Work Your Faith

Opening

Faith is incredibly important to the Christian life

Sinner is saved by faith ()

Believer must walk by faith ()

Without faith it is impossible to please Him ()

Whatever is not done through faith is sin ()

A fantastic quote on faith that I’ve heard is “believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence.”

believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence.

Faith is trusting God will fulfill His promises to you.

We’ve talked about a lot of ideas from James, but maybe none as important as this. is so important. Let’s read it and jump into this lesson!

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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.

Prayer

3 Types of Faith

Dead Faith (14-16)

Throughout church history there have been people who have professed to know God, but don’t know God (- 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)

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

James is telling us not to be big talkers, but to back up what we say with what we do! Don’t have empty words

v.16—Poor man illustration

How does this look practically?

We have an obligation to help those who are without necessary things like food or clothes

DO you ever have the desire to help those less fortunate than you out?

Love others!

Inasmuch as ye hae done it unto one of the least of these My brethre, ye have done it unto me” ()

Can faith with an absence of works save someone?

No

There needs to be a change in behavior from within not outward

Salvation Brings life and life brings fruit. Without fruit, we can know that we are not saved. ()

John Calvin said “it is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone”

Dead faith is only an intellectual experience

No man can come to know God and stay the same, just like no one can touch an electrified fence and be tbe same

Dead faith is a counterfeit faith that lulls a person into a false confidence of eternal life.

Demonic Faith ()

This can come as a shock to complacent readers.

IT comes as a shock because you don’t usally think of demons having faith

They do have faith

You see they believe in Christ

They also have an emotional response (Fear and tremble)

This proves that a person can be enlightened in his mind and stirred in his heart and still be lost forever. Are you there right now?

Do you have this faith? Enlightned and stirred, but not willing to do anything about it? Please understand what this means—death.

True saving faith involves something that can be seen and recognized (v. 18)

Being a Christian involves trusting in Christ and running towards Him. A dead man can’t perform good works. The word dead in v. 20 can be translated as “idle” like money in the bank not drawing interest.

Don’t live as some people do— being intellectually known and emotionally stirred, but not moving toward Jesus!

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: False Faith (James 2:14–26)

James has introduced us to two kinds of faith that can never save the sinner: dead faith (the intellect alone), and demonic faith (the intellect and the emotions). He closes this section by describing the only kind of faith that can save the sinner—dynamic faith.

James closes this section by describing the only kind of faith that can save the sinner—dynamic faith!

Dynamic Faith (20-26)

Dynamic faith is fathat that is real, faith that has power, faith that results in a changed life.

What is dynamic faith? ()

Based on the word of God

James used Abraham and Rahab as illustrations of dynamic saving faith, since both of them heard and received the message of God through His word.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: False Faith (James 2:14–26)

James used Abraham and Rahab as illustrations of dynamic saving faith, since both of them heard and received the message of God through His Word.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: False Faith (James 2:14–26)

Jam

Faith is only as good as its object

Man trusts idol to help him, but no matter how much faith a person can generate it it is not directed at the right object it will accomplish nothing

We are not saved by faith in faith, we are saved by faith in Christ as revealed by His word.

It involves the whole man

Dead faith touches the intelect

Demonic faith touches the intellect and emotions

Dynamic faith involves the will

The whole person plays a part in true saving faith

The mind understands the truth

The heart desires the truth

The will acts upon the truth

God speaks and we must obey. Are you doing that today?

Faith is not believing in spite of evidence, it is obeying in spite of consequences.

It leads to action

It leads to obedience because we want to serve the one who has done so much for us.

There are a lot of “works” in the Bible

Works of the law ()

Works of the flesh ()

Wicked works ()

Dead works ()

Dynamic/saving faith is good works.

James’ illustration

Abraham and Rahab

Both were different

Jew Gentile

Godly man sinful woman

Abraham was friend of God Rahab belonged to the enemies of GOd

Both exercised saving faith in God

Abraham believed in God after God showed Him what He would do for him ()

Counted is a legal or financial term—it means to put to one’s account.

Abraham was spiritually bankrupt, but God filled his coffers.

talks about how Abraham was justified by faith

justification is super important to a christians life

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: False Faith (James 2:14–26)

Justification is an important doctrine in the Bible. Justification is the act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous on the basis of Christ’s finished work on the cross. It is not a process; it is an act. It is not something the sinner does; it is something God does for the sinner when he trusts Christ. It is a once-for-all event. It never changes.

How can we tell if someone is justified if it’s a private thing between them and God?

Abraham’s example answers that question: The justified person ahs a change dlife and obey’s God’s will. his faith is demonstrated by his works.

v.22—Abraham was not saved because of what was going to do to Isaac—that proved He was already saved. Abraham wasn’t saved by faith plus works, but by a faith that works.

How was abraham justified by works (2:21) when he had already been “justified by faith” ().

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: False Faith (James 2:14–26)

By faith, he was justified before God and his righteousness declared; by works he was justified before men and his righteousness demonstrated.

Dynamic faith obeys God and proves itself daily.

Rahab is the next example

Rahab’s faith wasn’t just intellectual and emotional, but it was also dynamic! She acted ()

Imagine people randomly running into your house. Would you respond like rahab? I wouldn’t. Her story is truly amazing.

Conclusion

What about you?

What kind of faith do you possess?

Dead (Intellectual only)

Demonic (intellectual and emotional)

Dynamic

Don’t let satan deceive you and confuse your faith. Search your heart, ask God to search it.

Here are some questions we can ask ourselves while we search our hearts

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: False Faith (James 2:14–26)

Here are some questions we can ask ourselves as we examine our hearts:

1. Was there a time when I honestly realized I was a sinner and admitted this to myself and to God?

2. Was there a time when my heart stirred me to flee from the wrath to come? Have I ever seriously been exercised over my sins?

3. Do I truly understand the Gospel, that Christ died for my sins and arose again? Do I understand and confess that I cannot save myself?

4. Did I sincerely repent of my sins and turn from them? Or do I secretly love sin and want to enjoy it?

5. Have I trusted Christ and Christ alone for my salvation? Do I enjoy a living relationship with Him through the Word and in the Spirit?

6. Has there been a change in my life? Do I maintain good works, or are my works occasional and weak? Do I seek to grow in the things of the Lord? Can others tell that I have been with Jesus?

7. Do I have a desire to share Christ with others? Or am I ashamed of Him?

8. Do I enjoy the fellowship of God’s people? Is worship a delight to me?

9. Am I ready for the Lord’s return? Or will I be ashamed when He comes for me?