Salvation: Faith That Moves Us!

There are those who look at religion and think they have to become sisyphus perpetually doing meaningless tasks.

Others who look at Grace and claim, they have a ticket to heaven and they can carelessly continue on their previous path.

However, both are unbiblical and unspiritual.

True faith in Christ changes us. It’s not just about believing in theory; it’s about having a real relationship with God that shows in how we live and treat others.

Good morning, everyone! Today, we’re going to talk about what true faith really means and how it should change our lives. Let’s dive into James 2 to understand this better.

James 2:14–26 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? 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. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. 20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

1. Faith Alone Justifies:

First, let’s understand that faith alone is what makes us right with God. It means we no longer have to worry about being guilty before God because Jesus has taken that away for us. But what does that faith look like?

2. Faith Is More Than Believing in a Theory.

James tells us that faith isn’t just saying, "I believe in God" or "I think being good is important." True faith is about having a real, personal relationship with Jesus. It’s about putting our trust in Him and living out that trust every day.

There are those who want to be the quality control on the fruit of faith. They want to set the quantity and the quality, often praising their own virtue and ignoring their vice.

James will say in the very middle of his discourse on Faith that works,

Mercy TRIUMPHS over judgement (note he didn’t say it negates JUSTICE.) Verse 13. So James is not advocating perfectionism or legalism.

He is pointing out the changed life.

He is also giving a diatribe to combat Anti-Nomianism.

ἀντί [anti]"against" and νόμος [nomos] "law") is any view which rejects laws or legalism and argues against moral, religious or social norms (Latin: mores), or is at least considered to do so.

It’s basically anything goes or I am so free in Christ I can do as I wish. However, we all understand the phrase, you are free to swing your arms but your freedom ends when you fist nears my nose. Everyone knows there needs to be limits. James challenges the wrong use and abuse of God’s grace to allow a person to ignore God’s character and concerns in their lives and demand the right to live low and drag others down.

3. Faith brings Companions.

Paul talked about how we can’t earn our way to heaven with good deeds or following rules. James agrees but says that true faith always shows itself through our actions. So, while faith alone saves us, this faith will always come with a new way of living.

2 Corinthians 5:15–17 CSB

15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. 16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

4. Faith Moves you to Model God’s Priorities in Relationships.

in How We Live

When we have faith, it leads us to act differently. For example:

4a. We start to demonstrate care towards others, especially those in our church family. (James 2:1-13)

4b. We treat everyone with respect and don’t show favoritism.

4c. We protect people from injustice and honor important things like marriage.

Application points:

1. Rate Your Faith and Plan for Growth:Assess your faith on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 means it’s quite shallow and 10 means it’s deeply rooted. What is one specific step you can take this week to deepen your relationship with God and move closer to a 10? This could be a new spiritual practice, a commitment to prayer, or reading a book on faith.

2. Reach Out and Build Relationships:Reflect on how often you’ve reached out to someone in your church community or social circle who isn’t a family member or long-term friend in the past week. If you haven’t initiated contact, what might be holding you back? Consider setting a goal to connect with one new person this week and explore any personal barriers that may be preventing you from building new relationships.

3. Examine Your View of Family and Community:Think about how your understanding of family has influenced your ability to connect with others. Has your view of family helped or hindered your relationships with people outside your immediate family? Challenge yourself to expand your sense of community and consider how you can better embrace and support others in your church and beyond.

These points are designed to help you evaluate and actively improve your spiritual life, encouraging deeper faith, meaningful connections, and a broader sense of community.