James 2:17-18 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
Good works are the result of faith.
The two do not combine to bring salvation, rather they follow one another in a logical succession.
It is not true that everyone who does good works has faith, however. Some do work believing they may gain favor with God; these efforts can never bring about salvation.
On the other hand, a man who has faith in Christ will reveal it by his deeds or will continually endure the chastening of God.
We should not attempt good things simply for the sake of obedience, but also to make a statement in the world about our faith in a good God.
It is true that faith without works is dead.
So, what is the status of our faith today? More to the point: does the world around us have any evidence it exists?
James 2:17-18 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”