The Book of James: “Professing Faith Without Works”
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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.
I. Two questions. v.14
I. Two questions. v.14
A. Can a man have faith and not good works?
A. Can a man have faith and not good works?
B. Can faith without good works save a man?
B. Can faith without good works save a man?
II. The destitute Christian believer. v.15-17
II. The destitute Christian believer. v.15-17
A. He claims faith, yet refuses to help the needy.
A. He claims faith, yet refuses to help the needy.
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
B. Conclusion: His faith without works is dead.
B. Conclusion: His faith without works is dead.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
III. The two men of arrogance. v.18
III. The two men of arrogance. v.18
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
A. One claims faith; another claims works.
A. One claims faith; another claims works.
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?
B. Conclusion: One’s faith is shown by works.
B. Conclusion: One’s faith is shown by works.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
IV. The orthodox religionist. v.19-20
IV. The orthodox religionist. v.19-20
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
A. He believes on one God, but the devils also believe and tremble.
A. He believes on one God, but the devils also believe and tremble.
B. Conclusion: Faith without works is an empty faith.
B. Conclusion: Faith without works is an empty faith.
V. The man who proved his faith by works Abraham. v.21
V. The man who proved his faith by works Abraham. v.21
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
A. He offered up Isaac.
A. He offered up Isaac.
B. His faith and works were interactive.
B. His faith and works were interactive.
C. His faith fulfilled Scripture.
C. His faith fulfilled Scripture.
D. Conclusion: His faith and works justified.
D. Conclusion: His faith and works justified.
VI. The woman who proved her faith by works: Rahab.
VI. The woman who proved her faith by works: Rahab.
9 And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
A. She proved her faith by receiving the messengers.
A. She proved her faith by receiving the messengers.
B. Conclusion: A body without the Spirit is dead; so faith without works is dead.
B. Conclusion: A body without the Spirit is dead; so faith without works is dead.
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
