FAITH PERFECTED ACTIVATES GRACE
Thursday – February 19, 2026
Video link: https://youtu.be/BLV_yZIU-wg
Greetings dear ones and welcome to our ongoing study of the Book of James. I will once again continue with the study of faith and the fact that faith does not stand alone. Perhaps you will recall that in earlier studies we established that faith, love, and doing (works) are inseparable. Now, to our text picking up where we left off yesterday.
James 2:21-26 (KJV)
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Starting at the top of our Scripture passage for today verse twenty-one would seem to make it sound like all is by works or in the doing. We know that is not the Truth just as faith alone or believing something, does not stand alone. This is a good example of why we evaluate all things, all Scripture in context and in the light of the full counsel of Scripture. When God spoke to Abram/Abraham (we see in the Word) he believed good becoming fully persuaded which moved him to action. This perfected faith and he was not only declared righteous by God but was called a friend of God. Are you and I friends of God? Are we doing what Abraham did? Let’s get a little more insight into Abraham being the father of the Church.
Romans 4:11 (KJV)
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Circumcision is symbolic of the removal of sin in the flesh and by the shedding of blood seals the Blood Covenant with God. Two thousand years later Jesus would take our sin on His body. You will remember that God shed surrogate blood in Genesis 15:7-21. God shed His blood on Calvary sealing the Blood Covenant with those who receive forever. Abraham is the father of all who believe, believe God, because He was willing to believe God, do as God said, and enter into the Blood Covenant that would bring the Messiah, the Lamb of God into the earth.
Romans 4:16-18 (KJV)
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Now we see another aspect of faith and works in Abraham, in us all. That other aspect is grace which is the Power of God at work in our behalf. The Grace of God is no less than the Holy Spirit, another facet of God the Holy Spirit. Grace is not a new testament idea or reality alone. Let’s wrap this up. Abraham believed God and acted upon that belief, which is works, and in that way, perfected faith. Believing and doing is an important aspect of divine love. When faith was perfected by the doing Grace brought to pass the promise. Works the same today.
TAKE HOME:
- Faith plus works perfects faith bringing it to a point of fruitfulness for neither one amounts to anything alone.
- Faith plus works is an important aspect of divine love which is the power or fuel of faith.
- Faith perfected gives authority for Grace to act.
Lord willing, I will resume right here tomorrow. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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