A working faith

A working faith

Introduction:          

I.          James 2:14-26

A.         James 2:14 Everyone has faith in something

B.         The foundation that you lay, determines the type of work you can do, how well or how much you can build.  A weak foundation will lead to poor work.

C.        Faith in the one true God WILL lead to good works.  The faith will be made manifest in our works.

II.         What have you placed your faith in?

A.         Everyone has faith in something

B.         Atheists (self), Evolutionists (Comet Probe), False religions.

C.        Faith in anything but God will always let you down, even faith in yourself or nature.

D.         This type of faith will not produce works.

E.         Faith in Christ produces Christ-like work

III.        Labyrinth

            A.         “inner spirit”  The only inner spirit for a Christian is the Holy Spirit.  It is not your own, he has a mind and a will.

            B.         We connect through prayer.  Jesus’ instructions did not include the use of any type of “helps”, or “rituals”.

            C.        The scripture warns against these things.  Deut. 18:10-12 “ 10.  There shall    not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or   an enchanter, or a witch.

                        11.  Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

                        12.  For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.”

IV.        James 2:15-16

            A.         Mere words are not enough.  Lip service will not do.

            B.         We, ourselves, may be the instrument that God will use to answer prayer

            C.        Talk is cheap, and is worthless if we won’t back it up.  We must be doers of  the word, not just hearers.  If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.

V.         James 2:18

            A.        We can’t see into other’s hearts

            B.         The true faith will be visible.

VI.        James 2:26

            A.         A dead faith is not a saving faith.

Conclusion:

            A.         Recap “Faith”

            B.         If it doesn’t produce works, it is not a true saving faith.

            C.        We are not saved by our works, but our works prove our salvation (faith)

            D.         With a saving faith, we cannot escape the works.  When we are saved we become a new creation.  2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

            E.         Summarize salvation.

            F.          Invitation