Three Questions About Faith
THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT FAITH
James 2:14-26
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James challenges us by asking us three questions about our faith.
I. Do You Have a Living Faith? (14-17)
A. Can This Kind of Faith Save?
1. James begins by asking two rhetorical questions. "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?"
2. The emphasis is not on the true nature of faith but on the false claim of faith.
3. What James is saying is that this kind of faith, which is actually no faith at all, is useless.
B. Faith That Does Not Have Works Is Dead
1. James illustrates his point by saying "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?"
2. James tells us that if this is the kind of faith we have our faith is dead.
3. Deeds of loving service are not a substitute for, but rather a verification of, our faith in Christ.
The next question that James asks us is...
II. Do You Have a Showing Faith? (18-20)
A. I Will Show You My Faith
1. In verse 18, James can already hear the argument against his, so he begins to build his case.
2. He indicates that someone will say "I have faith," and another one will says "I have works."
3. James challenges these people to "show me your faith without your works..."
4. He then answers their question by saying "I will show you my faith by my works."
B. Even the Demons Believe
1. James again challenges these people by saying "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!"
2. All faithful Jews believed the creed known as the Shema found in Deuteronomy 6:4: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one."
3. He was saying, to “believe” in one God may be good so far as it goes, but it does not go far enough.
4. The demons believe too, but they do not have saving faith.
Transition: Don’t tell me about your faith; show it to me!
III. Do You Have a Following Faith? (21-26)
A. The Faith of Abraham
1. The third and final question that James asks has to do with following the example of the great people of faith.
2. The first example that James uses is Abraham. He says "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?"
3. Does that mean we can be declared right by doing good things? No! In the next verse he says that his faith was working together with his works, and that his works made his faith perfect or complete.
4. Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
5. However, without works you don’t have real faith.
B. The Faith of Rahab
1. The next example is Rahab.
2. She is a hero of faith because she put her faith into practice. She took great risks in order to do what she did.
4. There are only two women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, and one of them is the prostitute Rahab.
5. If we are going to be people of faith, we need to put our faith into action the way that Abraham and Rahab did. If we don’t our faith is useless.
Don’t tell me about your faith; show it to me!
Conclusion
1. What kind of faith do you have?
a. Is it a living faith?
b. Is it a showing faith?
c. Is it a following faith?
2. Do you put your faith into practice, or are you separating faith and practice?
3. James would say "Don’t tell me about your faith; show it to me!