Not in word or tongue, but in deed and truth
1 John 3:16-24 (KJV)
16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his heart of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Over the centuries, many Christians, including Martin Luther, father of the 16th century Reformation, have taken issue with the Letter of James, even suggesting that it should not have been included in the New Testament canon. Luther called James "ein rechte stroern Epistel," “a right strawy epistle,” that lacks substance, contradicts Saint Paul’s theology of justification by grace through faith, and has no gospel character to it. With all reverence for my betters and superiors in the faith, that is nonsense and a narrow, impoverished understanding of faith. As James says, “even the devil believes -- and shudders.” Faith is a package comprising what we believe and what we do because of what we believe. Believing alone, as James says, is worthless.
This view is vigorously and pointedly ratified in this coming Sunday’s reading from First John. Let us not love only in what we say, but in what we do. The word for love is agape and it is not a feeling, but what we do for other people. Our baptismal covenant, which should be our creedal reminder throughout the Easter Season, lays it out well for us in its two steps; first “Do you believe?” and then “Will you?”
A Christian is one who walks in The Way and ultimately looks down from the Cross.
TW+
Many thanks to special friends for locating Luther's quotation for me! The quotation is from his Introduction to his first edition of his German New Testament, 1522
Many thanks to special friends for locating Luther's quotation for me! The quotation is from his Introduction to his first edition of his German New Testament, 1522