1. Works that show compassion for God’s creation (14-17)
2. Works that show trust in God’s Word (18-19)
3. Works that show hope in God’s promises (20-24)
4. Works that show service to God’s people (25-26)
JAMES 2:26
Men, I want you to try this when you get home. Go into your wife’s favorite cookbook. Find the recipe to your favorite dish in there. Now read it. Doesn’t do much for you, does it? It doesn’t do much for you, because all you’re looking at is the facts of the recipe. And facts don’t make your mouth water. But wait till she starts cooking it. Then your mouth will water. That’s what James does in this passage. His point is really a very simple one. It’s as simple as reading a recipe card. It’s hard to miss his point because he restates it no less than six times in these 13 verses. His point is that if your life doesn’t show evidence of your faith by the things you do, your faith isn’t real. It’s a very simple, straightforward point, but James is a teaching preacher. Just like your mouth doesn’t water by reading a recipe card, James doesn’t do his teaching just by stating his point over and over again. Just like a cook turns the words on a recipe card into a wonderful dish of food, James takes his basic point and turns it into a wonderful lesson on living the Christian life. In the passage that we’re looking at this morning, James continues with the theme of testing our faith to make sure it’s real. Over the past couple of weeks, he’s given us the Bible test and the preference test. This morning, he is giving us the third test of faith—the works test. In his typical teaching preacher style, he lays out four arguments and supports them with illustrations to prove his point. He gives us the recipe and then cooks us the dish. The recipe is simple—faith without works is dead. But how that plays out in our lives is the wonderful dish that he cooks for us here. The wonderful dish is—we don’t work for our faith. True Christians work as a result of our faith. Doing the right kind of works is always a sure test to prove the genuineness of faith. This morning, I don’t want anyone to leave this place thinking you can work for your salvation. But, I do want everyone to leave this place determined to show your salvation by your works. In order to do that, we’re going to look at four kinds of works that will show evidence of true faith. The first kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show compassion for God’s creation. Look with me in verses 14-17.
JAMES 2:14-17
The first kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show compassion for God’s creation. Throughout the history of our Bible, there are very few passages that have caused more problems than verse 14. But it’s not the verse that causes the problems. It’s the way people have mishandled the verse that has caused problems. But when you see James as we’ve been studying it—as a series of tests to determine whether or not your faith is real—when you see it that way, the problems go away. James is as clear as Paul and John and the rest of the New Testament. He is simply reiterating what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” That is the question that James is asking—can a so-called faith that doesn’t bear fruit be considered a saving faith? And then he answers his own question. No, that kind of so-called faith is really dead. It doesn’t exist. It isn’t real. And if that’s the only kind of faith you have, it means you’re dead too. Dead in your trespasses and sins. And the only cure for being dead in your trespasses and sins is to be given new life in Christ. And when you are given that new life in Christ, it will be evidenced by good works.
Good works, the first of which are works that show compassion for God’s creation. Now, when I say compassion for God’s creation, I’m not talking about global warming and saving the whales and stuff like that. I’m talking about that part of God’s creation James points out in his illustration in verses 15-16. God’s crowning creation—people. By the way verse 15 is worded in the original, it is clear that James is making reference to all people—not just Christian brothers and sisters. So he’s not simply saying that taking care of the needs in the church is evidence of true faith. That’s a part of it, but that’s not all of it. True Christians are to show compassion on all people. Does that mean that the church has to feed all the hungry? No. Does that mean individual believers have to give handouts to every beggar they see? No. Think about it this way. When Jesus walked the earth, did He heal everybody? No—He healed those who the Father providentially placed in His path. By the same token, if our faith is real, we will show compassion on those who God places in our path. And sometimes the best way we can show compassion is by saying no. Many times, giving a drunkard a handout is completely un-compassionate. Especially if it in any way enables or encourages his alcoholism. The most compassionate thing is to help them with their real problem. The most compassionate thing is sharing the Gospel with them. Occasionally compassion is shown in giving a handout. Many times compassion is shown in giving yourself. All of the time, compassion is shown in giving Christ. Real faith is on display when you truly show compassion on God’s crowning creation—the people He created in His own image—the people that Jesus shed His blood for. If your faith doesn’t show compassion, it just might be dead. The first kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show compassion for God’s creation. The second kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show trust in God’s Word. Look at verses 18-19.
JAMES 2:18-19
The second kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show trust in God’s Word. Once again, James restates his argument. He says, if you say you can have saving faith without displaying the evidence of works, show me. Oh yeah, that’s right—you can’t. Because you don’t have anything to show. But because my faith is real, I can show you. I can show you by my active trust in God’s Word. Turn with me to Deuteronomy 6. When the children of Israel had just about completed 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they were standing on the edge of the Promised Land. As they were camped there next to the Jordan River, before they were allowed to cross, Moses recounted the Law to them. He recounted the Law to them and gave them some special instructions of how they were to treat God’s Word.
DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9
Verses 4 and 5 later became known as the Shema. It is the Jewish confession of faith and to this day, orthodox Jews recite the Shema twice a day. When you look at verse 8, you can see that God intended for them to learn and know and follow and teach His Word. But what did Israel do? They came up with these things called phylacteries. Phylacteries were little tiny boxes that held a copy of these verses. They would tie one of those little boxes directly to their forehead and another one to their wrist. How silly was that? Silly enough that James used it as his illustration in verse 19. He said, “you believe there is one God.” In other words, you recite the Shema twice a day like you’re supposed to. But do you really believe it? Or do you believe it like the demons do? Like the legion of demons Jesus cast out of the man from Gergesenes in Matthew 8:28-32? The demons immediately recognized Jesus. And they had an accurate understanding of who He is. They publicly confessed that Jesus is the Son of God. That was belief. It was accurate belief. And it was open and public belief. But it obviously wasn’t saving belief. Why? For the same reason it wasn’t saving belief to walk around with phylacteries tied to your head. For the same reason it isn’t saving belief to hang a picture of Jesus on your wall at home. For the same reason it isn’t saving belief to carry a Bible in your car. For the same reason it isn’t even saving belief to come to church every week. It isn’t saving belief, because it isn’t belief that has changed you. You can recite John 3:16 all day long, but until the belief that Jesus died for you changes your life, it doesn’t mean anything. Words—even the living, breathing, words of Scripture mean nothing to a dead person. They mean nothing until they’re applied in faith believing. Moses told Israel that the words of the Shema should be in their heart. Every aspect of their lives should reflect their truth. Whether they were at home or on the road. Whether they were walking or standing. Whether they were awake or asleep. Living faith in God’s Word means that you trust it to apply to every aspect of your life. You believe that it is all sufficient to supply the answers to your problems at home. Your problems at work. Your problems with your spouse. Your problems with your kids. Your health problems. Your mental problems. Your spiritual problems. That’s what it means to write the words of Scripture on the doorposts of your home and on your gates. The devil could hang a verse or two on his wall and it wouldn’t bother him at all. You believe in God. You believe in Jesus. You believe the Bible. Great—show me. Live it. Apply what it says. Otherwise, your faith might just be dead. The second kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show trust in God’s Word. The third kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show hope in God’s promises. Look at verses 20-24:
JAMES 2:20-24
The third kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show hope in God’s promises. Once again, James restates his argument in verse 20. Do you get it yet? If not, he gives us another illustration. This time it concerns works that show hope that God will do what He says He will do. There are some sticky words here if you take them by themselves. Is James really saying that Abraham was saved by the act of laying Isaac on the altar? All the rest of the Bible says we are saved by God’s grace alone, through faith alone. But God commanded Abraham to offer his only son as a human sacrifice to Him. And Abraham did it. Of course God stopped him before he could completely go through with it. And God provided a ram to sacrifice in Isaac’s place. So, is James saying that Abraham was saved because he did those things—those works? Did Abraham have to work for his salvation? The word “justified” means for a person to be declared not guilty. To be pronounced as clean and pure as if we had never sinned. But it is used in two different senses. The first sense is the actual act of having been justified. The act of salvation that is given by the grace of God through faith. But the other sense of the word deals with being shown to have been justified. In the first sense, God signs the paperwork that declares the sinner, “not guilty.” In the second sense, the one whom God has declared not guilty produces the paperwork signed by the judge that declares him not guilty. The first is the fact. The second is the evidence. The second is the way James uses the word here. He is saying, “Didn’t our father Abraham’s works show that he had been justified?” “Didn’t the fact that he was so obedient to God that he was willing to sacrifice his only son—didn’t that show he was justified?” Yes it did. But what was it about Abraham that enabled him to do that? Turn to Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11 is nicknamed the hall of fame of faith. It gives us a little insight into how Abraham was able to pass the works test so well.
HEBREWS 11:17-19
Abraham was able to lay his only son on that altar for one reason and one reason only. Because God had promised him a seed that would come from Isaac. God promised and Abraham placed his hope and trust in God’s faithfulness to keep His promise. Whatever it took—even if God had to raise him up from the dead, God would be faithful to keep His promise. Abraham knew that and placed his hope in that fact. Notice his hope wasn’t some sort of pie-in-the-sky, sweet-by-and-by hope. His exercised his hope with action. He showed his faith with sticks, an altar, fire, and a knife. What God commanded—he did. Without question. God promised—Abraham acted. Do you act on the hope of God’s promises? If you don’t, your faith might be dead. The third kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show hope in God’s promises. The fourth kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show service to God’s people. Look with me in verses 25-26:
JAMES 2:25-26
The fourth kinds of works that show evidence of true faith are works that show service to God’s people. Maybe James got tired of repeating his argument. Maybe he thought we’ve surely gotten it by now. So he just restates it in one word—likewise. And he goes back to another Old Testament example. That’s not surprising considering his congregation is made up of Jewish Christians. But he uses the example of Rahab the harlot. Remember what she did? Back in the book of Joshua, Joshua knew that as soon as Israel crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land, they were going to have to conquer Jericho. So he sent spies to check the place out. They came across Rahab who hid them on the roof of her house. In Joshua 2:11 she gives her profession of faith. She said, “And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” But that was just words, right? Was her profession real? Was her faith real? Well, what was the test? What did her works show? They showed her faith to be real when she gave service to God’s people. She protected them. She provide for them. She didn’t betray them. And more than that, later she joined them. She became as a Jew—the same way that Ruth later would. And, like Ruth after her, by God’s grace, Rahab is one of three women listed in the earthly genealogy of Jesus Christ. Her works showed her faith by her service to God’s people. Her immediate service to the Israelite spies—and her eternal service to the lineage of Christ. Do you risk anything or sacrifice anything to serve God’s people? If you don’t your faith might be dead.
Once again, you’ve been given a test. A test to see if your faith is real or not. This time it has four questions. Question one: Do your works show concern for God’s creation? Do you truly help the needy by giving them what they need most? Do you give them the gospel? Question two: Do your works show trust in God’s Word? Does God’s Word determine how you act? Does it so fill your life that it overflows into godly living? Question three: Do your works show hope in God’s promises? Even though you might not understand the circumstances that God has placed you in—do you trust Him anyway? Trust Him enough to show Him by your actions? Question four: Do your works show service to God’s people? Are you doing things to serve God’s church today? Are you doing things that will impact God’s church for future generations? If you answered no to those questions, your faith might be dead. It doesn’t matter if you’ve walked an aisle or you’ve been baptized. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in church or how worn out your Bible is. If it doesn’t show through in the way you live, your faith is dead. And if your faith is dead, so are you. Dead in trespasses and sins. The Bible says there is only one cure for you. That is to be made alive in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” If this morning by the power of God’s Word, you have come to realize that your faith is dead—bury it. Bury it and bury the rest of your old things. This morning Jesus has given you the opportunity for all things to become new—including your faith. Christ died for you and for your dead faith and for all those old things. If you trust Him as your Lord and Savior, He will make you a new creature. A new creature with new faith and new works to show for it. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Come to new life today.
