Faith and Deeds
“faith . . . works. These two should be together; there is a close relationship between the two. Faith produces works; and works make faith perfect, meaning “mature” or “complete.” (Foundation Study Bible, James 2:22)
“The faith that saves is a complete faith, not just the mind and the tongue but the whole man trusting in the living God. This means our faith and our relationship with God—our justification—are dynamic and living. Our faith grows and affects our actions, or it dies. “Faith alone”, static faith, does not save. We must nurture our faith in God and love for Him through our works.” (The Orthodox Study Bible, James 2:14-19)
“God’s gift of faith will not flower without our actively receiving and implementing this gift. We mortal men and women must put our faith to work. We must participate with the Lord through our daily struggles until our faith becomes great.” (Dynamis 11/12/2018)
“Love has to be nurtured or it dies. Faith has to be lived or it becomes dry. Our Church life and worship have to be practiced or we become stale and flat, and our prayer and practice empty.” (Father John Zeyack)
“Neither Abraham's faith nor his justification is merely momentary, static, or once-and-for-all. It is dynamic, a growth process that finds its natural and normal realization in good works. Far from being just point-in-time, Abraham's justification covered at least 25 years after God first declared him just. It is living and active faith that saves!” (The Orthodox Study Bible, James 2:20-24)
“Hearing the gospel alone is not enough, for salvation is based not on hearing alone, nor on faith alone, but also on doing the things spoken by Christ (see Jam 2:24)…faith and works are indissolubly linked. Faith is completed, i.e. made perfect, when we act on that which supports and furthers what our God-given faith discerns.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Luke 6:46-49, Dynamis 10/21/2013)
“Faith is not just knowledge. It is action. James 2:17 reads “so, faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” Works do not save us without faith. Faith and works go together in concert with God’s grace in order for one to attain salvation…Perhaps the key moment in the life of a Christian is that moment they go from hearer to doer…the ultimate and necessary step is when understanding translates into action, when we move from hearers to doers.” (Fr. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis)
“We are not asked merely to call ourselves Christians; we are asked to be Christians through our deeds.” (St. Ignatius of Antioch)
“How you believe must affect how you live; creed must influence conduct.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Ephesians 4:1)
“God intends for the words of His church to touch the world. And when we speak lovingly and respectfully to one another, we literally identify ourselves as His disciples. God knew that loving words, matched with loving deeds, would be the greatest source of evangelism.” (Ron Mehl)