James Week 6 - Faith and Works

Passage

James 2:14–26 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Intro

James make it very clear that faith and belief in Jesus is the only requirement for salvation, but that true faith is ALWAYS accompanied by works. There is no way that you can be truly changed by Jesus and your life not reflect that in some way.

This section of James is full of controversy. We are told elsewhere in Scripture, especially the passages written by the Apostle Paul, that God's grace alone saves us (Eph. 2.8-9 ). Yet James seems to be saying that good works play a role in our salvation (Vs 24).

God's Word doesn't contradict itself, so how can this be?

Consider this: Suppose a friend was always going on and on about how wonderful their spouse is and the depth of their relationship, but you never saw a connection between them. You’d be correct in questioning the nature of that relationship. Simply put, love and faith in another produces action that affirms the presence of that love and faith. It’s the same with faith and works.

Those who truly understand what God has done for them cannot help but be moved to live a generous, worshipful life. These acts of worship are the very words that James is referring to.

Paul is focused on the way in which you are saved. Paul is talking about how you are saved by Grace, stirctly God. James is not focused on the method of being saved, he’s focused on what being saved means. Paul cares about how you get saved, James cares about what you are doing with that salvation.

If we could be saved by good living alone, God’s gracious work for us would be unnecessary. Works with an aim toward self-salvation are acts of self-worship. Works that are worshipful are only possible through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is the acting out of the gospel in works of worship that James is encouraging us to.

Here are some quick phrases to help wrap up the loose ends on understanding the connection between faith and works:

You don't work to GET God; you work because you KNOW God.

You're not saved BY works, but you WILL WORK if you know Jesus.

You don't work TO know God; you work BECAUSE you know God.

You don't work FOR your salvation; you work FROM your salvation.

Interpretation

Remember that we have to interpret Scripture with other Scripture. God won’t say one thing in one letter and contradict himself somewhere else.

Read Matthew 12:33-37 ““Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.””

Jesus is addressing the issue of works here with Pharisees. What does he name as the source of their actions?

Read Luke 3:7-14 “He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.””

What does John the Baptist instruct the people to do? How does he describe these acts in verse 8?

Read Galatians 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

What does it say faith does?

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:3 “remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

How are the works of believers described here? What is prompting them?

Read Hebrews 11:1-6 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” and Romans 14:23 “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

What gives value to our faith?

Application

-As you seek to apply this passage to your own heart and life, pray for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and insight. Our tendency is to worship ourselves, and we need the Holy Spirit’s guidance to reveal where we need to turn our worship back to God.

-The English Puritan Thomas Manton said, "There are three things that encourage the soul to carry out duty: a strong principle, a mighty aid, a high aim; all these exist where faith is. The strong principle is God's love, the mighty aid is Gods Spirit, the high aim is Gods glory." Of the three, which do you struggle with most in carrying out your worship of God through works? How will you seek to worship God rightly in this area?

-James admonishes his hearers for their phony faith that wasn't demonstrated in practical acts of worship. If your faith were proved merely by how you live, would your deeds more reflect worship of God or worship of self?

-When we are hindered from engaging in acts of faith that bear fruit in keeping with godliness, it is often an issue of our heart's condition, not lack of resources or ability. Do you depend solely on yourself to meet the needs of others instead of on God? Pray and meditate on Philippians 4:19, 1 John 3:17, and 2 Corinthians 12-9-10. Ask God to show you how you might better serve Him by serving others and his church.

-Do you tend to excuse yourself from serving? Why? Is there something you can commit to doing as an act of worship, not to achieve salvation but because of it?

QUESTIONS

If someone asked you if you were a Christian, you would have a "yes" or "no" answer. But what if you were asked to "prove" this faith? What would your response be? James argues that the real test of the authenticity of your faith is your action. What actions would you give as examples in your life that your faith in Jesus is real? Would your finances reflect your faith in Jesus? What about your calendar? What about your relationships with others?

What are the differences between faith and works? Is it an either/or proposition, or do you see it as both/and? Do you believe that faith can exist and be real without works?

Read over these passages. What is some of the graphic language that illustrates how God views people that claim to believe and have faith, yet live their lives void of any actions or works?

Revelation 3:15-16

John 15:5

2 Corinthians 5:17

Read Isaiah 29:13. In what areas of your life do you have a "big mouth" that honors God, but your heart is small and unmoved? (e.g., You may believe and confess that childhood hunger is an unacceptable problem, but you aren't moved enough to give or sacrifice to end it. You may WANT your friends and family and co-workers to have a relationship with Jesus, but you aren't willing to talk with them about it and share the Gospel).

How have you tried to "pay God back" in response to your sin? This may take the form of bargaining with God, behavior modification, or endlessly serving at church out of guilt. Is God's grace enough for you? Why or why not?