What the Bible says about Faith and Works

Have you ever said you believed something but didn't act on it? The Bible teaches us that real faith always leads to action.

Today I will share with you what the Bible says about faith and works, and look at real stories from Scripture that show us why both matter.

What Does "Faith Without Works" Mean?

The phrase "faith without works is dead" comes from the book of James in the New Testament. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote a letter to early Christians explaining what real faith looks like.

Here's what he said in James 2:14-26:

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

James was teaching that saying you believe in God isn't enough. True faith shows itself through our actions. It's like saying you know how to swim but never getting in the water. How can anyone tell you really know how to swim if you never do it?

An Example: The Person in Need

James gives a simple example in his letter. Imagine someone comes to you who is hungry and cold, wearing torn clothes. If you say, "God bless you! I hope you stay warm and get something to eat," but then you walk away without helping them, what good did your words do?

Real faith would look like this: "You're hungry and cold? Come with me. Let me share my food with you and find you a warm coat." That's faith in action.

This reminds us of Jesus' own teaching about the Good Samaritan, who didn't just feel sorry for the injured man but actually stopped to help him.

Abraham: Faith That Led to Action

James uses Abraham as an example of someone whose faith led to works. Abraham believed God's promises, and his belief showed itself through his actions.

When God told Abraham to leave his home and go to an unknown land, Abraham didn't just say, "I believe you, God" and stay where he was. He packed up everything and went! That was faith in action.

The biggest test came when God asked Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22). This was incredibly difficult, but Abraham trusted God so much that he was willing to obey. At the last moment, God stopped Abraham and provided a ram instead. Abraham's willingness to act on his faith showed that his belief in God was real.

James writes: "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did" (James 2:22).

You can read more about Abraham and Isaac's story to see how Abraham's faith led to obedience.

Rahab: A Brave Woman Who Acted

James also mentions Rahab as an example of faith and works. Rahab lived in the city of Jericho when the Israelites were about to conquer it. She had heard about the amazing things God had done for Israel, and she believed that their God was the true God.

But Rahab didn't just believe in her heart and do nothing. When Israelite spies came to Jericho, she risked her life to hide them and help them escape. She acted on her faith by protecting God's people, even though it put her in danger.

Because of her faith and her actions, Rahab and her family were saved when Jericho fell. James says, "In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?" (James 2:25).

Read the complete account in the story of Rahab and the spies.

The Parable of the Two Builders

Jesus told a story that perfectly illustrates faith without works. Two men each built a house. One man was wise and built his house on solid rock. The other was foolish and built his house on sand.

When storms came, the house on the rock stood firm, but the house on sand collapsed completely. Jesus explained that the wise builder represents someone who hears His words and puts them into practice. The foolish builder represents someone who hears His words but doesn't act on them.

Jesus said: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24-27).

It's not enough to just hear or even believe Jesus' teachings. We must live them out. That's what makes faith real and strong. Learn more from the story of the wise man and the foolish man.

The Widow's Offering

Another powerful example comes from Jesus' observation of a poor widow at the temple. Rich people were putting large amounts of money into the temple treasury, making sure everyone noticed their generous gifts.

Then a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Jesus called His disciples over and said: "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on" (Mark 12:41-44).

The widow's faith in God was so strong that she gave everything she had, trusting God to take care of her. Her tiny gift was enormous in God's eyes because it cost her everything. Her faith led to sacrificial action.

Why Both Faith and Works Matter

Faith Comes First

We must understand that works don't create faith or earn salvation. The Bible is clear that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our good deeds can't make us right with God.

Works Follow Faith

But once we have genuine faith in God, it naturally shows itself through our actions. Think of it like a fruit tree. You don't tape apples onto a tree to make it an apple tree. Instead, if it's truly an apple tree, it will naturally produce apples. In the same way, if we have real faith, good works will naturally flow from our lives.

Faith and Works Together

James isn't saying that faith isn't important. He's saying that faith and works go together like two sides of the same coin. You can't have one without the other. Real faith will always produce works, and our works demonstrate that our faith is genuine.

As James concludes: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26).

What This Means for Us Today

1. Show Your Faith Through Kindness

When you see someone in need, don't just pray for them (though prayer is good!). Ask yourself: "What can I actually do to help?" Maybe you can share your lunch, help with homework, include someone who's alone, or give away something you don't need.

The Bible has many stories about kindness that show us how to put faith into action.

2. Obey God's Word

It's not enough to read the Bible or listen to sermons. We need to do what God's Word says. If the Bible says to forgive, we forgive. If it says to be honest, we tell the truth. If it says to love our enemies, we show kindness even to people who aren't kind to us.

3. Stand Up for What's Right

Like Rahab, sometimes faith means taking risks to do the right thing. This might mean standing up for someone being bullied, telling the truth when lying would be easier, or choosing to obey God even when others don't.

4. Give Generously

The widow gave all she had because she trusted God. While we should be wise with our resources, faith calls us to be generous. This might mean sharing our time, talents, money, or possessions with others.

5. Trust God and Take Action

Like Abraham, we need to trust God's promises enough to act on them. When God calls us to do something, we shouldn't just say "I believe" and do nothing. Real faith takes steps forward, even when we're scared or uncertain.

Examples for Kids

Here are practical ways children can show faith through works:

• At Home: Help with chores without being asked, share with siblings, obey parents cheerfully
• At School: Be kind to everyone, help classmates who struggle, include kids who are left out
• With Friends: Share your toys and snacks, forgive quickly, encourage others
• In Your Community: Participate in service projects, visit elderly neighbors, donate clothes or toys you've outgrown
• At Church: Serve in children's ministry, participate in missions projects, sing with enthusiasm

These small actions show that your faith in God is real. They're like the "works" James talks about - evidence that you truly believe. Find more ideas in our articles about serving others and serving your community as a Christian.

The Balance of Faith and Works

Sometimes people get confused and think James and Paul disagree. Paul says we're saved by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). James says faith without works is dead. But they're actually saying the same thing from different angles!

Paul is talking about how we become Christians - through faith alone, not by earning it. James is talking about what genuine Christian faith looks like - it always produces good works. Both are right!

Think of it this way: Faith is the root of a tree, and works are the fruit. The root is what makes the tree alive (faith saves us), but if the tree is truly alive, it will produce fruit (works prove our faith is real).

Questions to Think About

• Can you think of a time when you said you believed something but didn't act on it? What happened?
• What's one way you can show your faith through action this week?
• Which Bible character's example of faith and works inspires you most? Why?
• How can you tell if your faith is "alive" or "dead"?
• What's the difference between doing good works to earn God's love and doing good works because you already have God's love?

Remember This

Faith without works is like a car without gas - it looks like it should go somewhere, but it doesn't actually move. Or like a seed that never gets planted - it has potential but never becomes what it was meant to be.

God wants our faith to be alive and active. When we truly believe in God, trust His promises, and love Him with all our hearts, we'll naturally want to serve Him and help others. Our actions become the proof of what we believe inside.

Don't just say you have faith - show it! Let your life be full of good works that point people to God. That's what real, living faith looks like.

As you learn more about living out your faith, explore other Bible stories with moral lessons and good stories from the Bible that teach us how to follow Jesus.