reminds us also that we are not saved if good works do not follow. There is a short story of a Christian man that might help illustrate how faith and works go together. This man worked each day transporting tourists across a lake. On occasion he would present the gospel and its implications for life in a most unusual way. He had painted the word "Faith" on one of the oars of his rowboat and "Works" on the other. When they got out away from the shore, he would stop, and then begin to row with only one oar marked "Faith". The boat would then go in circles to the left. Reversing the process, he would pull on the other oar marked "Works". The boat would circle in the opposite direction. By this time the bewildered passengers were waiting for an explanation. He answered by telling his passengers, "You see, neither faith nor works stand alone. They are twins that cannot be separated!"
(James 2:20) Faith without works is dead.
