James 2

James 2:12-26

James 2:12–26 ESV

12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. 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.

Faith in Action

Principle: Saving Faith & Belief Leads to Loving Faith & Action

James 2:12 ESV

12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

Faith in Jesus effects what you say, and how you act.

The Letter of James 2. Discrimination Is Wrong Because It Violates the Kingdom Law of Love (2:8–13)

God’s gracious acceptance of us does not end our obligation to obey him; it sets it on a new footing. No longer is God’s law a threatening, confining burden. For the will of God now confronts us as a law of liberty—an obligation we discharge in the joyful knowledge that God has both “liberated” us from the penalty of sin and given us, in his Spirit, the power to obey his will. To use James’s own description, this law is an “implanted word,” “written on the heart,” that has the power to save us (Jas. 1:21).

God has given us the power to obey Him. If we are saved, and are no longer slaves to sin. we have been given the liberty to obey.

James 2:13-17: SWORD METHOD

James 2:13 ESV

13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

The Letter of James 2. Discrimination Is Wrong Because It Violates the Kingdom Law of Love (2:8–13)

But James also, in effect, transforms Jesus’ beatitude—“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matt. 5:7)—into its opposite: “Cursed are those are not merciful, for they will not be shown mercy.” Being “merciful,” as these texts suggest, is not merely a feeling of concern, but involves actively reaching out to show love to others. The discrimination that James’s readers are practicing is the opposite of such mercy; and if they continue on this path, they will find at the end of their lives a judgment “without mercy.”

Matthew 6:12 ESV

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Father forgive them for they know not what they do...

We can not say, father forgive us, but not forgive them.

Genuine faith is reflected by our actions. By our love.

Those who have recieved mercy, give mercy. And those who refuse to give mercy, have none.

If there is no forgiveness to give…then you have not recieved any!

Test 1: Who have you not forgiven. Forgiven people, forgive people.

James 2:14–17 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.

What does faith mean?

What does works mean?

Faith that is no good to others is no good to you!

The Letter of James D. Saving Faith Reveals Itself in Works (2:14–26)

First, the structure of the passage. The outline below will help us to visualize the sequence of argument.

Introduction of topic: faith without works cannot “save” (v. 14)

(What good is it?)

A. Illustration (vv. 15–16) (What good is it?)

Conclusion: faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (v. 17)

Quite practical:

Bridge: Faith that does not move your feet is not genuine.

Either the person doesn’t believe the bridge will hold them, or they don’t want to get to the other side.

Either we don’t really trust Jesus, or we don’t really want Jesus.

Relationship: I Love you..but there is no service, no time spent, no action…you would say, no.

What does faith without works look like?

Faith without works is dead.

The Letter of James D. Saving Faith Reveals Itself in Works (2:14–26)

In what way is such faith “dead”? In the sense that it does not attain its purpose: it cannot save (v. 14) or justify (v. 24). Critical to understanding the argument of the section and integrating it successfully into a broader biblical perspective is the recognition that James is not arguing that works must be added to faith. His point, rather, is that genuine biblical faith will inevitably be characterized by works

The Letter of James D. Saving Faith Reveals Itself in Works (2:14–26)

James, in a sense, proposes for us in these verses a “test” by which we determine the genuineness of faith: deeds of obedience to the will of God

Spirit and Body…the only way to seperate your spirit from your body is death. When you live you’re spirit and body work together. You act and live on what you belive. The only way to seperate the spirit from the body is death..and the only way to seperate faith from action is to when genuine faith is dead.

Faith and works are always together. If there is no action or response..there is no genuine faith.

Luke 9:57–62 ESV

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Mark 10:17–22 ESV

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Following Jesus is not about Trying..but trusting.

Action is not produced by force but by faith. You have to trust more!

Trust Fall: I Can’t do it! Its not a matter of your strength but trust.

In your walk with Jesus..none of it is build on what you can do.

He created you, he died for you, he saved you, he keeps you..the only thing we bring is our mess..we just have to trust!