Faith and Works (2)

The book of James gives us a good picture of what it means to be a mature and genuine follower of Jesus. We have looked at the differences between Joy and happiness. We learned how true joy will manifest itself as wisdom through our words and how we respond to situations.

Today we will cover one of the most controversial topics in the Bible - faith and works.

you will hopefully discover how the two work together.

James 2:16–24 CSB

16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. 20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 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. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

1. We are Saved By Grace through Faith

Ephesians 2:8–9 CSB

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

This is an undeniable truth!

2. Works Validate Genuine Faith

If someone says they are a Christian, but there is no evidence i their life that validates this claim, one should wonder whether their faith is truly genuine.

James 2:21–24 CSB

21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 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. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Again in in vs. 25 we find the example of Rahab.

James 2:25–26 CSB

25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

We see that these people weren’t saved by works, but the works validated the genuineness of their faith.

Christianity is not fire insurance in that you make a decision to follow Jesus without any kind of life change.

Christianity is also not a works-based salvation.

The only work done is Salvation was done by Jesus when he gave his life on the cross!

Charles Spurgeon once used and illustration of an apple tree in an orchard. He said that life comes from the roots of a tree. If after a year the tree produced no leaves and no fruit, the owner of the orchard would assume the tree was dead. If after several years that same tree produced no leaves and bore no fruit, he would tear it out of the orchard and consider the tree dead.

Application

We first need to consider if we’ve drifted to one of two extremes. Has Christianity become merely fire insurance where you’ve made a decision to follow Jesus, but you life doesn’t reflect that decision? Or, have you made a decision to follow Jesus and you no work to earn his favor?

Neither are correct! We don’t earn God’s favor. We have God’s favor through the work of Jesus!

Have faith not because you have to but because you get to!

Give 100% in your work, but not to earn something from God. Do it because you love and represent Him.