True Faith

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Welcome

Mary?

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Welcome

There will be Prayer Meeting on the 21st of September.

Dean Campbell will host the meeting with a surprise topic.

Prayer

Introduction

Tonights study in James is all about Faith.

True Faith vs Dead Faith

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The Outline of James

We will conclude James 2 tonight

This section is called “Warning against Favouritism and the Care for the Needy (James 2:1-26)”

We covered Favouritism last Monday, and tonight we will cover the second part of James 2.

Scripture Reading

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James 2:14–26 NKJV

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 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? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

True Faith

I wonder if you have ever had that experience when hearing or reading something that makes you sit “bolt upright” in response?

What was that?

What did he just say?

James Surprises us again

I can imagine that happening as people read this Letter from James

It is highly likely that Paul’s letters are being distributed around the churches at the same time.

I think James loves to surprise us with what he writes, taking a fresh and different angle on the Christian life and precious truths.

Some say he contradicts Paul. I don’t think so.

James is once again surprising us to get our attention

And make us think deeper about the nature of real faith

Is James deliberately provocative to make key points?

True Faith

James makes a clear statement at the start and end of our reading tonight about works and faith.

James 2:14 NKJV

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

James 2:26 NKJV

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James says that Faith without works is dead faith and cannot save a person.

What is in-between those two pivotal verses is to illustrate and bring home the point.

True faith does not allow us to walk through life without caring and ministering in very practical ways to others in need!

More than that, continuing the point from last week, James is saying we are to care and minister to others without any favouritism.

James says that is True Faith!

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Discussion Questions

Read Ephesians 2:8–10 and Galatians 5:6. What does Paul say about faith and works?

Ephesians 2:8–10 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Galatians 5:6 NKJV

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Read John 14:21–24. What does Jesus identify as the mark of those who truly love him?

John 14:21–24 NKJV

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

Look again at James 1:27.

James 1:27 NKJV

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Christ Methods Alone

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“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” – Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 143.

Is this not FRANgelism?

The Hypothetical Situation

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James presents a a hypothetical situation in James 2:15-16.

James 2:15–16 NKJV

15 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?

It is almost like saying I will pray for you, when we have in our means and power to do much more for an obvious and immediate need.

To not act when we can is sin and not faith in God.

Mere words, even religious words are worthless ,if they do not lead to action

Discussion Question

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What do you regard as signs of a mere intellectual belief as opposed to true belief in the Lord?

We often hear people say, I believe in God, but it seems to go no further.

It is belief in the mere existence of God.

Making a profession of faith but live earthly lives as if there is no God.

That is what demons do. James 2:19

James 2:19 NKJV

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Matthew 7:20 NKJV

20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Dead Faith

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Let us now move onto James 2:20-26

James 2:20–26 NKJV

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

One commentator puts it this way about dead faith,

Opening Up James Chapter 12: Proving Faith by Works (2:20–26)

I do not hesitate to say that this is the major problem in churches today. Multitudes have walked an aisle, stood before a congregation and professed to believe in the Lord Jesus. They have been baptized and placed on the membership roll. All would seem to be well—but it is not! These same people do not attend the services of the church, do not give anything to support its ministry and do not take up any of its responsibilities. They show no interest in ministering to the needy. On the other hand, they are very much like unbelievers, holding the same values, going to the same places and speaking in the same way.

Strong words.

James gives a very plain and resounding answer—faith without works is dead!

The problem with those who give no evidence of faith, James says, is, they do not possess true faith.

There is no evidence of faith, because there is no Faith.

‘Faith which does not produce works is therefore comparable to a corpse.

Opening Up James The Prostitute Rahab (v. 25)

Martin Luther says of faith, ‘Oh, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith; and so it is impossible for it not to do good works incessantly. It does not ask whether there are good works to do, but before the question rises; it has already done them, and is always at the doing of them. He who does not these works is a faithless man.’

Very strong words?

Discussion Question

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How does your church typically explain the lack of interest in spiritual things among church members?

What is the proper response?

I am conscious that those hearing this tonight are I trust giving evidence of true faith.

We cannot just machine gun this message!

The Patriarch Abraham and the Prostitute Rahab

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James concludes will two examples of True Faith proved through their works

The Patriarch Abraham

The Prostitute Rahab

James effortlessly goes from Abraham the Patriarch to Rahab the Prostitute.

It might have surprised a few people and again make then say,

What did he just say?

It made me smile.

Does It further demonstrates James point on showing no favouritism!

The Patriarch Abraham

James 2:21–24 NKJV

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

His Faith made perfect by works.

The Prostitute Rahab

James 2:25 NKJV

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

Which city was Rahab in ? Jericho.

Her Faith was made perfect by works.

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How would you paraphrase “Faith made perfect by works”?

The Conclusion to Faith

We will let James have the final word.

James 2:26 NKJV

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

I would paraphrase it by saying read Hebrews 11.

The chapter called the “Heroes of Faith”

Hebrews 11 says the same as James and gives numerous examples.

It is a fitting conclusion to James 2.