Open your bibles to James Chapter 2.
As we continue our new series from the Book of James entitled Faith That Works.
Last week we learned that.
R. Kent Hughes says “one thing is clear about the book of James—the dominant theme is;
“Faith that is real works practically in one's life. Faith that is true, is a faith that works.” R. Kent Hughes
This is where we came up with the title “FAITH THAT WORKS”
Each week we will examine the relationship between our faith and our works, we see how the two intersect in our lives and in the lives of those around us. James covers many practical issues that will show us how to have a living, visible, and productive faith in the midst of a broken and fallen world.
Will you stand with me if you are able as we open up God’s word.
James 2:14
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:14-26 ESV)
PRAY
In my experience, I have seen many people come and go in the church. But nothing shocks me more than when a person accepts what the bible says about their spiritual condition. They understand and agree with the fact that they are sinful by nature. They understand how Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is what was necessary to save them. They go to church from time to time. They talk openly about spiritual things and when the conversation turns to Jesus they sound like believers. Yet there is nothing distinctively Christian about their behavior. The question James asks this morning is; How do we know when a person's faith is real? The answer to this question is at the heart of James’ letter.
RECAP
In chapter 1 James tells his readers that they must
“receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (v21).
That we are to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (v22).
And the person who God blesses is not a “hearer who forgets but a doer who acts” (v25).
In verses 26 and 27, James says true religion shows itself when we bridle our tongues, caring for widows and orphans in their distress, and living lives righteously by keeping oneself unstained by the world.
In Chapter 2 the theme continues
James is concerned about the treatment of the poor. He is adamant that the poor are not to be neglected in the church. Rather, Christians are to keep the Royal Law which is “love your neighbor as your self”
if you do that you are doing well. (v8).
Then he says;
But if you show partiality you are liable to judgment from God because it is a violation equal to murder and adultery. (v9)
Why? Because all three equally undermine the whole purpose of Jesus coming.
Chapter 2 begins by saying Christians are to show no partiality as we hold on to your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. the Lord of Glory.
James closes the chapter with the command.
"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (vv12-13).
Processing all of this motivates James to ask the question.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14)
At first glance, it seems like James is contradicting the Apostle Paul who constantly argues that we are saved by faith alone and not by works.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV)
You see, there is no real contradiction. James would agree with Paul that there is nothing you can do to earn your salvation. It is a gift from God and not a result of works, so no one may boast. And Paul would agree with James that works are evidence of our salvation. Works can never bring us to Christ but they are evidence that we have truly come to Him. It is important to understand that James is not talking about a person with an immature faith or a person who is lukewarm in their faith. Rather James is asking; if someone says he has faith but does not have works. Is that person really saved? Is a person really a Christian? Or is it just lip service? Jesus said we will know a Christian by their fruit.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:15-20 ESV)
Apple Trees produce apples and Christians are to produce good fruit. To drive this point home James gives us a few illustrations that begin in verse 15.
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:15-17 ESV)
A faith that is real does not neglect the needs of our brothers and sisters in the church. James says “what good is that?” All that proves is your faith is dead. Jesus uses this same type of language. He says taking care of the needs of others is how He will judge whether we are his sheep or not. Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew’s gospel.
’Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46 ESV)
Genuine faith that works meets the needs of the brothers and sisters in the church. And James says here that a person with a faith that is dead sees a person in need and instead of helping the person he only offers empty and meaningless advice. James says, "what good is that?" John writes in his first epistle
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:17-18 ESV)
Christians with genuine faith are not motivated to care for the poor out of guilt or duty. Mercy is the fruit of the Spirit produced from Christians who are motivated by the love, grace, and mercy of God to love, care, and serve others in need. Taking care of the poor and showing mercy is a natural by-product of a Christian.
Neglecting such an opportunity would put your faith in question.
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? (James 2:18-20 ESV)
James now takes it one step further, Even if you say you believe in God, there is a belief that's not even enough.
Faith is more than arriving at some intellectual belief and it is more than emotional response—as we see the demons believe and shutter. They are affected by the truth of God and they are terrified by it. That is not saving faith. Remember the wicked and slothful servant in the parable of the Talents? He believed Jesus to be a hard man, reaping where He did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. Both the demons and the wicked servant believed in Jesus but their actions and fear only proved that they never truly knew Jesus at all. The Apostle John writes:
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18 ESV)
The love of God perfects the true believer in the true Christ and those with a real faith need not to fear or shutter because there will be no punishment for those who are in Christ. And then James asks the rhetorical question:
Do you want to be shown that faith-based on a foolish belief or feeling is useless? Of course not. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. We have to remember James is contending for true religion—a faith that works. Just like apples produced from an apple tree, true faith produces the deliberate and intentional fruit of obedience. James now gives us a couple of examples of that.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. James’ first example he gives is when God tested Abraham’s faith. (James 2:21-24 ESV)
Abraham was chosen by God to be the father of many nations. The problem was he had no children of his own and he was in his 70’s. But God brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And Abraham believed the LORD, and God counted it to him as righteousness. Twenty-four years later nearing the age of 100 years old God did the impossible and fulfilled His promise. Sarah gave birth to Issac. Issac grew up and God had chosen to test Abraham and He said,
“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:2 ESV)
Abraham did as he was told, bound Issac, laid him on the altar, and out came the knife. Abraham raises the knife to sacrifice his son. How could he do this? The answer is in Genesis 22 verse 5
As they arrived at the base of the mountain Abraham addresses his servants.
Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” (Genesis 22:5 ESV)
Did you catch that? Abraham believed and had faith in the promise given to him by God, that Issac was going to be the beginning of a great nation. So He and the boy will be coming down this mountain. Abrahams actions were evidence of his faith in God. The second example is found in verse 25.
And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:25-26 ESV)
I love that He uses Rahab as an example here. The first-century Jews might have thought Abraham was an unfair example because he was such a propionate figure in the church. Abraham was a patriarch and Rahab was a prostitute. He was moral and she was immoral. He was an original Jew and she was a gentile woman. After Israel escaped Egypt they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Then under Joshua’s leadership, they entered into the land of Cannan. Joshua sent two spies into Jericho to gather some intel when they found themselves at the house of Rehab. The house of a prostitute was like a saloon, it was a place that traveling merchants stayed and a great place to get some intel on the town. Many would come and speak of the great cities the God of Israel had conquered. The king of Jericho caught wind of the spies and commanded Rahab to turn them in. But her response was this.
“I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. (Joshua 2:9-11 ESV)
Rahab had faith in who was God and her faith was demonstrated by radical obedience. She would go against the command of the king and help these men escape. Her belief in God was followed by her works. Works that could have cost her her life and freedom. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Faith without works is dead.
PRAY
RESPOND IN WORSHIP
