The Relation Between Faith and Action

Bible Reading Introduction

Service Notes

Prayer for the Dipboyes

Teen camp starts tomorrow

As I read it may bring up many questions. I hope to address them. But if I don’t let’s get together. This passage is too wonderful to be misunderstand and this topic too important for you to not have a clear understanding.

James 2:14–26 (KJV)

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Sermon Introduction

Multiplication table. 8x8, 4x5, 3x7, 6x0, 2x0, 9x0, 11x0, 57x0, 1256x0.... Faith without works. Zero.

James 2:17 “17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

We are faced with an age all question.

James 2:14 “14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”

Is James saying that faith can’t save us?

Doesn’t Paul tell us that we are saved by faith in the book of Romans?

Are these two contradiction themselves?

If they are what does this mean? Who is right? Who is writing this book?

First theological issue for many of us.

Leading a Bible study around the age of 15. Romans 9:32 “32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;”

Discussion picked up. It went from zero to sixty and I wasn’t prepared.

They stumbled at that stumblingstone. Why? Because their minds were fixed on what they achieved instead of on what they believed. They tripped over that very stone the scripture mentions: next verse the cross of Christ.

I did not know statements such as

We are saved by grace alone, through faith, not by works of any kind. Grace is the root of our salvation, but our works are the fruit of it—they are the evidence.

You are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”

We have probably all had this conversation with family member or co-workers.

Maybe started with “If you were to die today are you prepared to meet God” “I sure hope so. I am not perfect but I have tried to live a good life.” “I was baptized in the creek when I was a teenager” My family have been members of the church for 50 years.

Statements like this often come up. You believe you can just live however you want and God will forgive you because you ask. “I know they never really went to church or acted much like a Christian but I was told they said “the prayer in VBS” as a kid

Faith without works doesn’t seem to fit with this passage.

Faith and works don’t seem to go together in other passages.

Caused needed division throughout history

In Kentucky in the early 1800’s there was the Restoration Movement also called Stone-Campbell Movement.

They issued a call “for a return to simple New Testament Christianity.” in that they called for a view of salvation that required “the works of the law.”

In the Council of Trent. The Catholic Churches response to the reformation.

During the the sixth session, the Council issued a decree saying that, “If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema. (cursed)”

Matter we should have nailed down in our lives, because it is nailed down in the Bible.

Maybe this is a cause of contention between you and your uncle, the Catholic Church and the Protestant Chuch, the Baptist Convention in Elkhorn, KY and John “Raccoon” Smith, it is not between James and Paul.

Are these two passages in contradiction?

Romans 3:28 “28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

James 2:24 “24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

Four evidences that James is not contracting the rest of Scripture

1. Context always matters, and it certainly matters here.

Greg said “I need the assistance of your Michelin Star pallet.” I had no idea what he was talking about. Michelin, tires. Pallet- wood platforms. One star- my ability to lift. --- The he said “we are looking at VBS snacks.”

Context of the book of Romans: How a man is accepted before God.

man is accepted before God. He is attempting to establish the universal need of the gospel.

Both Jews and Gentiles need the gospel of grace because they do not measure up to the standards of God's holiness.

Paul argues that the way the gospel is received rules out any kind of boasting on our part.

In that context he speaks of justification as God's act of declaring us righteousness because of Christ, because of what He has done.

Context of the book of James: A claimed faith which shows no reality.

James is writing in the context of dealing with hypocrisy in the church.

How do you tell the difference between real faith and false faith, living faith, and dead faith? .

In that context to be justified means to be vindicated in your faith; to demonstrate the reality of your faith.

2. In James the question isn’t “can faith save you?”

The question isn’t “can faith save you” or “can a real faith save you?” James 2:14 “14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”

The question is “saying you have faith but not having a life that demonstrates it, can it save you?”

3. James is concerned about dead faith masquerading as real faith which is not accompanied by works.

Evidence that this is the emphasis of the passage.

James 2:17 “17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

James 2:26 “26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

4. James affirms his understanding of what makes a man righteous before God with his story from Genesis.

James 2:23 “23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

This story comes from Genesis 15:6. It is a sotry that Paul references in Romans as he speaks of being saved by faith alone. Genesis 15:6 “6 And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

James is now referencing an event that is 7 chapters and many years later.

So why does he say it? Because the story of Isaac demonstrates the trueness of the faith that Abraham had expressed so many years before and had been reckoned righteous according to.

James and Paul are not contradicting themselves or each other.

Transition: Now, if you are still struggling with that issue,and it's an important one, please see me. It is of the utmost importance. Back to the main purpose of this Text.

A “Go Ye Be Warmed and Filled” Faith is useless for this world or for the world to come.

Main Point: Real faith always manifests itself in active, practical, Christian love in relationships.

Real faith demonstrates itself in real time.

James 2:14 “14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can (that) faith save him?”

Living example of a hearer and even speaker of the word but not a doer. James 1:22 “22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

James is concerned about people who claim to be Christians, but who are not. Me too.

James bluntly questions that person's salvation.

There is this expression. “We are not to be fruit inspectors.” Comes from the teaching in John 15. If we abide in Christ we will bear much fruit.

Here in this passage we are seeing the fruit of goodness toward others. Galatians 5:22 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”

Though we are not in a position to inspect the fruit of one another, we should do as James as call on those who claim to have faith to know if the God of their professed faith in working in and through them.

Article about Russell Brand, an actor who recently made a profession of faith. “"When I am in doubt, I feel the instruction there is accessible and I know what I am supposed to do and when I don't do what I am supposed to do, that is even clearer. When I feel myself being selfish or inconsiderate or putting myself first or not thinking about how I can be better to other people, it is as if there is an inner illumination available to me now."

Is he a believer, I do not know. We will wait a few years before inviting him instead of our the Christian Drama team we have in the fall. But I do know that this statement is true about believers.

Concrete example given.

James 2:15–17 “15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

Faith is what you believe, it proves itself by how you behave.

Good works are not necessary to be saved, works are evidence you are saved.

A claimed faith that is not life altering is more than dangerous.

Here we deal with right thinking without practical love. James 2:18–20 “18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

Jesus said that our actions are a reflection of our hearts. And so, if our lives do not manifest the faith that we claim, then the faith is not there.

You see, you can believe right things about God and still be a pagan, because saving faith involves more than just correct notions about God.

Two types of dead faith described

Seemingly religious faith / purely intellectual

Religion or faith, which is believed but not lived, is worthless. James 1:26 “26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”

Hearing without doing is also dangerous because it is deceiving ourselves. James 1:22 “22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

Faith of demons / intellectual + emotional response

Belief that is one God. In the Apostles Creed and agreed upon by demons. James 2:19 “19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

There is an emotional response. James 2:19 “19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Transition: A claimed faith that is not life altering is more than dangerous it is demonic.

Profiles of a living faith

1. Abraham has faith in God and acts upon it.

James 2:21–23 “21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

It is by His faith that he was made righteous or justified. Genesis 15:6 “6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

Abraham was called upon to trust God to resurrect His son.

What had happened? His faith had acted. His life reflected the reality of the faith that he had in God.

His actions flowed from the realness of the faith which he had in God.

Abraham's faith in God was vindicated by his loving obedience to God when he offered up Isaac.

2. Rahab has faith in God and acts upon it.

James 2:24–25 “24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?”

Rahab is a picture of a woman whose actions were in accordance with her faith.

She risked her life based on what she believed.

James says, “That's what faith does.” “It acts on what we believe.”

How kind of James to close on the example of Rahab. If he had ended on Abraham, perhaps we would have wondered if this goal was out of reach for us

If she could act on her faith in a simple way, taking in strangers in her home

3. Illustration from a body.

James 2:26 “26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

What is James' point? Saving faith is always accompanied by a life that acts in accordance with saving faith.

Our life must show that we mean what we say when we say we believe.

Some questions this Text demands of us

Do we love and live the word of God?

Do we act in light of the fear of God?

Does our mercy to others reflect the grace of God to you?

Do our relationships reflect the love of God?

"What we live is what we believe. Everything else is just so much religious talk.” - Vance Havner

Before you run out create alot of religious activity to feel assurance of your faith. Let me remind you that works not produced by faith is also false religion.

James parallels the Sermon on the Mount in many way Matthew 7:22–23 “22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

I never knew you. Is another way of saying you “never loved me.” 1 Corinthians 8:3 “3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.”

While claiming to do all these good works in Christ’s name, they failed to do what was asked of them. John 6:29 “29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

Let’s step out of James and step into this room.

Often consider the use of the book of James and others book among the 1st Century Church. James would make a wonderful book to go through for a New Members Class

In the February 1869 edition of the Sword and the Trowel, Spurgeon provides this six-step description of their membership process it includes a person called “the visitor.”

An enquirer meets with one of the pastors on a Wednesday evening and shares with them their testimony.

When satisfied, the pastor records their stories in the Testimony Books of the church and scheduled to meets Pastor Spurgeon for an interview. / 1442 interviews

If the pastor is satisfied, at a congregational meeting, he will nominate an elder or church member as a visitor, “to enquire as to the moral character and repute of the candidate." This including visiting their place of work.

If the visitor is satisfied, he will invite the candidate to attend with him at the next convenient congregational meeting to come before the church, answer any questions that may be put from the church.

After the statement before the church, the candidate withdraws, and the member-visitor gives his report. The church then takes a vote to receive him into membership.

The person is publicly given the right-hand of fellowship after being baptized (if needed) and participating in the next communion service of the church.

Please, feel out a Connection Card and give us the address of your place of work. Also, if you are willing to travel to others people of work to do interviews please check that box. :)

Why? Is this really necessary?

Words of youth. “Bro, you doin’ too much.”

Let me encourage you to be the “visitor” in your life.

2 Corinthians 13:5 “5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

We can look to the prayer of David in Psalm 139:23 “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”

Are you trying to cause me to doubt your salvation?

No, but I am trying to be faithful to this passage.

This passage tells us we should have no confidence in a faith that has not and is not altering our life.

If your faith cannot change your life, you should not expect it to change your eternity.

Is you faith living or dead?