Part 16: Works - Faith Proven

Grows from

Faith (abiding in the Vine)

James 2:17

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
“Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.”

John 15:5

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
“I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Key passages

Ephesians 2:8-10

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.”

John 15:2

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
“Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

John 15:5

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
“I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:6

“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”
“If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

John 15:8

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
“In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.”

Matthew 7:19-20

“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
“Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

James 2:14-17

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you tells them, ‘Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;’ yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.”

James 2:24, 26

“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. … For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
“You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. … For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.”

Matthew 5:16

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
“Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Titus 2:14

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.”

Titus 3:5, 8

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; … This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”
“Not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, … This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you insist confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

Galatians 5:6

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision amounts to anything, but faith working through love.”

Revelation 22:12

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.”

1 Corinthians 3:13-14

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”
“Each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is. If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.”

What Scripture says

Not saved BY works, but saved FOR works (Eph 2:8-10).
Saved according to mercy, not by works of righteousness — yet maintain good works (Titus 3:5, 8).
Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).
Justified by works AND not by faith only (James 2:24).
Works are evidence faith is alive — they don’t earn salvation, they prove it.
Good works → glorify the Father (Matt 5:16).
Faith works through love (Gal 5:6).
Works will be tested at the Day (1 Cor 3:13-14; Rev 22:12).
Fruit is not optional for a branch in the Vine — the Father takes away every branch that does not bear fruit (John 15:2).
Fruitful branches are pruned — cut back that they may bear more fruit (John 15:2). Pruning is not punishment; it is the vinedresser’s care for what already lives.
Fruitless branches are cast out, withered, burned (John 15:6).
By fruits, we know a tree — every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down (Matt 7:19-20).

Connections

To Faith — faith without works is dead (James 2:17); the branch bears fruit only by abiding, and abides by faith (John 15:4-5; Rom 11:20)
To Grace — saved by grace, not works; created for works (Eph 2:8-10)
To Love — faith works through love (Gal 5:6)
To Mercy — saved according to His mercy, not works (Titus 3:5)
To Glorifying God — works lead men to glorify the Father (Matt 5:16); the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit (John 15:8)
To Patience — pruning produces more fruit; tribulation produces perseverance and character (John 15:2; Rom 5:3-4)
To the Vinedresser (the Father) — He prunes fruit-bearing branches and takes away fruitless ones (John 15:1-2)

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, we are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that You prepared beforehand. Thank You that we are not saved by works, but saved for them.

Keep us abiding in the vine, for without Christ we can do nothing. Let our faith be alive and show itself in what we do, so that others may see and glorify You.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.