A Working Faith

INTRODUCTION

ILL: Saying, “I’m on the basketball team.” The truth is

Overview the journey in James

TRANSITION

Now we have reached a point in James where some may say, why do I have to do all of this? I mean, doesn’t Jesus save us and it’s not based on our works?

EXPOSITION

1. Faith Alone Does Not Save (vv. 14-20)

EXP: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters...”- James begins with a statement that may seem controversial at first glance.

Ephesians 2:8–9 CSB

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.

Romans 3:27–28 CSB

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith. For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Is this a contradiction in Scripture? No, these verses are telling us Good works will not produce salvation, but salvation will produce good works.

No, these verses are telling us Good works don’t produce salvation, but salvation produces good works.

James is asking the question…if you say you have faith without good works, is your faith real? Have you really been saved?

ILL: Saying I love to fish. We could have meetings where we talk about fishing. Discuss bait, casting techniques, etc. But if we don’t actually fish, do we really love to fish?

APP: In the same way we can say we have faith in Jesus and maybe even go to church and sit in on Bible studies. But if we aren’t living our lives like Jesus commands, do we really love him?

1 John 2:3–6 CSB

This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him: The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.

1 John 4:20 CSB

If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

EXP: “If a brother or sister is without clothes”- James gives an example of someone who acts like they are a Christian but does nothing to back it up.

APP: Easy believism, the idea that all you have to do is believe and you are a Christian.

There are people who think they are saved just because they prayed a prayer when they were a kid and now they have a “get out of Hell free card” and a license to live however they want.

Paul contradicts that in Romans.

Romans 6:1–4 CSB

1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.

2. Faith Must Be Put to Action (vv. 20-26)

v. 18- again, James is saying Good works will not produce salvation, but salvation will produce good works.

v. 19- And for further proof that belief alone isn’t enough, James demonstrates that even the demons believe in Jesus. They know who he is. He has power over them.

2. Faith Must Be Put to Action (vv. 21-26)

James gives some examples here.

Abraham (vv. 21-23)

Genesis 22:1–18 CSB

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. 2 “Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” 3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together. 7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together. 9 When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He replied, “Here I am.” 12 Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” 13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said: “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain.” 15 Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn,” this is the Lord’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the city gates of their enemies. 18 And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command.”

Abraham’s faith was made complete because he put his faith into action. He did something.

Rahab (v. 25)- help the Hebrew spies escape.

ILL: What are some examples of strong faith you have known? Share with someone sitting by you.

APP: The people you have talked about, are people you see as strong believers. Why? It likely wasn’t just because they said they were. It was because they did something.

In your life, what could be said about you as to how you live out your faith?

This part of James wasn’t written to cause people to doubt their salvation, but to be challenged to live it out and put it into action.

CONCLUSION

Are you putting your faith into action?

Are you sharing the Gospel with others?

Are you loving those in need or playing favorites?

Are you doing the word?

Are you obeying Jesus?

3. True Faith Acts