"Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself" (James 2:17). The message of the New Covenant is that His law is written on our hearts. He is at work to will (desire) and to work (do). You are saved by grace through faith, and that is not of yourself, it's God's gift, so none of us can boast about that. The way you get in is the way go on. (You live the same way you were saved--by grace through faith....
Lest we do nothing, and blame it on God's failure to motivate & activate us, James comes in with a strong confrontive reminder: faith works. If you really believe God is sufficient it will affect your actions. If you believe He loves you, that He is a real being, that He desires fellowship with you, you will not seek to fill the void in your life with anything else. Let me restate that. If you are falling prey to any sin, particularly any habitual, ensnaring sin, then you do not believe God is who He says He is, or loves you the way He says He does, or is sufficient to fill the emptiness in your heart.
It was "by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out not knowing where he was going.... looking for a the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." Abraham heard the call of God. He believed ("faithed") God's promise. The only response that faith allowed was to go where God said. To not go, would be to say that God was not faithful to his word. But notice where his focus was. He did not go looking for an earthly city, but one whose architect and builder was God. He did not know where he was going, but He knew that God was able to supply him whatever He promised. His faith was expressed through obedience.
By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who promised. What an example! He who promised is faithful! Sarah "faithed" this fact. She had no ability to do what God had said. She was not able to bear a child. Yet God promised that she and her "as good as dead" husband would be parents. By her faith she "received ability."
The way you get in really is the way you go on! The faith that saved you was not of your own doing; it was the gift of God, so that even in your faith you could not boast any part in the act of salvation. The way you get in is the way you go on. The faith to do the will of God is not of your own doing. It is the gift of God, so you will not boast in what wonderful things you have done for God in your life. In that faith comes the divine "dunamis," the ability, the power, to do the will of God, because He that promised is faithful. He is at work both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
If you truly have faith, you will act on it. He will enable you to. If you do not choose to do His will, it is because you lack faith. If you do not choose to resist temptation, it is because you lack faith. If you are "unable" to do what He has said, it is because you lack faith. If you say you have faith, and you do not have the works to go along with it, then your faith is at best "little faith." I'm right there with you. In the days when men were known by their first name and city of residence, I'd probably have been called Ohyee of Littlefaith. God has often surprised me with His faithfulness in ways that have gently confronted me with my own shortage of faith in a given situation.
Jesus refers to his disciples as men of little faith on five occasion, each time giving a different explanation for their condition. Over the next few days, we'll look at these. I had a blast learning from these; hope you do, too.
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