Welcome to the fifth part in our series on how Jesus has conquered your sin. It’s been quite a journey over the past month, as we’ve seen a number of different aspects on the victory over sin which Jesus has given to us.
Today we are going to look at the the outward demonstration of salvation, the things that people can see. People often become overly focused on that external, which can become a trap, but as we apply the principles of the previous parts of this series, along with what we will see today, it will bring clarity.
Demonstration versus Evidence
Right from the start, we should define our terms and make a distinction between demonstration and evidence. The outward demonstration of salvation is one of the most confused and troubling areas of Christian living for many believers. It’s easy to get caught up in behavioral inspection, trying to judge each other and ourselves based on our current performance-level.
The reason why I saved this part for last was because the foundation of everything we’ve seen over the past month regarding the sin nature, our new identity and our cleansed conscience must come prior to understanding the outer demonstration. Without the proper foundation, the zeal for outward performance will be turned into evidence rather than demonstration.
Such a distinction can take various forms, and sometimes be very subtle, but in all cases can be damaging. You may have heard declarations in the past, like ‘this person obviously isn’t saved, they have no fruit.’ This mindset turns the whole thing into a a strange kind of salvation litmus test, rather than what it truly is— a demonstration of Christ.
The default position of many believers is to judge their salvation and standing in Christ (and that of others) by their current behaviors and performance. While this may seem logical at first, it can lead to a lot of doubt, confusion, and shame later. I’ve walked this path before, and I know the pain of trying to stand on the shaky foundation of current performance.
Romans chapter 4 makes a point of declaring that no-one is justified before God by works, and we have studied this fact many times in the past; in short, your works are not the proof or evidence of your salvation, nor are they the means of salvation in any way.
Your works do serve a purpose, though— not in your salvation, and not to prove yourself, but as a demonstration of Christ to others. James refers to this in James chapter 2.
While James chapter 2 is often used (or I should say misused) to promote a works-salvation, the purpose of that chapter is not talking about being justified before God, but before other people! Let’s take a look at James 2:15-23:
“ 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say to them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yes, a man may 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.
19 You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 See you how faith worked with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”
What is James Really Saying?
On the surface, it seems like James is preaching a doctrine of salvation through works, and these verses are often stripped out of their context to make that claim. As we take a closer look however, we can begin to see the truth emerge.
In verse 18, James compares the difference between faith without works, and faith with works, and the outward demonstration of each. The key point to notice here is that James makes it perfectly clear that the intended audience of these works is not God, but other people, and the intent is not to prove our salvation to anyone, but to demonstrate our faith, the information about God to others and be ambassadors of His love. Look at what James says, closely.
Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works. The central focus on James’ mind was not proving that you’re saved, or earning anything with God at all, but rather the outward demonstration of your faith for the benefit and edification of those around you.
Now you might wonder what the point of this is? If our outward demonstration is not to prove our salvation, and is merely demonstrating to one-another, does it matter? Absolutely!
The Body of Christ
1st Corinthians chapter 12 mentions that we are the body of Christ, and Ephesians 5:30 even goes as far as to say that we are members of His flesh and bones! Meditating on that one truth can shed light on various revelations of Christ that are worthy of a separate series— but take a look at what 1st Corinthians 12:12-14 says:
“ 12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.”
We can see that through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, we are all baptized (immersed) into one body— the body of Christ. We are all made to drink the same Spirit of Christ. We also see in verse 14, that the body is not all one single type of member, but many.
Now continue reading with verses 21 through 26:
“ 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 No, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
Here we see the reason for outward actions and demonstrations of faith more clearly defined. These verses explain that there are some members which seem to have more honor and importance, and those which seem to have less. Yet the ones who have more should not boast over the ones who have less; as we see the ones who have less have been placed my God together with those who have more.
Why would God do this? There are two main reasons listed in these verses. The first is in verses 21 and 22; the more exalted and honored members cannot claim independence from the seemingly lesser members, for the lesser ones are necessary.
Often times those who seemingly have less prominence and honor are just as essential for the life of the body as those which are high-profile, and sometimes mores according to verse 23.
Now, verse 25 tells us what the attitude of those with more should have to those with less: There should be no schism in the body. The word “schism” there means division, gap, or split. Furthermore, we can see that the members should have the same care for one another.
Verse 26 continues this thought by saying that when one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; and when one member is honored, all rejoice with it.
This is the purpose of our fruitful works in Christ. These are not works of our self-effort, nor are they earning our salvation, but they are to edify, uplift, and support the “lesser” members, and by extension also demonstrate the love of Christ to everyone.
Join Me Again Next Week…
I encourage you today to meditate on these truths and allow the freedom of Christ to liberate you from the typically fear-induced performance-mindset, and replace that with the divine love-induced demonstration of Christ to those around you.
Be sure to join me again next week as we conclude our series on how Jesus has conquered your sin, by looking at how He has made us free from sin completely— including from sinful actions., and it may not be what you expect.
Be blessed.