Faith & Works

We are really looking at the distinction between saving faith and counterfeit faith.

Some things you just want a certain brand of.

“It’s not the same”

Theranos - Elizabeth Holmes

With this idea of what appears real but isn’t and what appears real and is, lets begin todays scripture.

James 2:14–26 CSB

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 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? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 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. You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 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 justified by works and not by faith alone. 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? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

The example used:

Brother or sister without clothes and lacking food. One of you says to them, “God in peace, stay warm, and be well fed.”

Poor -> Need

“Be well” -> Intention

Nothing -> Action (No proof of intention)

James is saying that faith without works is not saving faith.

The key question that we are needing to ask is, what does it mean to be saved?

John 3:16 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

What the Bible says about Justification

What is justification?

The doctrine about how we are made right with God.

When a person dies at the hand of another, the investigation is to see what happened. If it was out of malice, they are condemned as guilty. If it was out of self-defense, it may be ruled as justified. Declared right.

How are we “Declared right” with God. Especially knowing we have done what should declare us as guilty.

All People Have an Awareness of God and His Law. They are responsible for breaking it and upholding it. (Romans 1 & 2)

Romans 1:18–20 CSB

For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

The Law Brings About Conviction NOT Justification. (Romans 3:1-20)

Romans 3:19–20 CSB

Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment. For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.

God’s Righteousness has been revealed apart from the Law. Righteousness bought by the blood of Jesus, received by those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:27-31)

Romans 3:21–26 CSB

But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

Abraham As Example. Justified by believing what God said. This belief led to his action. (Romans 4)

Hebrews 11:8–10 CSB

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Because of our faith in Jesus, we have peace with God and are made right with Him. Because of Jesus, and Jesus alone, we can be saved. (Romans 5)

Romans 5:1 CSB

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:6 CSB

For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:8 CSB

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We should no longer live as slaves to sin, but should instead live as those who are following God. The fruit we used to produce lead to death. The fruit we produce now should lead to sanctification. (Romans 6)

Romans 6:1–2 CSB

What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:12 CSB

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.

Romans 6:22 CSB

But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life!

We have died to sin and are released from its bondage so we may serve God (Romans 7:1-6)

Romans 7:5–6 CSB

For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.

The Law showed us what sin was so that we might understand our sinfulness and turn to God. We still face the struggle of sin in this life, but because of Christ, we are not enslaved to it. (Romans 7:7-25)

Romans 7:7 CSB

What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! But, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.

Romans 7:22–25 CSB

For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.

We are not condemned but made more than conquerors through the Spirit of God. The Spirit enables us to put to death the things of the flesh and to live according to God’s will (Romans 8)

Romans 8:12–14 CSB

So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.

The Problem with a Watered Down Gospel

There are many ways that the Gospel is presented that withold information or water down the message so much that we have to ask if its really the Gospel.

This most often happens by twisting the truth.

A few examples of modified Gospels:

The Prosperity Gospel

If you pray this prayer, God will bless you with money.

The Insurance Policy

If you are afraid to die, pray this prayer.

The Ulterior Motive

See family members again.

The You Aren’t Really Saved

If you don’t remember the day, hour, and smell of the sanctuary, pray this prayer.

What is Saving Faith?

More than simple cognitive belief. Belief that will result in action.

James 2:19 CSB

You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.

Belief as James talks about it, Does not Equal Saving Faith.

Heart knowledge vs. Head knowledge

But on the surface, head knowledge and heart knowledge look similar.

This is not something we can and should distinguish.

We can’t leave a service and say one person believed sincerely while the other didn’t.

“Billy got saved today. Bob said he did too, but he wasn’t crying like billy was so I don’t believe it.”

What is Works?

The actions we take.

Our attempts at obedience.

Seeking to fulfill the law.

They can’t save us.

They are as filthy rags.

They are expected for believers.

They show people the love of God.

The False Dichotomy Between Faith and Works.

Paul VS. James perspective.

James Says:

Paul Says:

Ephesians 2:4–9 CSB

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.

Do they disagree? No

Ephesians 2:10 CSB

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

We are justified by faith in Christ.

Faith in Christ will result in works.