Faith is one of the great concepts of our Christian experience. Yet, some have pressed this to an extreme by implying that it makes no
difference how one lives - faith is all that matters. What I am referring to is what is referred to by some as “easy believism.”
Easy believism teaches that salvation is something a person can appropriate at a time of their own choosing. That “whenever I’m ready” I can pray to Jesus and be saved. However, the Bible teaches that if one is to be saved, he must respond at the time of God’s choosing.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them.” - John 6:44 (NIV)
The reason for this is that salvation is the sovereign work of God that He offers to perform within the hearts of all those who give heed to His call; and while a person does indeed have a choose to be saved, even the opportunity to choose is not theirs without the gracious work of God to call them.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” - Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
“Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish!” - Ephesians 2:8 (The Message)
In other words, true salvation results when God calls and man responds. Salvation occurs, not at a time and way of man’s choosing; but
at the time and way of God’s choosing. Salvation takes place when man comes to God on God’s terms and at the time God calls.
A lot of people point to a past decision in seeking assurance of salvation. But did you know that the bible never does that? It never points to the past. It always bases proof of real salvation on the evidence of the present. Saving faith perseveres and produces.
“And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.” - 1 John 2:3 (NLT)
“Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.” - 1 John 2:29 (NLT)
“These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.” - 1 John 2:19 (NLT)
“Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son
of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.” - 1 John 3:6-10 (NLT)
“And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.” - 1 John 3:24 (NLT)
“And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.” - 1 John 4:13 (NLT)
The Bible makes it clear that the internal evidence of salvation is the presence of the Holy Spirit (see also Romans 8:16); and the
external evidence of salvation are good works that reflect the character of God.
James is speaking in our passage for today about the external evidence of one’s faith. He addresses himself to the ever-present conflict
between mere assent to a creed and a vital, living, truly saving faith. He contrasts for us here a dead faith with a saving faith.
1. Dead faith - vs. 14-19
A. Illustrated by shallow concern - vs. 14-17
A concern that is all talk and no action is a shallow concern that does no one any good. Likewise, a faith that is all talk and no action is a shallow faith that does you no good.
If the only thing you can point to as evidence of your salvation is that you “prayed a prayer” years ago and were baptized, but now there is no reflection of the character of God in way you seek to live, there is cause for concern about the genuineness of your salvation.
In verse 17, James literally uses the word “such” when speaking of faith here, like he did in verse 14. The phrase “by itself” literally
translated is “according to itself.” Such faith, that is, a faith with no expression in good works, speaks for itself and is revealed to be dead. It is not a saving faith.
B. Illustrated by satanic confession - vs. 18-19
James makes the point here that he is not promoting works as the way to salvation as opposed faith; but he is saying that a person whose faith is not translated into action is no more saved than the demons who acknowledge that there is one God. Such a person in doomed.
You call me Master and Obey me not; you call me Light and See me not; you call me Way and Walk me not; you call me Life and Desire me not; you call me Wise and Follow me not; you call me Fair and Love me not; you call me Rich and Ask me not; you call me Eternal and Seek me not; you call me Gracious and Trust me not; you call me Just and Fear me not; if I condemn you, Blame me not.
2. Saving faith - vs. 20-26
The church has too many whose personal commitment to Christ is shallow and whose spiritual transformation is minimal or non-existent. On the other hand, there are some who have let works take the place of faith. In such cases, their works are not an expression of their faith, but an attempt to gain God’s favor and earn salvation, which is impossible.
“He saved us because of his mercy, not because of any good things we did.” - Titus 3:5 (Easy to Read)
James wrote to a Jewish Christian audience. When they responded to Christ, they learned they were free from the law. James makes the point that while we are free from the burden of the law, we are not free from the standard of the law. True, saving faith, in fact, seeks to express itself in right living. Saving faith is not just a detached acceptance of a creed. Not is it one half of the requirement for salvation, with the other being works. Rather, than teaching faith plus works, James was arguing for a different kind of faith, a faith that shows it is genuine by how it is expressed. He now gives two examples of true, saving faith.
A. Illustrated by the actions of a patriarch - vs. 20-24
Note that James doesn’t use Abraham’s original experience of justification (Genesis 15:6) as an example of saving faith. Why?
Because he wanted to point out that saving faith will continue to be expressed by right response to God. In verse 22, James tells us that true, saving faith matures (made complete) and is evidenced by proper response to God. Abraham’s actions demonstrated his faith in God was genuine. The perseverance of Abraham’s faith was evidence of the genuineness of his salvation experience (note v. 23, where James DOES refer to Abraham’s justification).
Abraham didn’t always get it right. But though his obedience wasn’t always a picture of perfection, his desire was always to head in the right direction.
“Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on
sinning, because they are children of God.” - 1 John 3:9 (NLT)
B. Illustrated by the actions of a prostitute - vs. 25-26
We read Rahab’s story in Joshua 2; 6:22-25. While Abraham’s faith in God’s provision was demonstrated by his action, Rahab’s faith in God’s protection was demonstrated by hers.
Conclusion:
A minister spoke with a professing Christian and asked if he attended a small group Bible study. The man said, “No, but the dying thief wasn’t involved in a small group and he was OK.” He asked if he was active in a local church. The man replied, “No, but the dying thief wasn’t active in a church and he was accepted.” The minister then asked if he had been baptized. The man responded, “The dying thief wasn’t baptized and he made it to heaven.” The minister then commented: “The only difference between you and the dying thief is that he was dying in his belief and you are dead in Yours.”
A little boy asked his dad, “Dad, wasn’t Jesus a carpenter?” “Yes, he was,” dad replied. “How tall do you think he was? I mean, he was probably a pretty big guy, don’t you think?” “Yes son,” dad said, “I suppose he was.” “Well, I guess that means that since I’ve invited Him into my heart, He should probably stick out, don’t you think Dad?” “Yes son, I think you just may be on to something.”
“I would not give anything for your profession of faith unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk, but they shine.” - Charles Spurgeon
