Understand Biblical Works A critic recently asked, "Why we must keep the Law?" Before I could answer he remarked that all we need is faith to receive salvation. Well, Satan's legions also believe and tremble (James 2:19). I quoted James 2:26 to him, that faith without works is dead. Then he said something that just didn't make any sense. He said that "works" is actually physical labor and has nothing to do with keeping the law. This really irritated me, that after reading most of James 2 he would be of the opinion that James is talking about doing a job. He is not alone; there are others who teach that James is just saying to put in a good day's work. That James said we should do the best possible quality work on the job Yahweh will allow. I agree that in every aspect of our lives we must seek perfection but that is only part what James was talking about. I looked up work in the New Testament to see what Strong's Concordance definition of work was and to see whether this person had a point that I had missed in the use of the word. Strong's Greek definition of works is: Greek 2041. eigon, er'-gon; from a prim. (but obsol.) eigo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by impl. an act: - deed, doing, labour, work. It turned out to be just what I expected work to be, but looking at the definition does not really explain how works was used in this context. To understand what James was talking about we must look at the verse in question more closely. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also," James 2:26. The first part of this verse explains that the body without spirit is dead. This could be explained three ways: prophetically, spiritually, and physically, but we are more interested in the latter two because they are what were being discussed at that time. The spiritual definition of this verse could be that the body is the temple of Yahweh and without the nourishment of the Word of Yahweh it is dead and not actively following Yahweh. The physical definition of this verse is that the body without activity is dead. This is true and it has been shown that a body without physical activity will soon die. If a person lacks physical activity but is still mentally active, he can live much longer. This person could be defined as having high spirits. The second part of this verse is directly related to the first in that the whole verse is an analogy. Faith without works is dead is the second part of this verse. The spiritual definition of this part of the verse is that to simply believe is not enough. You must do the works to complete the package that Yahweh wants. As we saw in the first part of the verse, one cannot exist without the other. If you do not do the works then you are saying that you believe in Yahweh but not enough to do His works, His will. The reverse is also true, because we teach our children the works and pray that it directs them to realize and believe in Yahweh. We can explain why we believe in Yahweh to our children but they must find faith on their own. The physical part of this verse is much harder to realize and explain. No matter how I explain the physical part of this verse, it seems to sound spiritual. The only way I truly can explain the physical part is through an example. You might know that a store is selling a sweater you always wanted at a price you can afford. Unless you go to the store and buy the sweater you will not fulfill your need. Now which understanding fits what James was talking about? Maybe you are not yet convinced that James was talking about keeping Yahweh's laws. "But will you know, 0 vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:20). "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" (James 2:21). Do you see how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (James 2:22) "And the scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed Yahweh, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of Yahweh" (James 2:23)." You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only," James 2:24. Abraham trusted that Yahweh knew what he was doing and had faith in Yahweh enough to give his son Isaac as an offering. Yahweh saw his works and faith, so he gave Abraham a lamb to sacrifice. Notice in James 2:23 that Abraham's works were imputed unto righteousness. Righteousness is the keeping of Yahweh's laws and being upright in all you do. If Abraham would have had to sacrifice Isaac then works alone would have just justified him. But it was his faith and works together that justified him to Yahweh. When you are confronted with a Scripture that poses a problem to someone, don't quote 50 more Scriptures because that will just confuse the person more. It must be a gradual process in which you quote a Scripture and give the person time to think about it and respond. It is all right to quote Scriptures that explain your responses but don't change directions. In the end witnessing is all to glorify Yahweh, so be respectful and courteous. | 
