Even the demons shudder

Where does the evidence lead?

If I hear giggling and laughing coming from the bedroom of our children.

The door to the room is closed

There is an entire chocolate cake missing?

What has happened?

Ashton and James with the cake

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

What evidence is missing?

In today’s passage in the epistle of James we are going to be asking a similar question and perhaps getting a glimpse into what these people have missed.

Let’s read our passage together.

James 2:14–26 ESV

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.

Let’s start with

The Question

James 2:14 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

How does this compare to

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

How do we reconcile these these two verse?

The first seems to state that faith must be accompanied by works for it to be effective for salvation.

The second verse seems to say that works are to be excluded entirely and only faith is required for salvation.

If we do not understand the difference in the premise of each writer we must conclude that the answer to our first question is, “Yes, the faith of a person who has no works can be save.”

What Paul means in Ephesians 2:8-9 is that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone and there is no works that you can do to earn that salvation, it must be received as a gift.

What James means in our passage is that if one is truly saved by grace through faith the evidence of that faith will result in works.

Paul’s conclusion in Ephesians 2:10 helps us see this:

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Instead of disagreeing, the two teachings stand hand in hand, one focuses on a persons salvation and the other on the resulting works that God has prepared for those he has saved.

The Examples:

Taking care of other believers

James 2:15–17 ESV

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.

The Demons shudder

James 2:18–19 ESV

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!

Abraham obeyed

James 2:20–23 ESV

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.

Abraham’s faith led to action

Hebrews 11:17–19 ESV

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

The Appeal Proof

James 2:24 ESV

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

The back up example of Rahab’s Trust

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?

The Conclusion

James 2:26 ESV

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

The thinking, that James is challenging, is the idea that I am saved by faith so if I say I believe that is enough. But the Bible seems to challenge us a little more deeply.

Is there evidence that our faith is genuine?

Listen again to how James challenges those who say they have faith but their works do not give evidence of genuine faith.

James 2:18–19 ESV

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!

James is saying its not enough to believe that God is one:

It doesn’t make a difference for the demons but at least they have the sense to be afraid.

The challenge is for us to not grow complacent and flippant about our faith but to approach God in the same manor that Jesus did.

Hebrews 5:7 ESV

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Jesus said, never the less, not my will, but your will be done.

Do not come and sit in church and assume that you are saved. Do not memorize the creeds and win at Bible trivia and assume you are saved. This is the warning of James.

Are you always trying to produce righteousness by doing “good” things?

Or is there a drive to do good that stems from the Holy Spirit at work in you who are a new creation.

Your faith is connecting you to a relationship with God that leads to a heart that longs to love and obey God.

This is what Jesus showed us. It is a life of humble surrender.

When you look at the evidence of your faith, what do you see?

Does your faith point to a relationship with Jesus that spills over into good works?

Is you life busy with good works and you find yourself wondering why you don’t feel connected to the Lord?

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Salvation is both but without the heart confession, the works are just religious activity and they will not save you.

Paul writes in Phillipians

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.