DEAD OR ALIVE?
JAMES 2:14 26
Read 14 26 Pray
James started out chapter 2 by addressing those who have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the common characteristic of all Christians...it's what binds us together...its what makes us the body of Christ. But v. 14 begins to raise the question of what faith really is.
And this brings us to the most misunderstood passage in the whole book of James. Some see it as a contradiction to Paul's teaching about salvation by faith alone...that James is preaching salvation by works, instead of faith alone. But the only place they differ is in emphasis.
But Paul had in mind those who denied that salvation was by faith alone...and he was speaking to those who insisted that the Mosaic law had to be kept in order to be saved. James is speaking to those who distort the doctrine of salvation by faith...and he's insisting that any faith worthy of the name of Jesus has to express itself in a tangible way.
By works Paul meant works of the Jewish law that people thought would save them. But for James, works are acts of love...proof that faith is alive and real. Works are the fruit of salvation.
The intention of James is to contrast two kinds of faith...one genuine, the other not...one is alive, the other dead...one that saves and one that does not save. But now if James gives faith its proper biblical position, why does he ask a question that seems to point to the other direction: Can his faith save him?
Right from the start we need to understand that "save" does not refer to the initial experience of salvation...it refers to the judgment at the end of the age. When we stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat of Christ the criteria at that time won't be what we profess...but it'll be how we performed. What did we do with our faith?
We'll appear before the judgment seat as those who are already saved. When the books are opened, one will be the Lamb's Book of Life. And the names recorded there... according to Paul in Romans 2:6, will be judged according to their works. What was the real character of our faith? Was it walk...or just a lot of talk?
What I want to look at this morning is "What makes faith real?" Can we be sure that our faith is a saving faith? You see, faith can be such a vague word. But James is far to practical and far to concerned for us to leave any doubt about such an important matter.
To arrive at a correct definition of faith, James introduces four illustrations, and each illustration ends with a summary statement of what James wants us to learn. The first two they let us know what faith is not; the second two let us know what faith is.
Verse 14 refers to a man who gives testimony of having faith in Christ. The man says, "Yeah, I'm a Christian." But this is a claim to faith that's not supported by any solid evidence in the man's life. Notice carefully that James doesn't say the man has faith...but that he claims to have faith.
And James poses a rhetorical question...which always demands a negative answer. What he's really saying is, "That faith can't save him, can it?" Like all other Bible writers, James is making the point that genuine saving faith results in a distinctive, active life.
He's flat out slamming the whole concept of closet Christians. These days everyone is coming out of a closet...the gays...the bigots...the racists, etc. But not the majority of Christians! They keep awful quiet about their faith...afraid someone will find out!
Hebrews 6:9 speaks of things that belong to salvation, referring to the way of life that validates a claim to faith. James doesn't argue for faith instead of works...or works instead of faith...or even works above faith...but for faith and works!
It's kind of like rowing a boat. There are two oars on a rowboat...and we could think of one being faith, the other works. If you use either one by itself you'll do nothing but go in circles...you won't get anywhere except where the current leads you!!!!
James draws a contrast between the armchair Christian in verse 16 and the active faith of Rahab. One has a great profession but no evidence...the other put her simple faith to work. Rahab identified herself with the people of God through personal faith in their God. And she had every right to claim the protected status that her faith allows.
But she doesn't just cash in on the benefits and then sit back and relax, thinking her worst fears are over. Rahab recognized the obligation she had to meet the needs of God's people. James is illustrating the situation we're most likely and most often to face...the needs of our own fellowship.
Rahab's faith caused her to actively seek to meet the needs of God's people...which is more than we can say for most professing Christians today. She recognized the truth of who God was and it immediately changed her attitude and her actions.
Notice that in each illustration James throws in that awful word dead. When faced with human need there is a common remedy dished out by so called Christians that restricts itself to kindly hopes and good advice: "Try not to worry. Keep plugging along...things will all work out...be warm and eat plenty."
To James this doesn't speak of a half faith or a sort of faith or even a limited faith...but no faith...it is dead! But Rahab's kind of faith is the kind that put it all on the line...her house, her family, her resources, and even her personal safety. And that is living faith.
V. 26 says the body without the spirit is dead...and faith without works is just as dead. We have to realize the truth of this...faith and works belong together in a living Christian experience. Otherwise you're faith is dead and you just don't know it.
There is no possible way we can claim a genuine, significant relationship with the Lord if we sit by and remain completely unaffected and set apart from the needs of our brothers and sisters...and those who so desperately need a Savior.
If our faith is living there will be evidence! Unless your faith is willing to take personal risks, it doesn't make the grade set by the faith of Rahab. But if our faith is truly living, it will be seen in by our personal involvement in meeting the needs of others, as well as the needs you yourself have deep inside.
Now let's get to the heart of the matter, which is what we find in verses 18 24. On the one hand, the demons believe... and there's probably some here whose faith is no different than that of the demons...(Mike Warnke illustration guy in Nam who "believed" )
James says the demons believe...and they shudder. On the other hand, Abraham believed and he was called the friend of God. So there is a faith that produces only fear...and there is also a faith that produces friendship.
In verse 18 some guy is mentioned. He's not hostile to James' teaching, but he does want some clarification. So he addresses some other person and says, "You have faith, and I have works." Sounds reasonable, right?
Now, his implication is that God gives different people different gifts, one person's gift may be an unshakable trust, real faith...while another may have a God given gift of works, like works of mercy. Shouldn't each one of them get on with using their gift without any criticism from the other whose gift is different?
No one, not even James could argue with that. The problem is, the guy has raised a completely different question. James goes on to show in the illustration of the demons that the faith he's speaking of is not the special gift some possess...but the general gift of faith by which all become Christians...He's speaking of saving faith!
This becomes clear in the reference to the demons. James selects the truth that there is only one God. And while the demons fully believe that there is one God...they still remain demons. They're not saved...they know nothing about peace with God...and they certainly don't love the God they confess is the one true God.
So, the truth should be frightfully clear..."If demons have such faith and yet remain lost...then men might have that same level of faith and still be eternally lost. So how can we be sure that ours is a true faith...that we really do have peace with God? There must be some way of being sure.
James spells it out very plainly...By my works I'll show you my faith. And he uses the story of Abraham to make his case. And these verses are crucial to our understanding of what James is saying.
God promised Abraham so many descendants that they would outnumber the stars in the sky. And Abraham recognized that this was humanly impossible...but in spite of that he did not waver for a second in his faith that God's promise would somehow come true. He was fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. And that is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.
Now, Abraham was tested by a 25 year wait until this promised child was born. And under the pressure of this waiting, he got distracted from that position of trust and fell into the sin of getting a son his own way. (actually Sarah's idea..."Oh, if you insist..)
But sometime after the birth of Isaac, Abraham was called by God to the severest test of all...and this time there wasn't even a shadow of a doubt. Hebrews 11:9 reveals the mind of Abraham..."He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead..."
Now, according to Genesis 15:6 the Lord is already convinced that the faith Abraham had shown was "the real thing" and He counts it to him as righteousness. God pronounced Abraham to be righteous in His sight on the grounds of the faith which he had placed in the divine promises.
Yet in Genesis 22:12, as Abraham stands with his knife raised over Isaac, the Lord stops him with these words...now I know that you fear God." But didn't the Lord know that from the start?
Let's bring it down to a more human level of understanding. It's like God would look at Abraham's profession of faith (Gen 15:6) and would say, "So far, so good...it all seems right. But then He waits to see how that faith will be exercised. Will there be any evidence...or to use James' words will there be works?
Abraham seemed to abandon his faith during his episode with Hagar and Ishmael. But now we see an altar...and a knife and a fire...and Isaac laying there prepared for sacrifice....and there stands Abraham with the full expectation that God would restore that burnt body and bring the boy back to life....And that's what you call faith!
God knew from the start that Abraham would be faithful. And yet God used this process of validation. He's depicted as if He came to a final decision about Abraham's faith by observing his works. "Now I know...And God is the same, yesterday today and forever.
A true faith in God will result in works of righteousness. That is what God expects of us. Faith without works is what...dead! Do you believe that? Is that in your Bible? Then what are you doing about it? Why are so many convinced that all they need to do is flatten their fanny on a church pew for an hour a week?
"Oh, I can't do anything"....then you've just given evidence of your faith....or lack thereof! (age????? Abe had at least 20 years on anyone here ...still exercising his faith in tangible ways...physical thing ...no immaculate conception)
So, what would James look for as evidence of the reality and living quality of our faith? He rules out the armchair do gooder who has the right words but doesn't back them up with action. And he definitely rules out the demons who have faith but are still bound for hell. So that leaves Abraham and Rahab.
And look at these two. Abraham is a major Bible figure...the father of the faithful...well respected...a man. Rahab, on the other hand, is a minor character...a foreigner...disreputable prostitute...a woman.
Quite a contrast...but an intentional one that should alert us to a crucial, undeniable fact. The primary works of faith are the works of Abraham and Rahab...and they apply to all without exception.
What was the work of Abraham? He held nothing back from God. God said, "I want your son, and Abraham rose early in the morning in prompt obedience. What was the work of Rahab? She reached out and took into her own care those who were needy and helpless, regardless of the cost to herself.
The life of faith is the life that respects the glory of Jesus...who in obedience to God and out of concern for the needy, He emptied Himself...humbled Himself unto death, the death on a cross.
The life of faith is more than a private transaction of the heart with God. It is a life of active consecration seen in the obedience which holds nothing back from God..and the concern that holds nothing back from human need.
