Foolproof – A Study of James January 14, 2007
LIVING Faith – James 2:11-26 Sunday AM
Recap: We’re in a series in James about how to have a foolproof faith so that we won’t be fooled into thinking we have genuine faith when we’re only religious and so we can’t be fooled into embracing anything not of God if we’re truly saved.
Insert: Before you this AM I have two apples – can you tell which one is real? Who thinks this one is real? Who thinks this one is real? From where you sit, they both probably look real; but the only way to determine if they’re real is to take a closer look. The same can be said of genuine faith.
Trans: Scores of people claim to have genuine faith b/c their names on a church roll, they live in America, their parents are Christians, or they’ve said a “Hail Mary” or two – but these things don’t define authentic faith.
Trans: As we’ve been learning through James, real faith is marked by how we respond to trials and temptation, how we apply God’s Word, and how we accept people. In James 2, he also says that real faith is alive. James writes to distinguish DEAD faith from LIVING Faith.
Note: Before we go any further, let me clear up a misconception. Throughout early Christianity, many scholars had difficulty reconciling James’ teachings on salvation w/ Paul’s. Some held that James view involved works and was contradictory to Paul’s view of grace. This was such an issue that James almost didn’t make the canon. But what we find isn’t that they stand toe-to-toe fighting one another, but back-to-back clarifying the essentials of saving faith.
Note: Paul explains that salvation is by grace through faith absent of any effort or work of man; it’s completely dependent upon the work of Christ on the cross. If you delve deeper, it’s equally obvious Paul is opposing the idea of legalism and religiosity as a means of obtaining God’s favor. He wants us to understand that it’s impossible to get to heaven by obeying the law and being good. Eph. 2
James isn’t opposed to this idea. He’s concerned that we don’t fall into the fallacy of easy believe-ism – profession w/out a change (see 2 Cr. 5:17). Unlike Paul, James isn’t focused on the means of salvation, but on the result/proof of it. He’s determined to distinguish the difference b/w dead faith and living faith, so he offers a quick test to help us to determine the difference.
I DEAD Faith* vs. 11-20
Note: The first test he offers concerns if our faith is dead. He asks – Is your faith marked by Empty Confession, False Compassion, and Shallow Conviction?
* This portion of the outline provided by MacArthur’s Commentary on James
A Empty CONFESSION
Text: What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
Note: You know the easiest thing in the world to do is to claim to be or believe something. The question isn’t whether you claim it, but can you back it up.
Insert: I’ve shared w/ you I played high school sports. The truth is, I could tell you many things about my abilities and awards and you wouldn’t know the difference. You’d have to decide whether or not to believe me. For example, I could tell you I was a state champion wrestler, but if you asked me to prove it I’d be in trouble. I don’t have the proof. I could prove to you I was 2nd in the state b/c somewhere I have a medal and a newspaper article to prove it.
Note: Many people talk the talk and claim to be Christians, but few walk the walk and actually exemplify a life that follows and reflects Jesus.
Note: James assertion is that genuine faith isn’t an empty claim; it has an accomplice – God-honoring works of service focused on God’s will. Just b/c you have said a prayer, walked an aisle, or have even been baptized doesn’t equate to authentic faith. Real faith has real fruit. Real faith translates into a changed life and not an empty confession.
Quote: It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies is not alone. Calvin
Insert: Can I be honest. On more than one occasion I have questioned the genuineness of someone’s faith b/c their action were contrary to God’s Word and will. Real faith is about the Father’s business and the Father’s business is the souls of men.
Insert: I’m often frustrated by how many professing Christians get bent out of shape and either leave the church or make you want to leave the church. But I want to give you a quick reference point to authenticate their claims. Is what they are concerned about in concert w/ what God is concerned about? If not, then you can’t let it get you down and frustrate you.
Verse: Jesus said – Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ’I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Mt. 7:22
Quote: The criterion for real faith is not profession but performance. unknown
B False COMPASSION
Text: If a brother or sister is w/out clothing and in need of food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Note: James says that words of compassion w/out acts of concern are the second strike against those who profess faith but whose lives don’t show it.
Word: w/out clothing – insufficiently clothed for the conditions and not naked.
Word: w/out food – insufficiently nourished and not starvation.
Point: It’s not just the homeless and the helpless who need God’s love, but anyone who is deprived of the necessities of life.
Insert: The Good Samaritan – the man who was robbed and left for dead was ignored by the religious priest and Levite, but was helped by one who had true faith.
Point: Genuine faith doesn’t walk by or avoid people w/ needs – they do what is necessary to minister Christ to point people to Jesus.
Trans: Notice the attitude – go in peace and be warmed and filled – the Greek renders the idea of an attitude of sarcasm and total disregard. They didn’t care!
Story: A European queen several centuries ago left her coachman sitting outside in the freezing cold while she attended the theater. Throughout the evening the queen wept uncontrollably b/c she was so moved by the story and the actors. Yet upon returning to her carriage she was unmoved when she found her coachman had frozen to death – she didn’t one tear. She was moved by the fiction but untouched by reality. MacArthur
Note: It’s frightening how many people profess Christ only to show nothing but disdain and disregard for people in need. Jesus says their faith is false.
Verse: See Matthew 25:31-46
Quote: Faith that is fruitless is useless!
Insert: I think it is critical to make a point here. God’s ultimate objective isn’t for believers to be the United Way and only care for the physical and emotional needs of others. Remember, Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Thus we minister to the felt needs of people to have an opportunity to meet their greatest need – Christ! We care for the physical to share the spiritual.
C Shallow CONVICTION
Text: Someone may say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith w/out the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize that faith w/out works is useless?
Note: James calls into question the reality that many people recognize the facts of Jesus, yet they’re unwilling to submit their lives to Him. But saving faith does more than acknowledge the truth; it receives and rests in it – putting all of one’s weight upon it. It’s the difference b/w acknowledging something can support you and actually putting your trust in it by putting your weight on it.
Insert: Chair (piano bench) – I acknowledge that it could support me – that it is made of solid materials and has four evenly distributed legs; but until I put my weight upon it, I’ve only acknowledged it and have not trusted in it.
Note: Shallow conviction never trusts it just talks a good game. James makes an interesting comparison – he compares a person w/ shallow conviction w/ the beliefs of demons. W/out going into a doctrinal frenzy, demons acknowledge the existence and person of God, but they have sworn their allegiance to God’s enemy refusing to submit to God. In fact, they shudder just hearing His name.
Word: shudder – bristle w/ fear. While their fate is sealed, the demons show respect for God even though they hate him. Not so the man w/ shallow conviction. He toys w/ faith and lives an unconcerned life.
II LIVING Faith vs. 21-26
Trans: Juxtaposed to dead faith is a living, dynamic faith. To help us to grasp an understanding of authentic faith, James offers two examples from the O.T. – Abraham and Rahab. Truth is you couldn’t find two people more different.
Note: Abe was a Jew; Rahab was a Gentile. He was a godly man; she was a sinful woman. Abe was God’s friend; Rahab was from a nation who was an enemy of God. Abe was moral; Rahab was immoral. And yet both are found in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, and God moved greatly in their lives b/c of their faith.
Note: Most of us are familiar w/ Abraham’s story. God formed a covenant relationship w/ him promising to make him a great nation b/c his faith was recognized as righteous. Then according to God’s perfect plan and provision, at just the proper time (when Abe was impotent), God made good on his promise and gave Abe and Sarah a son – Isaac. But when Isaac was a little older, God put Abe to the test requiring that Abe offer Isaac on any altar. Abraham did as he was told and God made a substitutionary sacrifice by proving a lamb.
Note: Rahab’s experience from Joshua 2 was quite different, yet no less important to help us understand genuine faith. Rahab was an innkeeper and prostitute in Jericho who took in and protected the spies of Israel. Prior to their coming, she had heard about the power of God for salvation, and despite her past behavior and her present influences, she put her faith in God to make an end of sin.
Trans: Both of these stories exemplify extraordinary faith. From them we can see (3) qualities of living faith – Selfless Concession, a Willing Compliance, and Fearless Confidence.
A Selfless CONCESSION
Note: Living faith is willing to make sacrifices to follow God and to meet the needs of others in Jesus’ name.
Note: Abraham offered His only son Isaac (the love of his life) to God – we spoke of this recently. Isaac was God’s promise to Abraham and the sole opportunity for God to make good on His promise to make Abe a great nation and yet Abe was willing to surrender the most important thing in his life to follow God. So he laid Isaac on the altar and was prepared to sacrifice him to God.
Insert: What about you? What are you willing to surrender to follow Jesus should he ask? Are you willing to give up your dreams for His call? Are you willing to give up that pet sin to draw closer to God? Are you willing to give up your favorite hobby or past time? God will require you to surrender anything that has become a god before Him? You shall have no other gods before you.
Note: Rahab put her life and her family’s life on the line to save the spies. Despite having been lost and having been raised in a corrupt pagan society, when the opportunity came for her to demonstrate her belief in God, she put her life on the line to protect the spies – she stood in the gap.
Insert: Are you standing in the gap or standing in the way for God’s glory? It is absolutely amazing how many people stand in the way of the Lord for their wants and will to be done. Saving faith stands in the gap and not in the way.
B Willing COMPLIANCE
Note: Living faith willingly obeys the call and will of God. Someone w/ genuine faith wants to show God how grateful they are by obeying His leading in their life.
Verse: Jesus said, “If you obey my teaching then you are my disciples.” Jn. 8:31
Note: I’ve come to realize faith and obedience go hand-in-hand. You can’t have one w/out the other. The fact that Abe took his son, placed him on an altar, and was swinging a knife to execute him before God provided a ram in the thicket reveals that faith and obedience must work together. He obeyed b/c he believed.
Note: Rahab exemplifies this truth as well. She honored the spies request b/c she too believed and was willing to follow the leading of God.
Point: Any person who says they believe w/out obedience is a liar. Genuine faith seeks to obey the God’s Word and His will.
Insert: Is your life marked by obedience to God’s Word and to the prompting of His Spirit, or is it tattered w/ one broken promise after another? Living faith believes and obeys; dead faith responds only in disobedience.
C Fearless CONFIDENCE
Note: Living faith has absolute trust in God. It abides in God alone.
Note: Abraham had so much faith in God that he never questioned God’s agenda despite that it was going to require his son. Abe didn’t understand the call of God, nor did he like the cost; but he knew God was to be trusted no matter how high a price was going to be required of him.
Note: Rahab had nowhere else to turn. In fact, when you consider what little information she had, her faith was huge. She knew God had given Jericho to the Israelites and that her sinful way of life was about to fall under judgment. Nonetheless, she threw herself upon the mercy of God and He extended grace to her in her time of need.
Note: God received her trust and service as genuine faith and in return, He rescued Rahab and her family and then used her for His eternal purpose. Not only does she become a model of faith, but a direct ancestor to the Messiah.
CONCLUSION
Sum: Faith – it’s either dead or alive. Dead faith is marked by empty confession, false compassion, and shallow conviction; Living faith is identified by selfless concession (sacrifice), willing compliance (obedience), and fearless confidence (trust). Which kind of faith describes your faith?
Note: Which brings us back to our fruit – which one is real? In this case neither. They’re both plastic. Compared to each other one can fool you just like compared to other people your religion might fool others. But the standard of saving faith is not other people – it is the God’s Word. Real faith meets God’s standard and produces Godly fruit.
Verse: I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that doesn’t bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean b/c of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Jn 15:1-5
RESOURCES
Sermons: Joey Rodgers – Faith versus Works – 6.15.01
Books: John MacArthur – Commentary on James
John MacArthur – Bible Study – Guidelines for a Happy Christian Life
Clayton Harrop – The Letter of James
Warren Wiersbe – Be Series – James
Harold Fickett – Faith that Works
