Going Through the Motions

Author: James Date: AD 45 James is classified as wisdom literature much like Proverbs

James 2:14–26 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 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? 17 So 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 apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 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. 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? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James 2:14 ESV

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

James 2:15–16 ESV

15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 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?

Poor

James 2:17 ESV

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

Dead

James 2:18 ESV

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.

Matthew 7:15–16 ESV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

sheep

James 2:19 ESV

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

James 2:20 ESV

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

James 2:21 ESV

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

James 2:22 ESV

22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;

James 2:23 ESV

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.

James 2:24 ESV

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

James 2:25 ESV

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?

James 2:26 ESV

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Application for Us.

Do you have a relationship with Jesus or just an understanding of who He is.

Is your faith one that is manifested by your action in life.

Are you just going through the motions.

Going Through the Motions