Sermon Central
-
Comparing Factual And Fake Faith
Contributed by Edison Jay Sanz on Nov 22, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: James explained the nature of genuine faith by contrasting to faith without works.
I. Having HEAD Faith Only
1. In regard to the DESTITUTE
a. The RELIGIOSITY
*verse 14-16, (the WELL WISHING but without action for one's WELFARE)
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?"
b. The RIDICULATION
*verses 17-18, (faith without DEEDS is DEAD)
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."
2. In regard to the DEMONS
a. The FANTASY
*verse 19, (FAITH can be FAKED even by the demons)
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."
b. The FACT
*verse 20, (it's FOOLISHNESS trying to FAKE the faith)
"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?"
II. Having HEAD, HEART and HAND Faith
1. The EXAMPLE
*verses 21-24, (of ABRAHAM who put his faith into ACTION)
"Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 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 what he does and not by faith alone."
2. The ENGAGEMENT
*verses 25, (of RAHAB who RELIED totally to the promise of the spies)
"In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?"
3. The EVIDENCE
*verse 26, (the COMPARISON of fake faith to a CORPSE)
"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
Conclusion: James is rebuking those who claim to have faith in Christ but don’t show it by their good works. He says that faith without works is useless and that good works are necessary to prove the genuineness of our faith.
