What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So 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 apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
If there’s a set of verses most serious Christians are familiar with, it’s this one. James warning that our faith is not genuine when it doesn’t exhibit faith should be a shrill ring in people’s ear.
The question is often brought up (usually as a means to avoid the scripture) what constitutes "works".
James actually answers that pretty clear in the next couple verses.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
If you remember the story of Abraham offering up his son Isaac, you’ll remember that God commanded Abraham to do that. It was test, and God sent an angel to stop him just before it happened. James’ example of works isn’t one of showing hospitality, or generosity, or mercy. It’s actually simpler. It’s simply of someone obeying God. That was his work.
So, what are "works?" Whatever God has commanded. If you boil it down far enough, we find that James is saying that a Person’s "faith" is not faith at all, unless their lives actually look like Christian lives.
