Bob Jones: Faith Without Works is Dead

Faith without works is dead. Every born again Christian is given gifts according to 1 Peter 4:10. If you have gifts they are to be used for the Body of Christ.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:14-26

Little Faith Works

If you say you have faith but you have no works then your faith is inactive and dead. Usually pride and timidity prevents the gifts from touching one another in the Body of Christ. It's better to step out in faith and think that you've failed than to be timid and quiet. I've seen many times in the past when I thought I had really goofed in bringing the word but the word was verified within a month. We need to be bold and brave and minister to one another in faith. If you have faith and you don't work at it then your faith is unprofitable to anybody including yourself.
If you are a little immature but have active faith, then when you pray for people you have an insurance policy from your Daddy that covers your immaturity. He will perfect your faith to the degree you step out in. But you need to step out and begin to activate your faith before He begins to perfect you by His Spirit.
There are many different works but faith is what prepares us to do the works. We'll see the signs and wonders when we step out in faith and do the works. According to Joshua 1:9 those who are bold are getting ready to be used by the Holy Spirit:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Creative Faith

All things come into being through faith because faith is the substance of things hoped for according to Hebrews 11:1. Being mixed together with this hope, faith brings things into being out of nothing. This is what the Father did in the beginning when He created the heavens and the earth. He created them out of nothing and He wants sons and daughters that will be likened to Him by creating arms and legs out of nothing. These are the greater works that I believe are shortly going to manifest.
 

Works Without Faith Is Suicide

Presently most churches are teaching works and not faith. Works without faith is suicide. By only doing works you keep working to please the Father, but you'll never get there with a works approach. When you try to do works only to please, that will leave you miserable, discontent and unhappy, and you'll end up "committing spiritual suicide" or literally dying in faith.

What is works? Works is a religious spirit and it's not of the Father. A religious spirit is legalism, opinion, debate, judgment and criticism. Legalism will keep you bound from all pleasures that are permissible. Legalism is the law trying to earn by works what can only be obtained by faith and belief.
However, the Father wants us to be happy and that's why He's given us all good things. Therefore we must receive everything He gives us with joy and gladness (Deuteronomy 28:47).
When we believe and receive these blessings of the Father, it honors Him and we remain free from the yoke of bondage. The Father is saying, "Let your days be consumed with joy and gladness" – where you remain in the Father's eyes.
When you are motivated by works instead of faith you'll never get the job done... You're never going to succeed that way or you'll eventually backslide and quit trying. To be bound up in works is spiritual suicide because faith is what pleases God. We are saved by faith and it's actually what you believe in. If you believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit then you're a free person and you'll have so much going for you – especially joy, gladness and the blessings.
I believe there's a lot of sickness in the Body of Christ because so few are praying for the sick. Many times I've seen those who were just saved and immediately enter into healings and do the works of the Holy Spirit. This is what I believe He's saying, "Let your faith go forth into good works that will touch people who have a need and you'll be blessed in joy and gladness. Everything you sow into those who have a need will return to you many times."

Greater Works

Now is the time that faith and good works come together in the equipping and preparation of the saints. These are the greater works of John 14:12. By faith we can call those things that are not as if they were because we have the faith to do it. There's a remnant of Christians that's getting ready to step out and do the greater works.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." John 14:12-14
The Father will be glorified through signs and wonders. These are the greater works working through a Body of Believers activated by faith and motivated by love.

Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. John 14:8-11
We received the revelation of the Son of Heaven 2000 years ago and the revelation of the Holy Spirit over 100 years ago – as the Pentecost movement began.
Now the last revelation is of our Daddy. Who is the greater works going to honor? They will honor the Father. I don't think people have seen this before but there's no greater way you can honor the Father than by your faith touching His Body.
James 2:14-26 and 1 Peter 4:10 (above) justify the message of John 14:13 showing who gets the praise for the greater works.
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13
Bob and Bonnie Jones
The Prophetic Ministry of Bob and Bonnie Jones
Website: bobjones.org