As Worthless As A Dead Battery Series

I have the good pleasure of working alongside several self-proclaimed mechanical ignoramuses. And between these two guys, they have a LOT of talent and God has gifted them with things that he didn’t give me. But the one skillset that neither of them has ever been accused of is this: auto mechanic. Now Pastor David claims to have changed brakes before, but that’s the self-proclaimed limit of his expertise.

But in an effort to give them a little bit of credit this morning, the one thing that I’m confident that they both know about cars is this – if the battery is dead, so is the vehicle. It’s really that simple. In fact, Pastor David claims to have actually changed a battery before (Pastor Brad thinks he might be able to if he actually owned a tool). But the good news is that you don’t have to be an auto mechanic to know that if the battery has no juice, the car isn’t moving. You cannot separate one from the other…they are both integral parts of the driving process.

As we continue in our teaching series through the book of James this morning, James makes a similar comparison with regard to faith and works as he addresses the notion that a person could actually think it’s possible to have genuine faith and yet have no gospel works to give evidence of their faith. In fact, he says, their faith is as “worthless” as a dead battery.

Go ahead to turn to James 2 this morning where we’re going to see James lay out another test…this time the test of how our good works (or a lack thereof) give evidence to the genuineness of our faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, here’s the startling truth that we’re going to see today: If you don’t have a trail of consistent good works, then there’s a really good chance you’re not saved.

James 2:14-20

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?

We’ve titled this entire sermon series Faith and Works and THIS sermon is the reason for that title. The word “FAITH” is mentioned 7 times and “WORKS” 6 times. And James says that it’s essential for the Christian’s way of life to understand how faith produces good works. And I hope we can help sort this out for you today as this passage has sadly been a source of great controversy for hundreds of years. So let’s take a deeper dive into James’ teaching on Faith and Works, where the first challenge he gives us is this…

1. WORK HARD TO SHOW EVIDENCE OF GENUINE FAITH – vs 14-17

Quite simply, inward faith produces outward action according to verse 14. Look at it again with me. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? The short answer to this last question is simply, NO. Anyone professing to have faith without the evidence of works is deceived. To use some theological words that we use often, there is no such thing as justification that does not result in sanctification. Just like a dead battery, James says this person has dead faith (vs 17). James is literally saying that their salvation is phony.

Now I think that whenever we talk about works, it’s good to pause and be reminded of what James is NOT saying. He is not saying that the fruit of a person’s life is what saves them. Instead, he’s saying that the fruit (deeds & actions) are EVIDENCE of a person with true, inward faith in Jesus. Inward faith produces outward action.

In fact, James’ big brother, Jesus, helps us with this truth when he spoke these words in Matthew 7:16-20: "You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."