James 2:14-17 - Can Faith Be Without Works?

Today, Sunday November 22 - James 2:14-17 - The great reformer, Martin Luther has been quoted as saying, "The Book of James is an epistle of straw." If you remember, his message that laid the foundation for the great protestant reformation was, "The just shall live by faith" or said another way, "Justification by faith and faith alone."  Martin Luther was dealing with the religious, ritualistic , work oriented, church of his day and did not want anyone to suspect that James was teaching you needed to have works to be saved.  For sure our salvation is based solely on a genuine faith before a Holy God.  But only God can see our hearts and know the genuineness of our faith.  James in this passage is speaking about the truth that our works prove the genuineness of faith before the world and people around us.  James has been warning us that it possible to think we are saved when in reality we are not and we have been deceived. In these verses, James discusses the relationship between faith and works.  What kind of faith really saves a person? Is it necessary to perform good works in order to be saved?  How can a person tell whether or not he is exercising true saving faith? James answers these questions by explaining to us that there are three kinds of faith, only one of which is true saving faith.  We will look at these tomorrow!  I trust you will continue this important study will me!  God bless!