Faith Without Action is Dead (James 2:14-26)
Notes
Transcript
Today we are in our 5th Sermon in our series in James...
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Today I will be unpacking 3 points from this passage...
1. Faith equals action
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James is hammering at the point that faith must bring transformation.
And when we are transformed by the Spirit of God,
we will be compelled to do the work of God.
Faith is not just an intellectual endeavor,
but the surrender of the heart.
Therefore, James writes, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”
Kye Word to not miss here is the word says… says he has faith…
(How many know people say alot of things...) [deceive ourselves]
Confidence does not equal truthfulness…. Just because…Says something…
James is addressing people in the church who may faithfully attend, they may even sign the member forms, but they have no good fruit in their lives.
James is communicating what does the evidence tell us?
(sure you may say you have faith… but what is the fruit…)
The Church has historically misunderstood gifts of the Spirit and fruit of the Spirit....
what I mean is…
Evidence of faith is not gifts but good fruit.
And To articulate his point, James uses the example of a poor brother or sister needing food and clothing… what good is that?
James 2:17 “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
There is a difference between true faith and dead faith.
Dead faith only talks — true faith walks.
Dead faith says the right words — true faith lives out the Word.
Dead faith is a mask — true faith is a lifestyle.
Ultimately true faith produces evidence that changes the world.
2. Faith equals evidence
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
I love the statement James makes in verse 18...
“I will show you my faith by my works”
In other words you will see my faith by how I live each and every day.
What I have learned in life is that,
People are much more quick to become believers in something when there is evidence.…
(miracle drink that makes you healthy and strong… always sick)
[business plan that will guarantee you to be rich… always broke]
What does the world see in us as a church?
preaching hope, but are the most hopeless?
preaching unity, but are the most divided?
preaching generosity, but the most stingy?
preaching freedom, but the most in chained people?
I say these things, not to bring condemnation,
but we do have to ask ourselves what does the world see us doing? not just saying....
There is a false idea that if I just have knowledge about God or maybe even just beleive that there is a God than I am a Christian.
James says in verse 19 “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
NLT 19 “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”
Story of Andrew…
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
James addresses the false idea that all I have to do is believe there is a God versus making Jesus your Lord and Savior.
How many know there is a big difference between knowing about God and Knowing God?
When Jesus becomes Lord and Savior of your life,
the Holy Spirit indwells the believer which results in transformation… Sanctification.… (not overnight)
And when transformation takes place, our life becomes a living testimony of God’s grace.
3. Faith equals Testimony
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Before I unpack this point of faith equaling testimony,
I must address one of those Versus in the Bible that seems to be in tension with another verse in Scripture.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
On the surface you could say well James and Paul have a different theology of justification.
(Justified by works the other justified by faith apart form works)
2 things to understand when reading and understanding these 2 Bible verse’s.
understanding the context of what James means “faith alone”
Throughout this passage the meaning James has for faith alone is not true faith but a dead faith.
V14 “What good is it... if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”
V17 “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
V19 “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
James’s use of faith throughout this passage,
is addressing a group of people that are in many of our church’s back than and today… more today....
Theism or Agnostic..… what are Christians… Lord and Savior...
Once we understand the context of what James means by faith alone…
2. We need to understand what viewpoint James is presenting about justification in James 2:24
vs Paul’s viewpoint of justification that he is presenting in Romans 3:28...
James is emphasizing the way in which works demonstrate that someone has been justified.
Whereas in the context of what Paul is presenting in Romans chapter 3, is the emphasis of the initial process of being saved.
Because of Christ atoning work on the cross, we may be justified through faith alone.
Justification is a legal act in which God see’s us as forgiven and declared righteous in His sight.
Because we have been made righteous, our faith is going to produce good works.
So the best way to understand both these passages from James and Paul is they are emphasizing different points of the road associated with justification. (Paul beginning process… James middle process)
The point for James here,
is that he is communicating that those who are justified will live a life marked by God which will be a testimony of God’s grace. Amen!
James uses Abraham and Rehab the prostitute as example’s of 2 individuals that received justification.
2 very different backgrounds, but both are mentioned in the lineage of Jesus.…
Because they were justified they carried out the mission of God with obedience.
Abraham and Rehab had different roles but both are importance parts of the overall story of the mission of God.
They both were obedient in very difficult circumstances.
James highlights that because they were obedient,
there lives are testimonies of God’s work of justification.
Living a life of obedience and faithfulness to God is the most powerful testimony we can live.
God can do more with obedience and faithfulness,
than any gift I can bring to the table.
Because true faith is a powerful substance in the hands of God.
True faith will lead us to live out a testimony of the powerful God we serve.
Close with this…
You know James was not whispering to us for a moment…
he was shouting and declaring truth into the foundation of our souls:
Faith must bring transformation that compels action…
It is by faith that we believe for the impossible —
when logic runs dry, and reason fails,
faith stands tall and declares, "My God is able!"
It is by faith that we love the unlovable —
not by feeling, but by fire of the Holy Spirit.
Not by comfort, but by the cross that paid our debt.
We stretch our hearts beyond what’s natural,
because faith fuels the supernatural.
It is by faith that a fire ignites a fire that refuses to be tamed,
a fire that burns not to destroy, but to illuminate,
A fire to bring light into the deepest shadows of this world.
Our faith cannot sit in silence,
our faith must not hide behind good intentions.
No — real faith that James is referring too… moves. Real faith acts...
Real faith steps out of the boat,
touches the leper,
feeds the hungry,
welcomes the stranger, and lives like Jesus is alive — because He is.
Therefore, Faith will always be accompanied by action.
Because a fire that does not spread is only smoke.
But a fire fueled by heaven will set the world ablaze.
James says faith apart from works is dead.
So I charge you today,
Let your faith speak louder than your words,
Let your faith speak with action.
1. Faith equals action
2. Faith equals evidence
3. Faith equals Testimony
2025 grow in 3 areas…
Spiritual - Numerical - Financial
Em and I need to step back….
Leon is stepping into as our Worship and Youth leader
(15 years of ministry leadership experience and holds a Bachelor’s of Theology)
Cheryl is going to continue Director of Family Ministries
(Ministry and non profit experience of over decade and half)
[ bachelors in Christian counseling]
Kelli Kid’s church Lead
(Over a decade of ministry leadership experience)
Lindsey Mid-week kid’s Lead
(Over a decade of classroom experience as a teacher)
[hold the bachelors in English]
