Works of Faith

The New Testament is very clear that God the Father requires to see Christians demonstrate “works of faith” (James 2:20-26). This is so every Christian is able to bring forth spiritual “fruit” (John 15:1-9) into His kingdom.

The spiritual “fruit” referred to represents the lost souls in this world. These are those who are living a life of sin (Luke 15:10). This is because Satan has ensnared them in unbelief (Heb 4:6). The only way to “save” them (Rom 10:14) is for God’s people to preach the True Gospel. The Gifts of the Spirit (Mark 16:20) should accompany such preaching, as stated in the scripture verse below:

"And they [Christ's disciples] went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word WITH SIGNS FOLLOWING. Amen." ( Mark 16:20)  — Jesus speaking

Jesus is the Vine – Christians are the Branches

To illustrate what Jesus requires from God’s children, Jesus portrays Himself as “The Vine” and His disciples as “the branches”. At Salvation, God personally grafts each new “branch” into Christ as stated in the scripture verse below.

"I am the [True] VINE [John 15:1], ye are THE BRANCHES: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth MUCH FRUIT: for without me ye can do nothing."  (John 15:5)

The illustration explained

The “natural branches” above represent Jews who have accepted Christ as their Messiah and their Savior (Romans 11:21). Similarly, the Gentile races represent the “wild olive branches” (Romans 11:24). 

The parable also illustrates God the Father as “the gardener“. He prunes away (or removes) those “branches” that fail to produce any “fruit”. Those branches that do produce “fruit“, he cuts them back so that they can produce “much more fruit”. 

For the “fruitless” branches removed from The Vine, the scriptures clearly state that these represent “fruitless” Christians. The Bible says that after being removed, these become spiritually “withered” or spiritually dead. The angels will eventually gather them (John 15:6; Matthew 13:41) to be burned in “the fire“. The place referred to is the Lake of Fire (Rev 21:8). This occurs at the end of the age, as stated in verse 6 in the passage below.

The warning from Jesus to ‘Fruitless Branches’

"I[Jesus] am the TRUE VINE, and my Father is the HUSBANDMAN [or gardener]. {2} Every branch in me that beareth NOT FRUIT, he [God the Father] taketh away [by cutting it off]: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth [or prunes] it [back], that it may bring forth MORE FRUIT. {3} Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. {4} ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. {5} I AM THE VINE, YE ARE THE BRANCHES: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth MUCH FRUIT: for without me ye can do nothing. {6} If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a [fruitless] branch, and is [become spiritually] withered [or spiritually dry]; and men [meaning angels later] gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned [throughout eternity - Isaiah 66:22-24]. {7} If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. {8} Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear MUCH FRUIT; so shall ye be my disciples."  (John 15:1-8)  

How to produce spiritual “fruit” using “works of faith”

It is essential fro Christians to produce the required “spiritual fruit”, they must KNOW what His will is. Once known, it is through “works of faith“they can then DO God the Father’s will.

Such “work” (John 14:12 ) requires the use of the spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-11). These are necessary to perform God’s will (Matthew 12:50). 

The “Works” of Christ that Christ expects of Christians

Jesus defined the types of “work” that He expects to be undertaken by God’s “sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:18):

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  5

• The blind receive their sight, and
• the lame walk,
• the lepers are cleansed, and
• the deaf hear,
• the dead are raised up, and
• the poor have the gospel preached to them.

6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” (Matt. 11:4-6)

Performing these “works of faith” produces “fruit” (or ‘souls saved’ – Luke 15:10). This confirms that such a believer is truly a “Son of God” (1 John 3:1), as stated below.

"For WHOSOEVER SHALL DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER which is in heaven, the same is my BROTHER, and SISTER, and MOTHER [or members of Christ’s family in Heaven]."  (Matt 12:50) —Jesus speaking

It should be appreciated that if a Christian has (say) a HAND ministry (1 Cor. 12:15, 21) , it needs the other members of the local congregation with their respective EYE ministry (1 Cor. 12:17), EAR ministry (1 Cor. 12:16), NOSE ministry (1 Cor. 12:17) and other ministries (1 Cor. 12:23) to be able to bring forth the required (collective) “fruit” into God’s kingdom using “works of faith” .

This means that those ‘Saved’ can potentially become another functioning member of Christ’s body within their local congregation. 

The illustration below highlights the ministries mentioned in the Bible.

To read more about this requirement contained in the Apostle Paul’s Gospel of Salvation, click here.