Genuine Faith Requires Action: Lessons from James 2:14-26

James 2:14-26 You Call That Faith? (Page 1026 in pew Bibles)

James 2:14-26 (Page 1025 in pew Bibles) • What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his 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, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?

In the same way faith, if it doesn’t 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 from my works. • You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder.

Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? • Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? • You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected.

So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. • You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

And in the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route? • For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

James 2:14-26 You Call That Faith?

James 2:14-26 4 Cheap Substitutes for Genuine Faith

Genuine Faith Is More Than Saying One Believes 1 • Vs. 14, NAS: “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” Xref>

Genuine Faith Is More Than Saying One Believes 1 • Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven." . >

Genuine Faith Is More Than Warm Sentiment 2 • Vs. 15-16 “If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? . >

Genuine Faith Is More Than Personal Style 3 • Vs. 18 “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works.’” >

Not My Style 3 • “I’m not very good at praying in public, teaching, witnessing, doing disaster relief, helping with the youth, serving on the sound crew, singing in the choir, working with children, driving the church bus, or handing out bulletins, so I don’t do anything - but I have faith. • “I have faith inside, but for me it’s a very personal thing” • “Just because I believe in God doesn’t mean I have to change my lifestyle” . >

Genuine Faith Is More Than Correct Doctrine 4 • Vs. 19 “You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder.” Xref>

Demonic “Faith” • Matthew 8:29 “Suddenly they shouted, ‘What do You have to do with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’” • Mark 1:24 “What do You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” >

Genuine Faith Is More Than Correct Doctrine 4 • Demons know how many gods there are (one) and which one is the true God • Demons recognize Jesus • Compare Osama Bin Ladin • Demons had an emotional reaction to Jesus • They “shudder with fear” • That’s better than some people who are bored with Jesus – with no emotional reaction at all Lst>

Is Your Faith of Any Use? • Vs. 20 “Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?” Def>

Is Your Faith of Any Use? • Vs. 20 “Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?” Lit., empty, vain (or in vain) -without spiritual life. Def>

Is Your Faith of Any Use? • Vs. 20 “Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?” Useless, barren Used of money which yields no interest and of unused farmland . >

James 2:14-26 Two Biblical Examples

Example 1: Abraham • Vs. 21-22 “Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected.” Def >

Example 1: Abraham • Vs. 21-22 “Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected.” Fully realized & accomplishing its purpose In Abraham’s greatest act of faith and obedience >

Fully RealizedA seedling is a tree, but a mature tree produces shade and fruit >

Which Came First? • Vs. 23 “So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.” • “Credited to him for righteousness”: accounting term – Abraham’s faith was written up as righteousness • This (Genesis 15:6) was thirty years before the “sacrifice of Isaac test” on the mountain (Genesis 22) – Abraham’s faith was already credited to his account as righteousness >

Principle from Abraham • In the beginning faith changes our standing, but in the big testing faith changes our landing. . >

Example 2: Rahab • Vs. 25 “And in the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route?” >

Joshua 2 • Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof • and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that dread of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. • Now please swear to me by the LORD that you will also show kindness to my family… • that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.” >

How Do We Know She Really Believed? • James 2:25 “She received the messengers [into her home and into her protection] and sent them out by a different route” >

Insight from Rahab • Faith is an insight into an invisible reality that you believe enough to act on, even at personal risk. . >

What you do is what you really believe; the rest is just talk. Peter Lord . .

James 2:14-26 Timeout for a Question…

Question: Is James Contradicting Paul? • Paul: Romans 3:28 “For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.” • James 2:24 “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” >

Standing Back To Back Fighting Different Enemies • James and Paul were “soldiers of the same army, fighting back to back against enemies coming from opposite directions” (W. H. Griffith Thomas) • Paul is taking issue with those who think they can earn their way to heaven by their good record – instead of coming by faith alone • James is taking issue with those who merely claim to have faith >

Because They Face Different Enemies, They Have Different Emphases • Paul emphasizes that faith is the one way to be right with God • James emphasizes that there is one kind of true faith • “Faith alone justifies, but not the faith that is alone” – Robert Johnstone >

They Both Talk About Spiritual Life & Death • James • James 1:18 “He [God] gave us a new birth by the message of truth...” • James 2:26 “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” • Paul • Ephesians 2:1-5 “You were dead in your trespasses and sins… But God… made us alive” >

They Both Talk About Spiritual Life & Death • Paul: Titus 3:5 “He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” To give new life. Restoration of life after death A radical change for the better. Restoration of a thing to its pristine state, renovation. >

Paul’s Writings Reinforce James • Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation—created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” >

Genuine Faith Requires Action: Lessons from James 2:14-26