Faith With Legs On! Text: James 2:14-22
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus 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 without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
Last Sunday my family went to watch a play in Calhoun called “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown!” Staring: C.C. ( Name with-held) as “Sally Brown.” It wasn’t good it was great. You would never know that this was a local home-town play; I was very impressed!
What did it take for this production to take place with excellence; where people will actually come out and pay to watch this performance? Time from all the volunteer actors, memorization, custom clothing, coaching, listening, rehearsals, being funny, being sad, the right sound mix, live music, lighting, curtains, all kinds of expressions, live singing and acting, practice, acting, practice, acting, time and acting!
Vs. 14 of James 2 tells us that we can’t just say, “I have faith!”
Saving faith isn’t just a profession or an empty claim, nor is it merely the acceptance of a creed. Saving faith will produce an obedient life!
I Samuel 15:22-23 So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.23 for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”
In chapter 15 God told Samuel “I greatly regret making Saul king!”
Samuel gave King Saul specific instructions “destroy everything!” Saul uses his disobedience to sound Spiritual, but God didn’t want a sacrifice He wanted obedience only!
Vs. 15-16 Gives us an example: picture a man in the freezing cold- naked, and someone goes by him and say’s, “Be warm, be warm say’s my faith in God!”
Vs.16 Ask the question, “What does it profit?” Dake’s say’s “this kind of faith is like fire burning without fuel, or fuel burning without fire!”
I John 3:16-18 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Prayer, “God please allow our works to speak louder than our faith!”
James 2:17-18 Thus 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 without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
I Love these verses in Hebrews 6:9-11But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
James 2: 19-20 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Are you willing to be taught in the nature of true saving faith?
A restaurant with good service, but poor food never! A restaurant with poor service (are get by service with an attitude) always has poor food.
A pastor, teacher, or preacher not prepared- how sad! A song group that never practices is saying without saying, “I don’t care!”
James 2: 21-22 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
Threfore, Abraham was called "a friend of God!"
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Whatever you ’do’ do is an action word, so let’s start being and doing!
