James: Faith the Works Part 10
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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.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
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.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
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?
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Good works are the visible expression of invisible faith.
Good works are the visible expression of invisible faith.
“Show Me”
Missouri - has a well known Nickname: Go back to a U.S. congressman named Willard Duncan Vandiver who coined the phrase in 1899. During a speech in Philadelphia, he said:
"I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me."
How is faith that is invisible received in visible tangible ways?
He was asking for demonstrable evidence because talk is cheep.
Faith alone in Christ alone saves.
Faith alone in Christ alone saves.
How is my faith alone in Christ alone seen?
How is my faith alone in Christ alone seen?
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.
“BY MY WORKS”
Knowing truth about God is not the same thing as trusting Him.
Knowing truth about God is not the same thing as trusting Him.
A right view of God is not synonymous with being in right relationship with Him.
A right view of God is not synonymous with being in right relationship with Him.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 2
Mere mental assent to the Christian faith does not save anyone. The faith that saves, as both Paul and James affirm, embraces the truth of the gospel and acts accordingly.
“It is a good thing to possess an accurate theology, but it is unsatisfactory unless that good theology also possesses us.” Milton
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19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
He goes on to provide to examples of Faith that works.
Abraham displayed a faith that works.
Abraham displayed a faith that works.
6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.
That is the time where Abraham moved into Right Relationship with God through faith.
12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
Peter H. Davids put it this way!
The New Bible Commentary 2:14–26 Generosity and Faith
Faith which is only in the mind is not yet complete. It becomes complete when it results in a decision of the will and is carried out in action.
Faith which is only in the mind is not yet complete. It becomes complete when it results in a decision of the will and is carried out in action.
How do we know he has faith?
Look at what he does.
Is my profession of faith credible?
Is my profession of faith credible?
Claiming to be a Christian is not the same as following Christ?
Claiming to be a Christian is not the same as following Christ?