Faith and works part #1
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14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 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? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 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. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
I. Introduction
I. Introduction
Jam
At times this section has been misunderstood as contridiction Pauls doctorine of Justification in faith alone. However if one carefully studies the passage one will see there is no contridiction. This passage simply leaves no place for religion that is simply acceptance of truth with no actions
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
The bootom line is true believers will sho the fruit of the Spirit
-love
joy
Ultemetly however, ones salvation is between them and God
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I. example of worthless faith (14-16)
I. example of worthless faith (14-16)
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 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?
James opens negitivly asking is it any good to have faith if it is not accompinied by fruit?
additinally he asks if this faith can save?
Obviously we understand galations 5 .James is not talking about works and acts that earn merit before God. but that genuine faith is a comitment of regeneration and therfore affects the believers behavior. faith that does not issue regenerate actions is superficial and worthless
James illistration
He illistrates his to the logical ludicris conclusion in the case of a individual who is in dire need. The puropse is to ilistrate and emphisize the drastic need of this individual this is of no mild case of need, he is desperate
1 “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers.
10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.
Deut 8:
11 “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,
Deut 8:
The phrase “go in peace” or Go I wish you well. was a standard farewell.
the statement stay warm and well fed is not a statement to say remain warn and well fed, but rather to tell the reader to help them.
the point is just saying be well fed is not enough if we do nothing about it
Again I need to stress here this is not a list of rules and regulations to follow but rather that those who are in christ will show the works of the spirit.
if we add anything to faith in CHrist we are preaching a false gospel. However faith ought to be accompinied by action.
if we add anything to faith in CHrist we are preaching a false gospel. However faith ought to be accompinied by action.
II. Example of dead faith (V 17)
II. Example of dead faith (V 17)
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Faith that is not accompinied by fruit is dead faith.
Faith that is not accompinied by fruit is dead faith.
Again this does not mean the works save us, but rather it is logical that saving faith will be accompinied by the desire to serve our Lord
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
I
is your faith accompinied by fruit?
THe problum is some christians are biligerent in works and forget
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
III. Example of living faith (V. 18-19)
III. Example of living faith (V. 18-19)
18 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. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
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.
The one woh has faith without works by implication cannot show saving faith because it is some kind of other faith it indicates that he may believe in God
“one person has faith another has deeds faith amd works are not nesesarily related to each other. it is posible to have either one without the other
to this assesion James responds with a challenge “show me tyour faith without deeds this
but deamons also believe in God so perhaps he believes in some intelectual fassion but his belief does not affect him in any significant way that leads him to compassion
Intelectual faith is religious faith its object could even be Jesus and the reserection it makes since, but it is not life changeing faith.
What is misssing in intelectual faith?
true repentence
life change
20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Application
Application
Is your faith in Christ alone
is your faith accompinied by the fruit of the Spirit.