JAMES STUDY - WHY OBEDIENCE MATTERS James 2:14-25

I. There Is Spiritual Danger In Confessing Faith Without Cross-like Deeds

A. Because There Is No Saving Benefit of Faith Without Deeds (James 2:14, 17)

James 2:14 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

James 2:17 ESV

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

B. To Have Genuine Faith Demands A Lifestyle that Imitates the Life of Jesus in Acts of Mercy

1. Genuine faith does not merely acknowledge the needs of others

James 2:16 ESV

and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

2. Genuine faith obediently demonstrates mercy

James 2:16–17 ESV

and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

3. Genuine faith prioritizes acts of mercy to the following:

a. The poor and destitute

James 2:15 ESV

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,

b. The poor and destitute who are Brothers and sisters (the faith family)

Faith changes allegiances

Matthew 12:46–48 ESV

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

c. The poor and destitute who are Brothers and sisters among you!

I say among you because we give to people we do not know and watch people in our context starve

II. Where There Is Creed Without Cross- Like Conduct There Is Hypocrisy

A. Genuine Christians are always looking and ready to prove itself

James 2:18 ESV

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.

B. Genuine Christians are not content with being equal with the devil

James 2:19 ESV

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

IMPLICATION: To know, teach, preach, speak and even feel the right thing about God does not rise above the level of the demonic

Matthew 13:20 ESV

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,

Matthew 13:21 ESV

yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

C. Genuine Christians do not behave foolishly

James 2:20 ESV

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

III. TITLE

A. 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.

B. 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?