Can Faith Alone Save?

James 2:14–26 Text

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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?

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

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.

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

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

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.

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

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

Intro: Much of the world today is running after a false presumption that believing in jesus is enough for you to make heaven your home.

But that is not what Jesus taught nor the Apostle's. Here in James the second chapter starting at the 14th verse. James writes about not only faith but how faith, works, and love for ones neighbor are all a vital part for a thriving relationship with God and an entrance into the kingdom of God! Faith by itself cannot save you just like works by themselves cannot save you!

James starts off by asking the question James 2:14-16

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? No! it is easy to say you have faith. But your actions or works prove weather or not you have faith.

Some people think they can live anyway they want and still make heaven their home just because they believe in jesus. But James gives us 3 examples where love faith and works all play a part in our salvation

Example#1

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?

Nothing! it profits you nothing ! And profits them nothing!

Matt. 5:43-48 teaching of Jesus

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. (earthly judgment)

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. God judges with righteous Judgement. He judges everyone the same.He doesn’t see from just the outside of things But he sees clear to the heart of every situation! And He love’s everyone. It is not his will that anyone should parish but that all should come to repentance and the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

John 3 :16,17,18

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;

as I have loved you (qualifier), that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Agape- love of God-

Philiao- brotherly

Philia- friendship

Agapao- Romantic

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity isuffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity

Matt 22:35-40

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

If we keep these 2 commandments the others will take care of themselves

James 2:17

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

If your faith is dead then it must have once been alive!

And if it is dead what killed it! maybe sin? or iniquity?

Maybe the lack of works?

Maybe a lack of compassion? Lack of love for your neighbor!

Being Unconcerned for anyone but for oneself!

Gal. 5:5-7

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision ( works of the law); but faith which worketh by love.

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

It is Our good Works that keeps our faith alive and causes our love for God and others to thrive. REV. 3:1-6

1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Works Incomplete!

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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. (Faith in God produces Good works) just as good works infuses our faith with Life, vitality,excitement! Its a blessing to be a blessing!

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?

Example #2 James 2:21-24

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (Good works proves your faith)

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

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.

Example #3 James 2:25-26

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.