James 2:26‏

26. "For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead."

Everyone alive right now has a spirit that will never ever die! When we die those spirits are released from our bodies into eternity for the next events of God's eternal plan. Similarly, our faith (what we believed while we were alive), when we die will release (or end) the record of our works along with that spirit. In fact, when our spirits stand before judgment, that record of works will already be present. Everything we have ever done or NOT done will be used in the determination of assigning either, "Life-Eternal"... or "Eternal Death".

Here at the end of Chapter 2 we look back to find that the mature Christian "trusts in and relies upon, all that God's Word says and follows the leading of The Holy Spirit. Our faith is not dead intellectual faith, but one from a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the dynamic faith of men like Abraham and women like Rahab, faith that changes a life and goes to work for God. It is important that each professing Christian examine his own heart and life and make sure that we do possess a true saving faith.

Satan is the great deceiver; one of his devices is imitation. If he can convince a person that counterfeit faith is true faith, he has that person in his power... So, let's remember the argument James presented, (see also 2 Cor 13:5) between our-self and the Holy Spirit, which WILL take place if we truly have been saved.

Let's pick up with James verse 3:1 next time.

I love you.