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What is the synergy between faith and deeds? How does it demonstrate itself in our culture and society? I see faith as being the essence of our belief in a divine God - a supernatural, holy, divine God. It is a belief that transcends that which you can see with your eyes, hear with your ears, or touch with your hands. It is trusting in God by believing in his word. That belief then compels me to act upon His word - to do the things that He has told us, through His Son, Jesus Christ to do. Now since it is true that unrepentant man can and may do many of these same things, as Jesus himself pointed out when he said that sinful man knows how to give good gifts - the motivation to do the mandates of His word must come from a basis of faith. We give of our wealth - not because it is humanitarian, which it is; not because it is just, because it is - but because God's Son gave his life, and we demonstrate our faith when we give of ourselves. That's why verse 19 is so key to the understanding of this passage - because distinguishing between those that are capable of doing good deeds, and those that do good deeds on the basis of FAITH is the critical distinction between the believer and the world.