James 2:26 - Faith without deeds is dead

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Pues como el cuerpo sin el espíritu está muerto, así también la fe sin obras está muerta.

James 2:26

Commentary

James compares faith to the human body. He likens works to the spirit. The body without the spirit is lifeless, useless, valueless. So faith without works is dead, ineffective, worthless. Obviously it is a spurious faith, not genuine saving faith. To summarize, then, James tests our faith by our answers to the following questions. Am I willing like Abraham to offer the dearest thing in my life to God? Am I willing like Rahab to turn traitor to the world in order to be loyal to Christ?

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Jas 2:26). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The body (Gk. sōma) represents faith (Gk. pistis). Breathing (works) demonstrates the body is alive. Works demonstrate that faith is alive.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Jas 2:26). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

3 John 1:11 - Do not imitate what is evil but what is good

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

3 John 1:11

Commentary

The proof of our commitment to God is that we personally reject evil and embrace a life patterned after that which is good. The idea of has not seen God is explained more fully in 1 John 3:4-9. The lifestyle that we exhibit is a direct reflection of the extent to which we have seen God. If we were to see God perfectly, we would never sin. Our sin is a result of a faulty vision of God. Therefore, the Scriptures encourage us to look at Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:16-18; Heb. 12:2, 3), for the day when we see Him perfectly will be the day that we will be like Him (1 John 3:2, 3).

Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S. 3 Jn 11