Faithworks
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(Christian life slide)
We know that a Christian life is a life worth living for, or first dying for then living. Today we are looking at faithworks, or maybe restate it is works of faith for there are different kinds of faith.
We can know in our Christian life a few things
That without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb11:6)
6 And 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 seek Him.
and just because I can i thought I would throw in an interpretive version.
6 It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
The Christian is saved by faith (Eph2:8)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
by grace through faith! God’s gift to you because of your faith, your saving faith.
The Christian is to walk by faith (2Cor5:7)
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—
As Christians faith is not seen, in fact let me give you the passage first
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
we are to walk in what we do not see, in what we hope for, in what we have faith in, in whom we have faith in and have our hope in.
There are different kinds of faith, but only one that is “saving faith”. In our passage today James will address the different kinds of faith and faithworks.
Dead faith (Jm2:14-17)
Demonic faith (Jm2:18-19)
Dynamic faith (Jm2:20-26)
Displayed faith (conclusion)
Dead Faith
Dead Faith
So, works of faith or works from faith, dead works or faith works? This is a great section of scripture that deserves our attention.
14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Faith vs. Works, do Paul and James conflict?
Paul speaking of faith (Rom3:27-30; Gal2:16, 3:8; Eph2:8-9)
27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
and then add
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”
and then a very well known section
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Well one more to bring in.
Other writers about faith (Heb11:6)
6 And 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 seek Him.
Then look again what James says
James is he saying saved by works (Jam2:14)?
14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
This kind of faith (Jm1:22-24)
No contradiction in Paul and James, different purpose, different audience
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
James is teaching about active faith and in our passage tonight he is continuing on the same topic
Found some commentary very good on this subject let me give you a taste of it before moving on to “this kind of faith.”
(Insert Hollowell quote; pg 64 here)
Now still speaking of dead faith, this kind of faith
Substitutes words for deeds (Jm2:17, 20, 26)
They know the right words, know right doctrine, know how to pray, they can quote bible verses but do not put into action what they say.
Their walk does not match their talk; they only have intellectual faith
So can words only; intellectual faith alone save (Jm2:17, 20, 26)
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Any kind of faith, declared faith that does not produce a changed life is just claimed faith and it is dead faith,
What kind of faith do we have? Do our words and deeds match up? Does our walk match our talk?
Warren Wiersbe said this, and it is worth quoting
“No man can come to Christ by faith and remain the same, anymore than he came into contact with a 220 volt wire and remain the same.”
True faith vs. claimed faith
True faith works (Jm1:27) claimed faith benefits no one
True faith loves his neighbor (Jm2:7); claimed faith sees a need but does nothing (Jm2:15-16)
Claimed faith may sound good, but according to the Word it avails nothing (Jm2:17)
that now leads us to our net kind of faith
Demonic Faith
Demonic Faith
Faith is not just for believers in Jesus Christ. All for some measure of faith in something, even the demons have faith, does that surprise you?
18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
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Demons believe in God (Jm2:19)
Demons believe in the deity of Christ (Mk3:11-12)
Demons believe in place of condemnation (Lk8:31)
Demons believe Jesus will judge (Mt8:28-29)
What makes you different then the demons your acts of faith (Jm2:18)
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Demons believe in God (Jm2:19)
Not only do they believe they tremble!
Demons believe in the deity of Christ (Mk3:11-12)
11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.
Demons believe in God (Jm2:19)
Demons believe in the deity of Christ (Mk3:11-12)
Demons believe in place of condemnation (Lk8:31)
31 They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.
Demons believe in God (Jm2:19)
Demons believe in the deity of Christ (Mk3:11-12)
Demons believe in place of condemnation (Lk8:31)
Demons believe Jesus will judge (Mt8:28-29)
28 When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. 29 And they cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
and then may we add one more
Demons believe in God (Jm2:19)
Demons believe in the deity of Christ (Mk3:11-12)
Demons believe in place of condemnation (Lk8:31)
What makes you different then the demons your acts of faith (Jm2:18)
Faith in and of itself is dead.
True faith is shown; claimed faith is just spoken
True faith is obedient (Jn13:35) claimed faith is disobedient (Lk6:46)
35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
by our love for one another for then look at claimed faith
46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
So what kind of faith do the demons have?
They have intellectual faith knowing who God is who Christ is
They have emotional faith, for they even tremble
Is this the kind of faith that saves? NO, for a saved life is a transformed, a changed life. A life no longer living for self but living for Christ. First you receive the life He has to give then you reveal the life He has given you by your works of faith.
May our faith not be just intellectual faith (which is dead) or emotional faith that is stirring but not moving into a changed transformed life.
So dead faith and demonic faith are no faith that is able to save at all, now that leads us to another kind of faith that does save!
Dynamic Faith
Dynamic Faith
Dynamic faith something we should all want, desire, have and display. James offers up a couple of good examples of dynamic faith in this section.
Dynamic (adj): positive in attitude and full of energy and new ideas. Synonyms: energetic, spirited, active, lively, zestful, vital, vigorous, strong, forceful, powerful, potent, positive, effective, effectual, high-powered, aggressive, driving, pushing, bold, enterprising
Description of dynamic faith
Based on the Word of God (Rom10:17)
It involves the whole man
Mind (intellectual faith)
Emotional
Will (active in what we do)
The mind understands the truth, the heart believes desires and rejoices in the truth and the will acts upon the truth.
This is dynamic faith that is active faith vs. claimed faith. This is true faith.
Now that leads us to the section here, the examples offered.
20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
What drastic differences you can see in the examples offered
Abraham father of the Jews; Rahab a Gentile
Abraham a godly man; Rahab a sinful woman
Abraham a friend of God; Rahab considered enemy of God
Both demonstrated their true faith by their works of faith. They exercised saving faith in God.
May we be people who have faithworks
As commanded (Isa58:6-10)
6 “Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? 7 “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 “Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 9 “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
10 And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday.
As displayed (Mt25:34-35)
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
As confirmed (Jm2:23)
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
Abraham believe, acted on his belief, his faith, he was reckoned righteousness and was called a friend of God.
We have a few minutes left, so here are some self examination questions regarding faithworks. Knowing that Satan is the great deceiver and liar from the beginning, may we think about these things.
Displayed faith
Displayed faith
If we take just a few minutes to make an honest evaluation of our faith, may we consider, ponder, meditate on these things and adjust and makes changes where necessary.
Does my faith display that I am a sinner who has been forgiven?
Does my faith include repentance, a change of direction and life?
Does my faith believe in the saving work of Christ, how is that displayed in my life?
Is my faith obedient? Does it display my complete surrender to Christ?
Does my faith display good works?
Does my faith look forward to the hope of Christ’s return?
Our faith is personal, it is growing, it is varying in each person (Rom12:3).
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Our faith can always use a tune-up; some self-examination, or better yet, ask God to help you with it (Ps139:23-24)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
(encouragement slide 1) encouragement (encouragement slide 2) prayer