“Who are the Christians?”
John 3:16 tells us that everyone that believes in Jesus has eternal life. That is very clear, all believers are Christians. But there is more to the story. The Holy Spirit… through James tells us that ”faith without works is dead.” Works here is a reference to actions that conform to God’s law. So then, it seems that obedience to God is also a requirement. How can both of these passages be true? Aren’t they contradictory? But they must both be true if God is to be believed. The dilemma is resolved when we understand that one believes because he has first been born again, and that the person’s whole outlook is radically changed from this point on. He now desires to obey God and is very disturbed whenever he might temporarily fail to do so. So both James and John are right. We are saved by faith alone but true faith is always accompanied by obedience to God (works). Feelings can be deceptive and cannot be trusted, but you can know you really are a true Christian when you see yourself, more and more, obeying God in all things (Romans 8: 5-14).
References (from the King James Version):
John 3:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
James 2:
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
- But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Romans 8:
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.