This sermon will explore the theme of James chapter 2, emphasizing the importance of combining faith with action, as merely having faith without righteous deeds is considered a dead faith.
Welcome church! Today we’re going to get into James chapter 2 and take a longer look at what you might call the theme of James’ letter; Faith and Works. If you were with us last week, we learned together that it’s one thing to listen and receive the word, and it’s another to act on it.
To be living God’s best we must learn to be people of action who not only hear the word, but respond in righteousness to the word. James elaborates on this idea further in chapter 2 by comparing the relationship between faith and works. And this comparison, rightly so, has drawn the attention of pastors and theologians for hundreds of years;
Dietrich Bonheoffer said, “Faith without works is not faith at all, but a simple lack of obedience to God.” Charles Spurgeon said, “Faith and works are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God trusts God; and he that trusts God obeys God. He that is without faith is without works; and he that is without works is without faith.” And C.S. Lewis said, “Regarding the debate about faith and works; it’s like asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most important.”
So, is there really a debate? It sure seemed so based upon James’ letter to the church in Jerusalem… Is the debate an ongoing one? I imagine it is, but I’ll let you come to your own conclusion after we spend some time learning from James.
Faith without works is not faith at all, but a simple lack of obedience to God.
Read James 2:14-26. Interestingly in this section, James makes several comparisons and shares historical examples of people who pursued faith and works. In fact, if you really want to take a deep dive, just read through all the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 and you’ll quickly see that many of those we hold in high regard had both incredible faith and righteous works. Which brings us to the first verse in our passage for the day;
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” James 2:14.
Saving Faith. These 2 questions, in this one verse, are at the heart of what C.S Lewis referred to as a “debate” about faith and works. And James will start to get into some practical examples next, which highlight the point he’s trying to make.
But before we go on, let me ask all of you today, what good is all the faith in the world if it doesn’t move you to action? Can a person with an inactive faith truly be saved? That’s the part of our first verse that’s so difficult to reconcile. Especially in light of a passage like Ephesians 2:8-9 which so clearly states we are saved apart from the “works” we do:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
So, on one hand it seems clear from scripture that salvation comes through faith alone, not as a result of anything you or I do. And on the other hand, what James is saying is a faith filled person will be a person of righteous action. I’ve heard it said we are not saved BY good works but TO good works. And once you’re saved, the righteous action of a transformed heart and mind will follow.
Thankfully, Jesus himself gives us some divine insight right smack in the middle of the sermon on the mount. Here’s what He said:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium
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