Faith Works

Therefore St James’ epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to these others, for it has nothing of the nature of the Gospel about it. (Luther’s Works 35, 362)

I almost feel like throwing Jimmy into the stove . . . (Luther’s Works 34, 317)

Luther was embroiled in a battle against the Roman Catholic Church which was teaching that salvation was found only through the pope and Roman Church and that God’s grace for salvation was only administered to you through the priests as you followed certain rules and actions.

As Luther studied the Scriptures, he found this went against what God had said especially when confronted with passages such as what Paul writes in

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

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

‘This paragraph is the most theologically significant, as well as the m

This was the stand that Luther took - We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Now, as Luther, you start reading and you come across vv 17:

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

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

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? (ESV)

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

You can see how Luther might react a little strongly to James’ writings.

(Douglas J. Moo, The Letter of James, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2000), 118.)

We will touch on the relationship between what Paul writes and James in a bit, but for now know it can be summed up in this way:

Mainly because of James’ main point which he states three times vv. 17, 20, 26

** You don’t need works to be saved, but if you’re saved there will be works. **

‘The appearance of a conflict is created because they give two key words, ‘faith’ and ‘justify’, different meanings and because their arguments are advanced against different errors.’

** A living faith is a fruitful faith. **

The real question Luther was asking, and is the real question each of us asks is:

**How can I know that my faith is real and alive?**

This passage in James answers that question and it will be as much an encouragement as it is a warning as it is a motivation.

James 2:14–26 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 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? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 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. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 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. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 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? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Douglas J. Moo, James: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 16, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 103.

**How can I know that my faith is real and alive?**

The answer to the question is to as much an encouragement as it is a warning as it is a motivation.

Description of Dead Faith (14-17) (35min)

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

ILLUST - living tree and dead tree

We can tell if our faith is living if we look.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James D. Saving Faith Reveals Itself in Works (2:14–26)

What James is contesting, then, is that the particular faith he has just mentioned can save. This faith is what a “man” who does not have works claims to have. James’s main point is that this “faith” is, in biblical terms, no faith at all.

James is not arguing for the prescriptive but the descriptive that should lead us to prescriptions.

James is not saying we are saved by our works or that works produce faith; instead he is saying that saving faith will produce works.

James does not understand works to be a moral behavioralism adding to or restricting from certain moral actions.

James and Paul

Here is where Luther’s struggle between Paul and James comes in.

‘The appearance of a conflict is created because they give two key words, ‘faith’ and ‘justify’, different meanings and because their arguments are advanced against different errors.’

Douglas J. Moo, James: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 16, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 103.

The difference between Paul and James is that Paul is talking about the initialization of faith in reference to the Jewish Law where as James is talking about the evidence of a current faith through fruit, in other words Paul is talking about a faith that might be where as James is talking about a faith that is claimed to already be.

ILLUST - Doctor with two patients. Suppose you overhear a doctor go into the exam room with one patient, “You just need to rest. That’s what will bring health and life.” Then he leaves that patient’s room, enters the next room and you overhear the doctor say to the second patient, “You need to get up and get busy. The only way you’ll have life and health is to get busy.” Are the doctors prescriptions in conflict? No, they are the right prescription for different contexts.

Same is true for the seeming contradictory statements of Paul and James. They are speaking to different contexts.

Paul is telling those who have a religious background or have legalism in their past - to rest. It’s faith alone - Your works don’t gain you faith.

James is talking to those who are just resting on the idea of ‘salvation through faith alone’ and he is saying that if it is not exercised in your life and evident through the things you do - your faith isn’t real. Stop resting on your ‘faith alone’ and live like you believe it.

Just as in previous passages, James gives an example to make his point.

We know our faith is living if we love.

If you have a living faith you will love others.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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

Go in peace = prayer of blessing for God’s favor and provision

Be warmed and filled = an acknowledgement of the problem and an understanding of the need (to be filled somewhere else)

** The most obvious fruit of a living faith is self-sacrificial love for those in need.

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Gal 5:

Galatians 5:22 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

John 13:

We have no right to talk about the Christian faith if we have no intention of actually taking care of the needy around us.

Can you think of someone who may need a meal? Who could use some clothes? Does someone around you have a need you could actually provide?

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James D. Saving Faith Reveals Itself in Works (2:14–26)

Johnson remarks, “It is not the form of the statement that is reprehensible, but its functioning as a religious cover for the failure to act.”

The modern version of this is, “I’ll pray for you.”

Let’s run with this, This is what James is saying:

You see a brother in church who is not sure he can feed his family that week and you tell him you’ll pray that God provides for him - WHEN PERHAPS YOU’RE THE ONE GOD PLACED IN HIS LIFE TO BRING HIS FAMILY A MEAL.

Perhaps you are not in a position to be able to offer a tangible help, and prayer (when actually used) is the most powerful tool we have, but the fruit of a living faith will by default, act out of a heart of compassion to be the hands and feet to Jesus to meet the needs of those in need.

1 john 3:17

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James D. Saving Faith Reveals Itself in Works (2:14–26)

Johnson remarks, “It is not the form of the statement that is reprehensible, but its functioning as a religious cover for the failure to act.”

While this could describe a potential scenario in our church at some point, this is a real scenario for many outside this church on a daily basis.

Think about this from the outside in.

Have you ever prayed for the homeless?

When was the last time you brought them a meal?

Have you ever prayed for the orphans?

When was the last time you offered them a bed in your house?

Have you ever met someone who doesn’t know Jesus and at any moment could enter eternal death?

When was it that you shred Christ with them?

1 John 3:17–18 ESV

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

James is echoing the words of his big brother.

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Dangers of Demonic Faith (18-19) (23min)

Demonic Faith = Statements and

Demons aren’t atheists.

The demons even give a fuller statement of Jesus’ identity than the disciples.

Mark 1:24 ESV

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

Mark 5:7 ESV

And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

Demonic Faith = Statements and

(justifying faith does not justify you)

(A demonic faith

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.

Empty Knowledge

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Demons know bout God

They have better theology!

There are no atheist demons!

Demons believe Jesus is Lord (They are in rebellion with him)

Demons aren’t atheists.

Demons believe Jesus is Lord

The demons even give a fuller statement of Jesus’ identity than the disciples.

Mark 1:24 ESV

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

Mark 5:7 ESV

And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

Demons submit to the power of his Word

However, they have no affection for Jesus or the things of God

They are in rebellion to him

Demons do not have works that are consistent with their belief

Belief is not true belief by statement alone. It must be evidenced by works or willing to be evidenced by works.

Mark 1:24 ESV

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

Mark 5:7 ESV

And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

Belief is not true belief by statement alone. It must be evidenced by works or willing to be evidenced by works.

“The point is that the knowledge of who God is does not save them; in fact, it is this very knowledge which makes them shudder (and that very name which was used by exorcists to drive them out)! A faith which cannot go beyond this level is worse than useless.”

(Peter H. Davids, The Epistle of James: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1982), 126.)

Christianity is not about an assent of the mind, it is an arrest of the heart.

** Knowing the truth about something means very little unless you are willing to appropriate the truth to your life. **

ILLUST - I may tell you I bought you a new car, and you may believe me, but unless you take the keys and start it up, you’re still walking.

Your lack of action or willingness for action shows your lack of belief.

A life of statement and a life of action are two different things - Which is yours?

We need to starting spreading the knowledge of Jesus by telling others about him while also recognizing that the

Think about the truth of Jesus. How have you appropriated it to your life?

You know Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” but you don’t even know your neighbor’s name.

You may know Scripture says, “The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,” but you limit your generosity “just in case.”

You know Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” but you are still moving at 100 mph thinking it all relies on you.

You know Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth. . . but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” but you’re working like a dog to spend on your own wants, your own desires, your own retirement and you claim you don’t have time to lay up treasure anywhere else.

Empty Religion

(A demonic faith

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.

(justifying faith does not justify you)

Demonic faith leads to an “Easy Believism”

Demonic faith leads to compartmentalism of faith.

Demonic faith is dead faith.

"Beware of a mere intellectual faith. No man can come to Christ by faith and remain the same any more than he can come into contact with a 220-volt wire and remain the same."

Wiersbe, Warren W.. Be Mature (James): Growing Up in Christ (The BE Series Commentary) (p. 85). David C Cook. Kindle Edition.

ILLUST - Who believes I can shoot a balloon from across the stage?

(Those who raised hands - turn to someone and tell them why you believe I could do it)

Who would be willing to hold the balloon while I shoot?

Who will be willing to hold it in their teeth?

Your lack of action or willingness for action shows your lack of belief.

** Faith is not some nebulous, warm fuzzy feeling about some spiritual being and Sunday school stories. It is a dynamic And bold trust in a real and powerful God that can actually make a difference in your life and so it makes a difference in your life

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

Conclusion

Examples of Dynamic Faith (20-26) (13min)

Abraham (trusted in the power of God)

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 (trusted in the power of God)

What did that seem look like? What was going through Abrahams mind as he was walking away with Isaac? Did Sarah really know what was going to happen? Can you imagine Abraham trying to figure out how to start that conversation with his wife?

ILLUST - My dad and the drill in the moment he realized he would need to tell my mom.

His work(S) that saved him were a consistent life of obedience culminating and evidenced in an extreme act of sacrifice.

*If Abraham would not withhold anything from God than God was everything to Abraham. He was fully committed to the point of killing his own son because he believed God could raise him from the dead. *He truly believed God.

(Cf and )

The New Bible Commentary 2:14–26 Generosity and Faith

A person, then, is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. Paul uses the term ‘justified’ to mean God’s declaration that a sinner has been acquitted. This was a new meaning for the term. James uses the word in its original sense (the one found in the Greek OT), that a person is declared to be just or righteous. This declaration, he argues, does not come about because of what is unseen in a person’s heart, but because of what is seen in a person’s deeds.

Rahab (trusted in the grace of God)

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?

Joshua 2:9–13 ESV

and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”

Rahab turned from everything she knew and trusted fully in the grace of God

She believed the grace of God was stronger than the authority of the king of Jericho

She believed God would deliver her despite her nationality, her status, her past sins.

What reason did Rahab have to believe that God would spare her?

She knew about the God of the Israelites by the mighty works she had seen and even giving her profession she overcame her guilt or shame her fears to believe that what God wanted to do through her what’s more important then what might be done to her. That’s a living face

Someone has said that faith is not “believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence.”

In the Jewish culture Rahab was seen as the ‘mother’ of all who convert from paganism to Judaism.

*Dynamic faith was born from dynamic faith in a dynamic God.

**There are people around you in your spheres of influence who have no faith, who would come to faith, if they could only see a living faith.**

Conclusion (5min)

Jesus does the work of salvation in you. If that has happened, then the work of faith will be seen through you.

The real question today is the one we began with: Is your faith real and alive?

Are you banking on some truth you once gave a nod to at camp or VBS or Sunday school or is there actual fruit in your life?

I’m not talking about moral behaviors:

Not moralis

you come to church, give tithe, serve in SS or no cussing, don’t kick the dog, not cheating on your husband, don’t have a stack of porn on your coffee table.

I’m talking about evidence that Jesus is Lord of your life.

You’re fully committed.

You don’t dabble with Jesus - He is Lord or He is not.

What if Jesus asked you to pick up stakes and head to India as a short term or long term missionary? would your hand go up or back down?

What if there was a sacrifice in your life that God is asking you to make that only makes sense if Jesus is Lord?

What if he is asking you to step up and make an impact on people’s lives by serving in KidCity or as a Life Group leader?

What if Jesus just wants you to lean in and trust him, trust his grace, let go. Trust that his grace is greater than your sin, your abilities, the voices around you.

I’m convinced there are some of us here that know what Jesus is saying as a demonstration that He is Lord, that we are fully committed to Him, that our faith is alive.