I’m continuing the series on Works, inspired by Charles Spurgeon’s sermon titled Fruitless Faith. Although I’ve never based a series on another minister’s sermon before, this topic feels especially powerful and important, so I’m diving in. While I’ll continue to write other entries about works and faith from my own perspective, this particular series is best entrusted to a seasoned voice like Spurgeon’s for now.
In our previous blog, we explored the vital connection between faith and works, affirming that true saving faith, rooted in Jesus Christ, naturally produces works that reflect a transformed heart. James 2:17 is not a call to earn salvation but a challenge to live out a faith that is alive, bearing fruit for God’s glory. Today, we dive deeper into the specific works that demonstrate the vitality of our faith. These works—repentance, secret piety, obedience, separation, and love—are the evidence of a living faith that honors Christ and leads us closer to Him.
The sermon emphasizes that while faith alone saves, the faith that saves is never alone. It’s like a tree with roots in Christ: the roots (faith) give life, but the branches bear fruit (works) as proof of that life. Without these works, our faith is “dead, unsaving faith,” unable to lead us to eternal life. Let’s explore the five essential works that the sermon identifies as markers of genuine faith, applying them to our lives as believers today.
1. Works of Repentance
Repentance is the first fruit of a living faith. As the sermon states, “There never was in this world such a thing as an impenitent believer in Jesus Christ, and there never can be.” Faith and repentance are inseparable, together in the moment we trust Christ. Repentance is not a prerequisite to faith but a simultaneous response—a turning from sin and toward God.
This means a true believer cannot remain indifferent to sin. If we claim faith but continue to love our sins, treat them lightly, or refuse to humble ourselves before God, our faith is suspect. A living faith creates a “distance between us and sin,” driving us to hate what we once loved and seek God’s forgiveness. For example, a believer might once have indulged in gossip but now, convicted by the Spirit, strives to speak words that build up. Repentance is ongoing, a daily turning from sin as we grow in Christlikeness.
2. Works of Secret Piety
A living faith is nurtured in the quiet moments of communion with God. The sermon challenges us: “Does a man say I believe that Jesus died for me… and does he live in a constant neglect of private prayer?” Without a secret spiritual life—prayer, Bible reading, and fellowship with God—our faith lacks vitality. Just as a body without breath is dead, a faith without personal devotion is lifeless.
Secret piety is not about public performance but an intimate relationship with God. It’s the believer who prays in their closet, studies Scripture to know God’s heart, and seeks His guidance daily. Neglecting these practices is like a tree refusing water—it cannot thrive. A living faith drives us to our knees, longing to draw near to the One who saved us.
3. Works of Obedience
True faith accepts Jesus not only as Savior but as Lord/Master. The sermon reminds us that a believer says, “Show me what thou wouldst have me to do,” submitting to Christ’s will. Obedience is not optional; it’s the natural response of a heart surrendered to Jesus. While no believer is perfect, persistent and willful neglect of God’s commands signals a faith that is not alive.
Obedience means aligning our lives with Christ’s teachings, even when it’s costly. It’s choosing honesty in a dishonest world, forgiving when it’s hard, or stepping out in faith to serve others. The sermon warns that claiming faith while habitually ignoring Christ’s will is self-deception. A living faith delights in God’s commandments, seeing them as a path to joy (Psalm 119:35).
4. Works of Separation
A living faith sets us apart from the world. As the sermon notes, “Where there is no separation there is no grace.” Jesus was in the world but not of it, living a holy, distinct life (John 17:16). Similarly, believers are called to be “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). This doesn’t mean isolation but a life that reflects God’s values rather than the world’s.
Separation shows in our choices—avoiding places, habits, or relationships that dishonor Christ. It’s refusing to conform to worldly maxims that clash with God’s truth. The sermon is blunt: if we find our pleasure with the world, we risk sharing its condemnation. A living faith makes us distinct, shining as lights in a dark world (Philippians 2:15).
5. Works of Love
Finally, a living faith is marked by love—love for Christ and others. The sermon declares, “If thou lovest Christ, thou canst not help serving him.” This love compels us to share the gospel, serve the needy, and seek Christ’s glory. Whether it’s volunteering at church, helping a neighbor, or praying for the lost, works of love flow from a heart transformed by grace.
The sermon compares a believer to a tree: if it’s alive, it bears fruit. A faith that produces no acts of love is like a barren tree—dead at the root. Love is the ultimate test of our faith’s vitality, for “the love of Christ constrains us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). Every act of service, no matter how small, reflects the life of Christ in us.
The sermon’s illustration of a tree is powerful: a tree’s life comes from its roots, but its fruit proves it’s alive. Similarly, our faith in Christ is the root of salvation, but works are the fruit that demonstrate its reality. If our lives lack repentance, piety, obedience, separation, or love, we must examine our faith. As Hebrews 12:14 warns, “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” A living faith produces a holy life, not through our strength but through the power of the Spirit.
This doesn’t mean perfection. The sermon acknowledges that “no believer is perfect,” but a true believer’s life trends toward godliness. Our works are imperfect, yet they point to a heart being perfected by grace. When we fall, we repent, trusting Christ’s forgiveness to restore us.
The works of repentance, piety, obedience, separation, and love are not optional add-ons to faith; they are the proof that our faith is alive. As James 2:17 reminds us, faith without works is dead, but a living faith bears fruit that glorifies God and draws others to Him. Cling to the gospel truth that salvation is by faith alone, yet let’s live out that faith with works that testify to Christ’s transforming power.