Faith without Works is Dead!

Are You Demonstrating Saving Faith?

James 2:14-26

V. 14

Ref. James 1:22-26

What good is your faith if it has no transformation?

Not asking weather faith can save…He is referencing a false faith

Can the words of a persons mouth save us

Luke 3:11 NASB95

And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”

Matthew 25:35–36 NASB95

‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

V. 15 An Example of this type of faith...

Notice “Brother or Sister”

This is apart of the family of God

Your family is in need

V. 16 Go in Peace, Be Warmed and Be Filled

1 John 3:17–18 NASB95

But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

What use is it...

In other words faith without action lacks the substance of faith

Ephesians 2:8–10 NASB95

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

V. 17 Is this a Problem Passage?

Let’s consider v 17 and v 24 together

James 2:17; 24

James 2:24 NASB95

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Error of Contextualization: using Scripture out of the context of the rest of the book of James

You have to look at the context of what James is saying.

The difference between what someone says and how someone lives

“James firmly believed what we do is the result of what we believe.” - Pastor Paul LeBoutillier of Calvary Chapel Ontario, Oregon.

If you do nothing you believe nothing.

Show me your faith without your works!” This is impossible to do! The only way faith can be expressed in the Christian’s life is by practical loving obedience to the Word of God.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Are You Demonstrating Believing Faith?

Vs. 18

Faith results in Action

“Counselors' emphasis on self-acceptance, and even the trivialization of this emphasis in the "I'm OK—you're OK" slogan, is an attempt to get to the heart of the gospel which tells us that God loves and accepts us as we are. This realization sets us free from the anxious or compulsive necessity to be or do anything to earn or buy or make ourselves worthy of his love and acceptance. This emphasis is clearly recognizable as an expression of the Christian rejection of justification by "good works" and an affirmation of justification by grace through faith.” - Shirley C. Guthrie

Don’t just read…do

Vs. 19

Easy-Believism (Belief without transformation)

I believe in Jesus

Modern understanding - hold (something) as an opinion; think or suppose (i.e. I believe Jesus existed…)

The Biblical understanding of Believe

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. πιστεύω

to consider someth. to be true and therefore worthy of one’s trust

The demons also believe

Matthew 8:29 NASB95

And they cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

Mark 1:24 NASB95

saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Mark 5:7 NASB95

and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!”

Luke 4:34 NASB95

“Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Acts 19:15 NASB95

And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”

Vs. 20 Self-Deception

Previous Warning

James 1:16 NASB95

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Romans 9:20 NASB95

On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?

Galatians 5:6 NASB95

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

Two Examples with Commentary

Vs. 21-23

Abraham’s Example

Hebrews 11:17–19 NASB95

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

Vs. 22

John 6:29 NASB95

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

“Abraham was not saved by faith plus works, but by a faith that works.”

Warren W. Wiersbe

Vs. 23

2 Chronicles 20:7 NASB95

“Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?

Isaiah 41:8 NASB95

“But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,

Jesus is a Friend of mine.

Vs. 24

You see faith is connected to action

you are transformed, a new creation,

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Matthew 3:8 NASB95

“Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;

fruits of repentance

The word repent means “to change one’s mind and act on that change.” John (the baptist) was not satisfied with regret or remorse; he wanted “fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8). There had to be evidence of a changed mind and a changed life.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Vs. 25

Rahab’s Example

Hebrews 11:30–31 NASB95

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

Vs. 26

Bringing it all home!

2226We believe that men are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith which is alone. They are saved by faith without works, but not by a faith which is without works.—21.25, 26

Charles Spurgeon