Faith That Works (Part 1)

Big Idea: Genuine Faith Results In Works; False Faith Does Not.

Discussion Questions:

Discussion Questions:

What is faith? Describe everything you know about faith.

What is living faith?

What is false faith?

What is dead faith?

How do you identify

Introduction

READ

A psychologist once said, “We are not what we say, but we are what we do. What we do is the real key to our intentions.”

Your behaviour is a reflection of what you truly believe. What you truly believe will influence your behaviour.

A psychologist once said, “We are not what we say, but we are what we do. What we do is the real key to our intentions.” What you truly believe will influence your behaviour.

What you SAY you believe is not the only thing that matters, but what also matter is your act on your words.

What you truly believe will influence your behaviour.

what does matter is you act on your words.

the letter of James would not be considered the inspired word of God.

James will challenge and confront us with a serious disease known as dead faith. Other phrases that relate to dead faith is false faith; counterfeit faith; fake faith.

Faith That Works Is A Living Faith.

Faith That Is Workless Is A Dead Faith.

Context

James wrote this letter for the purpose of instructing the Christians who were suffering AND correcting Christians for their sinful behaviours.

You may remember in our previous study, we talked about the sin of favouritism. Favouring and loving one group of people over the other. James condemns the sin of favouritism because it ultimately fails to love your neighbour as yourself. This is an example of correcting Christians for their sinful behaviours.

James will be correcting and rebuking the Christians because they fail to live out Practical Christianity.

James is the most practical book in the New Testament that teaches us how to grow in spiritual maturity and to be a healthy Christian.

Practical Christianity teaches us that genuine faith always leads to good works. In this passage, living faith always results in works (i.e. obedience, holiness, being a hearer and doers of the word and etc.)

Big Idea: Living Faith Results In Works; Dead Faith Does Not.

The First Point In Our Lesson Is Phrased In A Question:

1. Examine Our Heart: Is My Faith Living?

I believe all of us have been to the clinic to see our doctors. There are perhaps many reasons why we visit our doctors:

Sick

Checkup

Visiting the clinic for a physical checkup is a good thing. Similarly, it is always good and healthy to do a spiritual checkup.

It is always good and healthy to do a spiritual checkup.

2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

This is an important and critical question all of us need to ask ourselves and be completely dead honest with ourselves. Is my faith living? Is my faith genuine and real? Or, is it dead? Is it fake?

Let’s take a look closely at James 2:14-17

2. Dead Faith Is Only A Verbal Claim

Faith - confidently trusting God even though He is unseen. Living faith is demonstrated in obedient action, love and continuing good works.

James has spoke about faith previously back 1:3, 1:6 and 2:1.

And I want to carefully explain the word “faith” in this specific context. The way James uses the word faith in this situation is different from the general definition that I gave you.

Faith - confidently trusting God even though He is unseen. Living faith is demonstrated in obedient action, love and continuing good works.

In this passage, James is concerned about the kind of faith that is JUST a verbal statement without action. Look closely at verse 14.

This is the kind of faith where a person claims to be a Christian, but he does not obey Jesus at home or at school.

This person says he/she is a follower of Jesus, but this person does not read the Bible, pray for other people, fellowship with other believers, and etc.

This is the kind of faith where the person is ONLY a hearer of the Word, but fails to be a doer of the Word.

If this is the kind of faith that some people want to live by, then James will ask, “What good is it, my brothers.” What advantage and benefit is there if you only say you have faith or you say you are a Christian, but you do not have works?

And James would ask a rhetorical question: “Can That Faith Save Him?” Can this kind of faith that only makes mere profession yet without works save him? The answer to that question is an definite: NO! This kind of faith is dead.

3. Dead Faith Cannot Save You

To compare that kind of faith (or dead faith), James will give us a case study or an illustration if that were the kind of faith that Christians should live out. Look at verses 15-16. READ

James give a situation of a Christian who is poorly clothed and does not have his or her daily food.

Poorly Clothed is literally translated as “naked” in Greek, but it is applicable to someone who is inadequately clothed.

If a brother or sister is dressed like that and is starving, then how should Christians respond?

James tells the readers, “If you behave like that, and you simply give them words of compassion without acts of compassion, then WHAT GOOD IS THAT?” What benefit is that? What advantage is that? What good is it to simply give words of compassion without acts of compassion?

There is absolutely nothing good that can come out of it. Blessing someone verbally while failing to help this person is useless. True acts of compassion means sacrificially giving or buying clothings for and sacrificially offering a meal to this brother or sister.

That’s the comparison that James is making. Based on that illustration, James makes a conclusion in verse 17. READ.

That’s the comparison that James is making.

That verse, in other words, means that faith by itself is dead if it does not produce works, obedience, doers of the word.

Profession of faith without acts of faith is a dead faith.

Profession

Profession of faith without acts of faith is a dead faith.

Faith without works

Stating your faith without living our your faith is an empty statement.

Christians often misunderstand the Bible, salvation and faith.

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.

Some people take Paul’s words and think that just mere confession that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead would save them.

But, the word, “confess,” is not just saying some words or a statement. No, when you are confessing that Jesus is Lord, you are actually declaring your allegiance, obedience, loyalty, and faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the king and master over your life. Such confession includes repenting from sin, trusting in Christ for salvation, and submitting yourself to Him as Lord.

Since Jesus is Lord and Master of your life, your aim in life is obedience and good works that bring Him glory and honour. This is the kind of faith that is LIVING and GENUINE.

is the deep personal conviction, without reservation, that Jesus is that person’s own master or sovereign. This phrase includes repenting from sin, trusting in Jesus for salvation, and submitting to him as Lord.

That is why I never ask you to raise your hand if you want to receive Christ. That is why I never sit down with you and ask you to pray this thing called the “sinner’s prayer.”

Churches have so-called Christians who are fake, phony, and hypocrites.

Honestly, I do not care if you say you are a Christian, if you prayed the “sinner’s prayer,” or if you declare Jesus as Lord and Saviour by being baptized (as important as baptism is) because all I need to do is look at your life and see if your “Christian life” is consistent with the teachings of the Bible.

Churches have so-called Christians who are fakes, phonies, and hypocrites. Just because you see a person in the church and claims to be a Christian does not always mean they have LIVING FAITH.

Remember what I said in the beginning: Your behaviour is a reflection of what you truly believe. What you truly believe will influence your behaviour. If God has saved you by grace through faith in Christ, then you will grow to love, desire, and obey Christ. Although you won’t be perfect, there should be evidence of spiritual growth.

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.’

Remember what I said in the beginning: Your behaviour is a reflection of what you truly believe. What you truly believe will influence your behaviour. If God has saved you by grace through faith in Christ, then you will grow to love, desire, and obey Christ and do the will of God. Although you won’t be perfect, there should be evidence of spiritual growth.

QUESTIONS?

Read

Verse 18 is one of the most difficult verses to interpret. First, who is this “someone?” Second, who was this “someone” speaking to? Was he speaking to James or was he speaking to James’ audience? Is he for James or against James? Third, where does the quotation end? In the Greek NT, there were no quotation marks, so we may not know exactly the extent of the quotation. But, we’ll go with the ESV.

Whoever this someone may be - a Christian or not - it is clear that this person is arguing against James (because verse 18 begins with a contrast).

This “someone” is arguing that a person can have a genuine, living faith without works. The “you” and “I” inside the quotation could be a generic or broad statement, as if to say, “someone has faith and someone has works.” This person is challenging James by stating that there is the faith group and the work group. This someone happens to belong to the work group.

This person may say to James, “who are you to say that a person can’t have living faith by itself? Who are you to question that someone can’t have living faith by mere profession? Who are you to question that someone can’t call himself/herself a Christian without obeying God’s Word?”

James is arguing and wants to make a point that true living faith is found together with works. The evidence of living faith is works.

James will get a second case study found in verse 19 and it relates to demons.

James acknowledges that these Jewish Christians do believe that God is one. The statement that God is one was the Jewish confession of faith found back in...

The statement that God is one was the Jewish confession of faith found back in...

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 ESV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

In other words, they have the right doctrine and they have the right theology. Indeed, we believe that God is one. We believe that there is only one God in this world. We do not believe in multiple gods.

Although they may have the right teachings and beliefs, note that James is speaking in sarcasm. He’s been making a point about living faith and dead faith.

He’s essentially saying, “You believe that God is one? You say and verbally express that God is one? Well, good for you! Guess what? Even DEMONS believe that as well - and they tremble.”

James wants to make the point that having accurate theology - that God is one - is good, but it is not enough if it’s simply a verbal statement, not practically lived out. Verbal profession is not followed up with actions.

James is making a comparison with this person’s faith without works to the faith of the demons!

James states that demons believe that God is one as well! But, they have no true faith. They’re in rebellion. In fact, they shudder at the fact that they would face the Lord in judgment day.

4. Dead Faith Is Demonic

Demons - an evil supernatural being or spirit.

Remember the story of Jesus casting a demon out of a man?

Remember the story of Jesus casting a demon out of a man?

Mark 5:6–8 ESV

6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 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.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

Mark 5:6-

The demon would bow before Jesus the Son of God and tremble in fear of torment.

James states that demons believe that God is one as well! They believe that Jesus is the Holy One Of God. But, they have no true, living faith. They’re in rebellion against the holy and righteous God. In fact, they shudder and tremble at the fact that they would face the Lord in judgment day and be sent to the lake of fire.

Anybody can say that they believe or have faith in God or they believe in the existence of God. But, do you fear the LORD? Does knowing that God is one, holy, love, righteous, gracious, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present and so forth influence your behaviour?

If you simply say you have faith or you believe in God that does not result in works and obedience, then your faith is no different from demons.

QUESTIONS?

I would have to give credits to demons for their belief.

5. Dead Faith Is Workless

Look at verse 20.

Given the case study in verse 19, James gives another rhetorical question. Answer: “NO!”

The word “useless” is very interesting in the Greek. The word literally means anti-works or workless…so there is a bit of a play on word from James.

Faith apart from works is WORKLESS. Faith apart from works DOES NOT WORK.

Scripture teaches us the salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. How can we be saved? Scripture teaches us that faith in Jesus is what saves us.

But, what kind of faith? Scripture teaches us that it is the FAITH THAT WORKS. It is the living faith, not dead faith.

Faith That Works Is A Living Faith.

Faith That Is Workless Is A Dead Faith.

I come back to the #1: “Is my faith living?”

Is your faith active? Does your faith WORK? Is your faith ALIVE?

Is your faith dead? If so, then ask God to make your faith alive and living.

The Bible teaches that the answer to those questions is based on how you live your Christian life.

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.

2 Peter 1:5–11 ESV

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Up to this point: James has been arguing that faith without works is dead. I have been talking about that the danger of dead faith and what that looks like.

Up to this point: James has been arguing that faith without works is dead. I have been talking about that the danger of dead faith and what that looks like.

Big Idea: Living Faith Results In Works; Dead Faith Does Not.

But, in the next passage (v.21-26), we will discuss what living faith looks like. You’ll have to wait until two weeks later because next Sunday school is the Easter Weekend, so we’ll take a break from James and focus on Jesus’ resurrection.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

Faith Without Works Is Demonic

This passage that we read is one of the most controversial passages in the NT. If not, it would be THE most controversial passage to the point that the early Christians would not recognize the letter of James as the inspired word of God.