Faith Works

Intro to series:

James, one of the more practical and short books of the new testament. This series titled Faith Alive is really anchored by the last three weeks of sermons from the end of chapter 1 through chapter two where we will conclude today. ....

do not just be hearers of the word but also be doers of the word (1:22)

do not show favoritism, love the poor and the marginalized (2:1-13)

And then, today, faith without works, is dead.....

Scripture

James 2:14–26 NIV

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Pray.

Opening illustration. Growing up at church camp, or camp meeting.

What is salvation? And really to the point, what does it mean to be saved? What does the Christian life look like?

James Text:

This is easily one of the more controversial and popular passages in all of James. It gets a lot of attention because of the apparent contradiction that James has here with some of Paul’s teaching in the new testament.

James is doing something called a literary inclusio here. Fancy term to say there is a pattern to the previous three sections. Doers of the word, applying scripture to how you live, example....loving the poor, then again, there should be evidence of you doing the word, or in other words…there should be works, evidence of faith in your life. If you think we have been circling the same message for three weeks, then you are correct. James does it for emphasis, perhaps because this is the big issue in the church he is trying to speak against.

So James opens with a rhetorical:

If someone has faith but no deeds, can such faith save them?

Follows that question with a hypothetical:

If someones tells a poor person: be well, go in peace and may God bring you everything you need, but does nothing for their physical needs, what good is that?

Then an example in verse 19..... you say you have faith in God....good, even the demons believe in God, I will show you my faith by how I live.

Two examples:

Abraham and Isaac

Rahab hiding the spies from Israel in Jericho as Israel began to come into the promised land. by faith she acted and helped God’s people.

James versus Paul

Let’s look at this apparent contradiction. Because if James and Paul stand against each other on something as central as salvation by faith, then we are in trouble. And today, will be the end of the bible and CORE.

We will look at this contradiction. I want to teach a little there, and then take us out with what James hopes for us....

Romans 3:28 NIV

For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

James 2:24 NIV

You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

Oh goodness, these are frustrating.

Paul: we are saved, justified, by faith alone.....not by works of the law.

James: a person is considered justified, saved, made right....by what they do and NOT by faith alone.

WHICH IS IT?!?!?!

Well a couple of things I want you to do as students: Whenever you come to something confusing or in this case something that might seem wrong to you....three things:

Ask questions about what words might mean in context.

Justified can mean two slightly different things. Example in English: Rock: boulder, music, you’re awesome

It can mean made right, saved, debt paid

Or, it can mean this is right, so justify it. prove that it is right.

I would argue there are slightly different uses here.

Ask questions about the context itself

“a text without context is a pretext for whatever you want it to mean”

Paul is mostly worried about abuses of the law. The wrong views of works. This idea that you can work your way into this thing

James is largely focused on abuse on views of faith. (Paul gets here sometimes too), but James is arguing that faith is not just some intellectual assent....it is something that is alive and works. We have talked about this for a few weeks now!

Look at Historical Interpretation

Church has always read these together, go and look at commentaries here.

These guys were apostles together....if this is a true disagreement then it would have been hashed out like other controversies in Acts.

These guys are working towards the same thing from two different perspectives.

Paul is stating clearly that you cannot earn your way in.

Romans 3:23: All fall short of the glory of God.

There is no one that can climb the ladder. It is faith in Jesus, alone.

James is saying, that it is faith, but that faith that comes alive in the person it does something in the life of the believer. And if there is not evidence, if there is not something that comes alive, then the faith is non-existent.

Dry Erase Boards (video on me)

A= Justification

B=Sanctification

C= Eternal life

If “A” then “B” then “C”

We have some that If A, then C (assuming B)

It is never A+B=C

James is saying that if B does not exist, then does A really exist???

Loving my spouse.

James is saying “A” works in us!

Faith Works

Again for James, he is stressing to the early church.....for those in Christ there is new life in them.

Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Notice that all of these are the fruit, they should all be growing in us.

Marks of the New Birth:

Faith, hope, love

Faith is the power over sin, evil, and self. This is belief that you belong to God and He is yours. Jesus is Lord, Jesus is King, and nothing can separate you from that truth

Hope: You now see the world differently. You are walking in an inheritance of the King. You acknowledge and walk in the intimacy of God’s Spirit. You have a patience that is otherworldly

Love: Love shed abroad in your heart. There is a two-way highway between you and Christ. Receiving more and more of his love for you while you expound in your love for him.

Eradication of sin, self, society

Sin is no longer a requirement

Love of people

In the world but not of the world.

Politics, a new lens...

Mind of Christ… 1 Corinthians 2:16, that we are to have the mind of Christ.

Close with the yard illustration

We should all yearn for the yard to be free from weeds.

Salvation is a launching point. Richard Foster puts it this way....

“Conversion does not make us perfect, but it does catapult us into a total experience of discipleship that affects - and infects - every sphere of our living.” -Richard Foster ― Richard J. Foster, Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups

This message is not meant to cause all sorts of doubt in you....cause you to go oh goodness.....I am not saved. I am not living into the life of faith. It may do that, and see me if that is the case....but for all of us and from James, it should cause us all to evaluate our journey!

How are we applying the word to our life?

Here is the thing in Wesleyan methodist faith....we stress that C is a today experience....not saved for later. But heaven breaking in. As we partner with the work of the Spirit in our life he imparts wisdom, brings freedom, and fills us with power of his presence.