How To Have Real Faith

James 2:14–17 NKJV

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:18–21 NKJV

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

James 2:22–26 NKJV

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

I. WHO IS RIGHT - JAMES OR PAUL? BOTH

"For it is BY GRACE you have been saved THROUGH FAITH...FOR a life of GOOD WORKS which God has already prepared for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10 (GN)

II. WHAT IS REAL FAITH?

1. REAL FAITH IS NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU SAY

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man CLAIMS to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such "faith" save him? (vs. 14) Matthew 7:20-23

2. REAL FAITH IS NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU FEEL

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, `Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" (vs. 15-16)

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" 1 John 3:17

3. REAL FAITH IS NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU THINK

"But someone will say, `You have faith - I have deeds.' SHOW ME your faith without deeds, and I will SHOW YOU my faith by what I do." (vs. 18)

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

4. REAL FAITH IS NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE

5. REAL FAITH IS SOMETHING YOU DO