I received the following question yesterday and want to take time to answer it here on my blog:

What do you think the words "dead works" mean? I know what it means to me, but could you expound on it for me? I know how it is used in the scripture, but could it also apply to Christians? Thanks for your thoughts on this!

My Answer:

We know that faith without works, or faith without action is dead.  Check out what the Word of God says:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
(Jas 1:22-25 ESV)

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So 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 apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
(Jas 2:14-26 ESV)

So according to what God’s Word tells us, if a person does not act on what they believe, it is "dead faith".

I believe that "dead works" would be doing good deeds without truly believing in the simplicity of the cross, denying self, taking up the cross and following Jesus, having a personal relationship with Him.

There are a lot of good people destined to spend eternity in hell separated from God because they believe, but don't act or they act, but don't believe.

I've spent the last 18 years of my life encouraging people to build a relationship with Jesus and put their faith into action.  I stopped referring to myself a long time ago as being a "Christian".  Instead, I refer to myself as a "Christ follower".  There is a big difference. 

Christians believe and churches are full of them each weekend.  Christ followers believe and follow Christ in point of need ministry outside the walls of a church building.  They put their faith into action daily.  When they see a need or an injustice, they go into action.  They can not help it.  It is a change that Jesus has brought to their way of thinking and their heart because they decided to follow Him.

If everyone that attended a church building on the weekends would put their faith in action during the week, our cities would be turned upside down for Jesus Christ.  A justice revival would take place in every city. 

It has been my experience that the Christians who believe, but do not put their faith into action are the hardest people in the world to reach for Jesus Christ.  They think they are okay, but they are not.  May God open their eyes to what it means to deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus as they love God and ALL people as their self.

And for all those who do good deeds, but do not believe - may they be drawn to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; that their works would not be dead, but alive in Jesus Christ.  They are close to the Kingdom of God which is already at hand.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Know that you are loved,

@PastorGreg
Founder
www.LovingGodFellowship.org