CHRISTIAN

James 2:14,19,26—What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? . . . You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder . . . As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Do you know how to tell the difference between a real Rolex watch and a fake one? A fake Rolex can be purchased inexpensively in Bangkok, Thailand and several other Southeast Asian countries. Those who don’t know much about watches may think they are getting the real thing. Others buy them for the image they project. But it’s easy to spot a phony watch. On a real Rolex, the second hand rotates in a smooth steady fashion—the workmanship of master craftsmen. The second hand of a fake Rolex jumps from position to position.

I can say I have faith and claim to be a Christian. But if my life does not show the signature handiwork of Christ changing me to be like Him, you may rightfully question my claim. The proof of authentic faith is evidenced by our obedience to God. The Bible is clear in stating that faith without action is dead. In other words, the test of a true Christian is faith that produces action! If we think we are Christians just because we believe in Jesus we need to stop and consider the fact that even Satan believes in Jesus. I don’t think we will see him in heaven!

Inspiration

The test of a Christian, according to the New Testament, is not that a man believes aright, but that he lives as he believes, that is, he is able to manifest that he has a power which, apart from his personal relationship to Jesus, he would not have.—Oswald Chambers in The Shadow of An Agony