The Nature of Saving Faith

Open: The Emperor’s New Clothes

Transition: The Church can, and should be like the little girl and proclaim the truth

The Nature of Saving Faith is Examined (James 2:14)

Explanation: James sets forth a rhetorical question to open his argument. James is going to propose that a faith that actually saves a person will be demonstrated through good works. He also presents the other side as well: a faith that does not produce good works is not real.

Illustrate: The Law of Identity: A = A. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck.

Argument: James is setting up a contrast between genuine faith and false faith. Some in the Church were professing to be the real deal, but their actions were not in line with their belief. James is using this teaching to call them out.

Application: Realize that not everybody who claims to be a Christian actually is a Christian. You are responsible to check things out

The Nature of a False Faith is Illustrated (James 2:15-17)

Explanation: James gives a hypothetical situation to illustrate the uselessness of a false faith.

Illustrate: serving at the Food Pantry. Instead of giving them food, we just tell them how blessed they are. And then ask them to come to Church.

Argument: The expectation of good works as the result of salvation is presented throughout the Bible. Saving Faith is nowhere presented in the NT as merely a head knowledge.

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt 5:16)

“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:17-18)

Application: Examine your life. In what ways has your faith in Christ changed you? If nothing is different at all, have a serious talk with Jesus.

The Nature of Saving Faith is Defended (James 2:18-20)

Explanation: James uses an imaginary opponent to further his argument. James is answering a person who doesn’t think that good works are necessary. This person is one who declares that belief as belief is sufficient. This guy is the one who makes the statement: “God is One” (Jews big on the Shema)

Illustrate: This is like the guy who declares: I said the sinner’s prayer and got baptized when I was nine. I believe in Jesus so I am going to heaven someday.

Argument: I believe that George Washington was a real person and he served as the 1st President of the USA. I also believe our country sent men to the moon. Neither of those beliefs will change my life. James points out that the demons (fallen angels) have an accurate belief system when it comes to God; they all believe in God, but that belief will not alter their eternal destiny.

James emphatically declares again: faith without works is dead! (v. 20) A dead faith is another way of saying it is a false faith. A person who professes to be saved but doesn’t have good works is still lost. He or she is not a genuine believer.

Application: Jesus told a crowd listening to His sermon that not all who professed allegiance to Him would in fact end up in heaven. (Matt 7:21). Make sure you are trusting in Christ, not an experience you had in the past

The Nature of Saving Faith is Illustrated (James 2:21-26)

Explanation: James defends his argument by using Biblical examples. He relates the account of Abraham being willing to sacrifice Isaac, the son of the Promise, in obedience to God (Genesis 22). After he mentions the account, which his audience would be very familiar with, he then goes so far as to state “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24)

Clarification: This verse has caused a great deal of tension when it is contrasted with Paul’s statement of Justification by faith alone as found in several of his writings, most notably the book of Romans. Paul also refers to father Abraham, but his statement is this: “Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom 3:28)

Both statements are in the same bible, and both are written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The answers lies in understanding the audience and the problem being addressed.

James is dealing with supposed believers who never experienced saving faith. He demonstrates the emptiness of their profession by stressing that genuine faith will show up in changed behavior.

Paul, on the other hand, is dealing with religious hypocrites. These are the legalists, the ones who think they are OK with God because they actually do good things - a lot of good things! Paul is stressing to them that a works-salvation is deficient. No one can do enough good things to pay his sin debt. Only by acknowledging our own inability (repenting of our rebellion) and trusting in the finished work of Jesus can we be saved (Luke 18:9-14, the Tax Collector and the Pharisee)

Summary Argument: James and Paul are not in disagreement, and we can trust the Scriptures. This is just another reason why it is so important to correctly understand the context of the Word as it was written.

Both of these positions are laid side by side in a passage from Ephesians. How precious is the truth found in the second chapter when Paul declares, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8-9)

I remember hearing these two verses as a young believer. What I don’t remember were preachers or Bible teachers who included the very next verse which states “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

These truths go together: Sinners are saved by grace, not works. When a sinner is transformed into a saint by the power of God, he will perform good works to glory the God who saved him.

Close: Consider the confusion that descends on the lost world when the Church affirms people as true believers, even when there is absolutely no evidence to do so. Those who do so will one day give an account before a Holy God.

Consider also the lost person who thinks she is saved. There are many on church rolls who are NOT ready to exit this life. What are you doing for them?

Finally, consider yourself. What exactly are you trusting in? A prayer, a baptism, an emotional experience? (elderly lady who was caught in the middle of a fire out in a field when she was 5). Only a complete faith surrender to Jesus as Savior and Lord makes an eternal difference.