Teachings on Faith and Works According to Jesus and James
Many today believe that faith alone is enough for salvation, and that works — our actions — do not matter. But when we listen to the voice of Jesus and the teaching of James, the brother of Jesus, we learn the truth: faith without works is dead, and we will be judged according to what we do, not just what we say or believe.
Jesus Teaches That Works Are Required
Jesus never said that only believing in Him with words or thoughts was enough. Over and over, He taught that doing the will of God, obeying His words, and showing love through actions is what leads to eternal life.
He said:
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 7:21)
This makes it clear that calling Jesus "Lord" is not enough — we must DO God’s will. The true followers of Jesus are not those who speak loudly, but those who Obey GOD with their lives.
He also warned us about the final judgment:
The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
John 5:28–29)
Again, Jesus did not say people will be saved by what they claim to believe, but by whether they DID GOOD or DID EVIL — the proof of someone's beliefs is in their actions.
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46)
This powerful story reveals how Jesus will separate the righteous from the unrighteous at His return. He says to the righteous:
For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”*
Matthew 25:35–36)
And then:
Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.
(Matthew 25:40)
To those who did nothing:
Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels... for I was hungry and you gave Me no food... sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.
Matthew 25:41–43)
This parable shows that doing works of love and mercy is what separates those who are saved from those who are not. The sheep were accepted because they acted in kindness. The goats were condemned for their lack of action.
Jesus Defines What Works Are
Jesus showed us clearly what kind of works the Father desires:
Loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."
(Matthew 22:37)
Loving your neighbor as yourself.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
(Matthew 22:39)
Helping the poor and weak, just like the Good Samaritan did (Luke 10:30–37).
Showing mercy and forgiveness
"Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”*
(Luke 6:36)
"Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
(Luke 6:37)
Keeping His commandments.
"If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
(John 14:15)
Obeying His words, not just hearing them.
"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
(Luke 6:46)
These are the works Jesus values — not empty religion or man-made rituals, but love in action, obedience, and compassion.
The Parables of Jesus About Works
Jesus often used parables to teach that works are the proof of real faith:
The Two Sons (Matthew 21:28–31): One said "no" but then obeyed. The other said "yes" but did nothing. Jesus said the one who did the will of the Father was the true son.
The Talents (Matthew 25:14–30): Two servants worked with what the master gave them and were rewarded. The one who hid his gift and did nothing was cast into darkness. God expects us to use what He gives us.
The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24–27): The wise man heard Jesus’ words and did them, building on rock. The foolish man heard but did not act, and his house fell. Obedience is the foundation of true life.
The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13): Five were wise and ready with oil. Five were unprepared and left out. This teaches that spiritual readiness and obedience are not optional — they are part of saving faith.
James Confirms Jesus’ Teaching
James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the early believers in Jerusalem, wrote clearly about the same truth. His words match perfectly with Jesus’.
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?... Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14, 17)
James then gives examples:
“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” (James 2:24)
He speaks of Abraham, who was Justified by offering Isaac, and Rahab, who helped the messengers, Their actions proved their faith was real (James 2:21–25).
James also warns:
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
(James 1:22)
And:
“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
(James 1:27)
This agrees fully with Jesus’ teaching about caring for “the least of these” and living in holiness.
Final Words
Jesus and James together teach one clear truth:
Faith that does not lead to action is not real.
Works of love, mercy, obedience, and righteousness are the natural fruit of true faith.
As Jesus said:
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away... If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered... By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
(John 15:2, 6, 8)
And as James declared:
“Faith without works is dead.”
(James 2:26)
Let us not deceive ourselves with empty faith. If we believe in Jesus, we will follow Him, obey Him, love others, and live righteously. These are the works that God sees, and by them He will say:
Let this truth be known:
We are not saved by words alone, but by a faith that lives, loves, and obeys.
This is the gospel that Jesus preached — and the life He calls us to live.
Many today believe that faith alone is enough for salvation, and that works — our actions — do not matter. But when we listen to the voice of Jesus and the teaching of James, the brother of Jesus, we learn the truth: faith without works is dead, and we will be judged according to what we do, not just what we say or believe.
Jesus Teaches That Works Are Required
Jesus never said that only believing in Him with words or thoughts was enough. Over and over, He taught that doing the will of God, obeying His words, and showing love through actions is what leads to eternal life.
He said:
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 7:21)
This makes it clear that calling Jesus "Lord" is not enough — we must DO God’s will. The true followers of Jesus are not those who speak loudly, but those who Obey GOD with their lives.
He also warned us about the final judgment:
The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”
John 5:28–29)
Again, Jesus did not say people will be saved by what they claim to believe, but by whether they DID GOOD or DID EVIL — the proof of someone's beliefs is in their actions.
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46)
This powerful story reveals how Jesus will separate the righteous from the unrighteous at His return. He says to the righteous:
For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”*
Matthew 25:35–36)
And then:
Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.
(Matthew 25:40)
To those who did nothing:
Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels... for I was hungry and you gave Me no food... sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.
Matthew 25:41–43)
This parable shows that doing works of love and mercy is what separates those who are saved from those who are not. The sheep were accepted because they acted in kindness. The goats were condemned for their lack of action.
Jesus Defines What Works Are
Jesus showed us clearly what kind of works the Father desires:
Loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."
(Matthew 22:37)
Loving your neighbor as yourself.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
(Matthew 22:39)
Helping the poor and weak, just like the Good Samaritan did (Luke 10:30–37).
Showing mercy and forgiveness
"Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”*
(Luke 6:36)
"Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
(Luke 6:37)
Keeping His commandments.
"If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
(John 14:15)
Obeying His words, not just hearing them.
"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
(Luke 6:46)
These are the works Jesus values — not empty religion or man-made rituals, but love in action, obedience, and compassion.
The Parables of Jesus About Works
Jesus often used parables to teach that works are the proof of real faith:
The Two Sons (Matthew 21:28–31): One said "no" but then obeyed. The other said "yes" but did nothing. Jesus said the one who did the will of the Father was the true son.
The Talents (Matthew 25:14–30): Two servants worked with what the master gave them and were rewarded. The one who hid his gift and did nothing was cast into darkness. God expects us to use what He gives us.
The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24–27): The wise man heard Jesus’ words and did them, building on rock. The foolish man heard but did not act, and his house fell. Obedience is the foundation of true life.
The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13): Five were wise and ready with oil. Five were unprepared and left out. This teaches that spiritual readiness and obedience are not optional — they are part of saving faith.
James Confirms Jesus’ Teaching
James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the early believers in Jerusalem, wrote clearly about the same truth. His words match perfectly with Jesus’.
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?... Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14, 17)
James then gives examples:
“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” (James 2:24)
He speaks of Abraham, who was Justified by offering Isaac, and Rahab, who helped the messengers, Their actions proved their faith was real (James 2:21–25).
James also warns:
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
(James 1:22)
And:
“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
(James 1:27)
This agrees fully with Jesus’ teaching about caring for “the least of these” and living in holiness.
Final Words
Jesus and James together teach one clear truth:
Faith that does not lead to action is not real.
Works of love, mercy, obedience, and righteousness are the natural fruit of true faith.
As Jesus said:
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away... If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered... By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
(John 15:2, 6, 8)
And as James declared:
“Faith without works is dead.”
(James 2:26)
Let us not deceive ourselves with empty faith. If we believe in Jesus, we will follow Him, obey Him, love others, and live righteously. These are the works that God sees, and by them He will say:
“Well done, good and faithful servant... enter into the joy of your Lord.”
(Matthew 25:23)
Let this truth be known:
We are not saved by words alone, but by a faith that lives, loves, and obeys.
This is the gospel that Jesus preached — and the life He calls us to live.
