James 2:14-

Faith in action

Poser was one of the worst digs you could give someone back in the 90’s it was basically calling people out that looked the part but was only fronting

Faith Vrs Works

Paul Vrs James

Paul’s

James 2:14–17 (CSB): 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him?

Genuine is not an empty claim 14-17 (More than Words

We need to be carful when we push empty claims

James uses “works” in a general sense to refer to actions done in obedience to God

Works motivated by, the object and originator of your faith should look like him.

15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

James begins his response with an illustration involving poverty..

James is using an obvious visible example because we can trick ourselves to believe we have a deep conviction

example: Jesus opens a / K&W cafeteria /golden coral /fogo dechao texas day feeds the 5000:

Jesus is compassionate

The disciples are vigilante and sharp

its a deserted place and would you look at the time

We don’t have what it takes to satisfy these people

We only have, is another reason to punt the ball....

Looking up to

Conclusion:

Saving faith reveals itself in Works:

Second Point)

2. genuine faith is not mere acceptance of a creed (vv. 18–20);

James 2:18–3:1 (ESV): 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.

Good Orthodoxy bad Orthopraxy

2:19 “You believe that God is one” This (monotheism) was the first test of orthodoxy for the Jews

Show your faith by your works:

Talk is cheap

16 Faced with an obvious and immediate need, the community member (one of you) responds with pious words but without giving any concrete aid. I wish you well is more literally translated “Depart” or “go” in peace, a common biblical blessing

“It is not the form of the statement that is reprehensible, but its functioning as a religious cover for the failure to act.”Even the demons believe—and shudder

Demons Believe

this information produces and emotional response.

Jesus confronted and expelled demonic beings (also called unclean spirits) from human beings. Jesus clearly made a distinction between illness (physical and mental) and the demonic. He demonstrated His power and spiritual insight by recognizing and exorcizing these evil spirits. They often recognized Him and attempted to address Him, but Jesus rejected their testimony, demanded their silence, and expelled them.

§ 4. Evil Angels

The Scriptures inform us that certain of the angels kept not their first estate. They are spoken of as the angels that sinned. They are called evil, or unclean spirits; principalities; powers; rulers of this world; and spiritual wickednesses (i.e., wicked spirits) in high places. The Scriptures make a distinction between διάβολος (Devil) and δαίμων, (Demons) In the spiritual world there is only one διάβολος (devil), but there are many δαιμόνια (demons). These evil spirits are represented as belonging to the same order of beings as the good angels. Their original condition was holy. When they fell or what was the nature of their sin is not revealed. The general opinion is that it was pride, founded on 1 Tim. 3:6. 1 Timothy 3:1–7 (ESV): The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

His first appearance in the sacred history is in the character of an apostate angel. That there is one fallen angel exalted in rank and power above all his associates is clearly taught in the Bible.c

He is called Satan (the adversary), διάβολος, the traducer, ὁ πονηρός, the evil one; the prince of the power of the air; the prince of darkness; the God of this world; Beelzebub; Belial; the tempter; the old serpent; and the dragon. These, and similar titles set him forth as the great enemy of God and man, the opposer of all that is good and the promoter of all that is evil. He is so constantly represented as a personal being,

F. Evil is real; evil is personal; evil is present. Neither its origin nor purpose is revealed. The Bible asserts its reality and aggressively opposes its influence. There is no ultimate dualism in reality. God is in total control; evil is defeated and judged and will be removed from creation.

G. God’s people must resist evil (cf. James 4:7). They cannot be controlled by it (cf. 1 John 5:18), but they can be tempted and their witness and influence damaged (cf. Eph. 6:10–18). Evil is a revealed part of the Christian’s world-view. Modern Christians have no right to redefine evil (the demythologizing of Rudolf Baltmann), to depersonalize evil (the social structures of Paul Tillich), or to attempt to explain it completely in psychological terms (Sigmund Freud), but its influence is pervasive.

(Conclusion)

James:

faith can only be shown by deeds (vv. 18b–19)

faith without deeds is useless (v. 20)

Abraham was considered righteous by a deed (v. 21)

(Explanation of Abraham’s faith and deeds [vv. 22–23])

So: justification requires faith and works (v. 24)

Rahab also was considered righteous by a deed (v. 25)

faith without deeds is useless (v. 26)

faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (v. 17)

• faith without deeds is useless (v. 20)

• faith without deeds is dead (v. 26)

(3) genuine faith is faith that produces an obedient life (vv. 21–26, p.