Faith without Works is Dead
stephan challen
James • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 38:41
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· 14 viewsEvening 2 June 2023
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Order of Service
Order of Service
Welcome
Welcome
Prayer
Prayer
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Notices
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Main Prayer
Main Prayer
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Hymn -
Reading
Reading
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.
Sermon
Sermon
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
If someone “claims” to have faith
e.g. can recount a doctrinal statement
But does not have works
his faith is not expressed through his actions
Can that faith save him?
can the faith he claims, yet does not live by, save him?
His faith is intellectual, barren and worthless
Faith in God - flows from our heart, emanates from our minds and translates into deeds
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?
For James, faith and love go together
Brother or sister is poorly clothed (cold weather) and lacking in essential food
The believer is in a desperate situation
“Go in peace, be warmed and filled” - typical Hebrew farewell
Good-bye (God be with you) - “godbwyes” God be with ye
The attitude ended up like saying “God helps those who help themselves”
Yet does not give them anything
They are empty words, benefitting only the speaker
What good is that?
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Jesus made His Gospel relevant to hearers
We cannot say we are deeply concerned for their need (soul), if we have not concern for their needs (physical)
Stop self worship, and worship God body & soul
James, as Paul, holds to salvation through faith alone
It’s fruit, is shown through how we live and treat others
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.
One person has only faith, the other only works
One views faith is all that is necessary
The other claims fdoing works is more important than what we believe
James challenges the idea they can be seperated
Show me your faith apart from works, and I will show you my faith by my works
Paul agrees ...
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
You believe that God is the One True God, you do well.
Even demons believe and shudder
No demon is saved through this type of faith
People often misquote … no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
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.
James is blunt and forceful - “you foolish person” - empty minded person
meaning “Your arguement is baseless or empty, lacking in truth”
James does not speak with contempt … people often misquote.... “you fool” - intellectual deficit (imbecile/moron) - derogatory / contempt
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
James uses the same word as Jesus...
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
fool - unwise / irrational / silly person
return...
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?
Was not Abraham’s faith not seen in his obedience to God?
James points to Abraham as the example of the first convertion
Abraham’s faith resulted in action
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.
God declared Abraham Righteous (James quoted Gen 15:6) - and was called a friend of God
His faith was made complete through his actions
James indicates not a single action but a life of service reaching the pinnicle of obedience in being willing to sacrifice Isaac
God has promised Abaraham much, yet Isaac death with end the promise, yet Abraham, in faith,
He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
James does NOT say that Abraham was justified because of his faith and works
God Justifies the sinner. The sinner cannot never justify himself by his own deeds. Nor can man rely on faith alone.
James is saying that faith and works go together (unseperable)
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?
James provides a contrast in his example
He assumes the reader is aquainted with her faith
Rahab, saved the 2 spies in Jericho
She knew of Israel’s God by hearsay, yet she displayed her faith by indentifying herself with God’s People
Neither the author of Hebrews or James dwell on her immoral past, or the deliberately inaccurate information she gave the messengers of the King of Jericho
Because of her faith in God, her sins were covered
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
We must not over consider the details of the comparison
The point is the simple statement
The readers knew to avoid touching a body (when the spirit has departed) whenever possible
By implication James tells them to avoid a faith that is dead, as it is a corpse
The body and soul together constitute a living being
Faith that is alive is expressed through works
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Q&A
Q&A
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Hymn -
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Doxology
Doxology