Many Christians have pondered this strong phrase from the Letter of James: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). It can sound challenging, even unsettling. Does it mean our good deeds earn salvation? Or that faith alone isn’t enough? Let’s take a gentle, closer look at what this really means in the light of Christ.
When St. James wrote those words, he wasn’t denying that salvation is a gift of grace. Rather, he was reminding us that true faith naturally bears fruit in love. Real faith isn’t just believing about God—it’s trusting in Him so deeply that it changes the way we live. As Jesus said, “By their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:16). If our hearts truly believe, our hands and lives will reflect that belief.
Think of it like this: faith is the root, and works are the fruit. The two belong together. A root without fruit is lifeless, and fruit without a root cannot last. When we love God sincerely, that love flows into action—into mercy, forgiveness, generosity, and compassion. The same Spirit who gives us faith also moves us to serve others. Our works don’t replace faith; they reveal it.
The Church teaches that we are saved by grace through faith, but this faith is living—it grows, it breathes, it acts. It’s the kind of faith that makes us want to become more like Christ, who washed the feet of His disciples and gave His life for all. When we feed the hungry, comfort the lonely, or forgive from the heart, we are allowing Christ’s love to live in us. That’s what makes faith alive.
Let your faith breathe through your love today. Even the smallest act of kindness becomes a sign that your heart is alive with Christ.
“Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
