HSF - James 2:14-26

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.

Intro:

(Image) New year, new you, what are the things that you have resolved to do? Where do those things compare to eternity?

(Need) Let this be the year where we focus on the eternal and put Jesus first

(Subject) Faith without works is dead

(Text) James 2:14-26

(Preview) Main point, then 3 things we as Christians can do to continue to have action in our faith this year.

Body:

Faith without works (action or fruit) is dead (vv. 14-17)

We are not talking about loss of salvation, or not being saved.

Scripture is very clear about salvation by grace through faith alone

What does your faith look like? Do your actions match the faith you proclaim to have?

Put your money where your mouth is

Verse 15-16 - “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food 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?

Hypocrisy in our culture, in our environment is toxic and we are quick to identify and call it out.

We as Christians, we need to DO what the Bible teaches us, if this is what we say this is what we believe in, then why do our lives not reflect what the Bible says?

- But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

- Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

- He has told you, O man what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

- By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Action without faith is empty

Verse 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.”

This is a response that lacks the understanding of how our faith works. We are saved by grace through faith alone

However, the things we believe in - people should be able to see those things

Be in Biblical community

James calls us to remember those who have been justified by faith and through their lives (works) we are able to see and how our important our actions are.

It’s going to be hard and many of us have already given up on New Years resolutions. The only way we can make it through this year is with our communities (dgroup/HSF/FBCC)

Let’s commit to the following for 2018:

Be doers of the Word

Be generous with your resources

Be in Biblical community

Questions for small group:

Where have you felt like you’ve been more of a “faith without works” Christian?

What are some ways we can practice being “doers” of the Word?

What are some ways we can be generous with our time/money/effort/resources this year?

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