HOW TO HAVE REAL FAITH
Grow Up Rather Than Give Up - Part 7
James 2:14-26
2 COR 13:5 "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
The Coke Company says’ that their drink is the Real Thing. There are many different religions that claim to be the real thing. Many of these religions offer you religion without a relationship. They offer you a crown without a cross. They offer you salvation without a savior. They offer you peace without the Prince of Peace. They offer you comfort without commitment. There are many religions that offer you a faith but not the Real Faith.
2 COR 13:5 "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
James is saying let’s examine this faith you claim to have and see if it’s real. Let’s put it under the microscope of God’s word and analyze it to see what it is made of. James is saying faith and action go hand and hand. James is saying A Faith that saves is a faith that serves.
I want to talk to you today about what James has to say about how to have a real faith. There’s a lot of phony religions out there -- people who think they are Christians and really aren’t. In this passage James talks about the difference between real and counterfeit Christians. Authentic believers and fake believers. He talks about how do you have a real faith.
This is the most controversial and misunderstood passage in the book of James. Every cult misunderstands it and they try to use this passage to prove you have to work your way to heaven. It’s important that you get what I’m going to talk about today so that when those guys come to your door, you’ll know what to say to them. The entire New Testament teaches that we are saved by faith alone. "By grace, through faith, we are saved." James comes along and says, It’s not just faith but faith and works. What is he talking about? James and Paul. They are both right. They are talking about different things.
Paul was fighting the problem of legalism -- the problem of "I’ve got to keep all the Jewish laws and regulations to be a Christian." Paul is talking to that group.
James is not fighting legalism but laziness -- those that say "It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you believe."
They are fighting two different enemies. But they both use the word "works" in different ways. When Paul uses the word "works" he’s talking about Jewish laws like circumcision and things like that. When James uses it, he’s talking about the lifestyle of a Christian -- acts of love. It’s totally different. Paul focuses on the root of salvation -- what happens to me internally. James focuses on the fruit of salvation -- what happens on the outside as a result of what happened on the inside. Jesus said, "By their fruits you will know them." Paul is talking about, How to know you’re a Christian. James is talking about, How to show you’re a Christian. Paul is talking about his passages on faith alone, How to become a believer. James talks about, How to behave like a believer. It is not a contradiction.
It’s summed up in EPHESIANS 2:8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, for a life of good works that God has already prepared for us to do." Paul mentions three truths that we all need to know about salvation It is "by grace", "through faith", "for good works". If you get those out of order, you’re in trouble. Paul is saying that we are saved by faith, James is saying that faith that saves is not alone. In other words, true genuine saving faith will produce action ( works.
Let me put it this way. You are not saved by the work that you do. The work that you do is the result of being saved.
But how do I show I am a believer? James says there’s five ways you can know you’ve got the real thing. He gives us five steps or principles here in this passage.
1. REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN AN EMPTY CONFESSION:
v. 14 Real faith is not just something you say, something you talk about. What shall it profit, my brethern, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
"What good is it my brother if a man claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such `faith’ save him or benefit him?" It doesn’t say he actually has faith; he just claims to have it. He talks about it. He knows all the right phrases. There are a lot of people who claim to be Christians. George Gallup says that 50 million Americans say "I’m born again." But there’s nothing in their lifestyle to suggest that they are Christians. Today we tend to label people as Christians if they make the slightest sound of being a believer. It’s more than just talk that is involved in real faith. Jesus said, "Not everybody who says to me `Lord, Lord’ is going to enter into the kingdom of heaven." Not everybody with a Christian bumper sticker is a believer. Not everybody who is a professes Christianity is a possessor of Christianity. "Can such faith save him? What value is this kind of faith?" Nothing. Talk is cheap.
Larry Flint, the publisher of Hustler, said he was born again? But you never saw any change in his life. He kept right on printing pornography. no difference. No change.
Real saving faith produces a change in a person life. Let me quickly point out three areas that will change as a result of real saving faith.
· Attitude: This deals with the state of the mind. Our thoughts.
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· Actions: This is how we live our lives from one day to the next. The way we live is influenced by our attitude or our thoughts. Our thoughts become actions, actions become habits, and habits become a lifestyle.
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· Affections: This involves your emotions. The dictionary defines affection as an emotional attachment to something. In other words something that is dear and precious to your heart. Our affections involves both, our attitude and our actions. The word of God say’s, " Where your treasures are that’s where your heart will be. "
James is saying that Real Faith Is More Than An Empty Confession. Real Faith will change my Attitude, Actions and Affections toward God, toward the saints and toward sinners. Do you know anybody that claims to be a Christian but you don’t see any evidence in their life? That’s a phony faith.
Real Faith Is More Than An Empty Confession.
2. REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN A FALSE COMPASSION:
Let me clarify something here before I get into this point. James is talking about someone who through no fault their own has fallen upon hard times. The bible is very explicit about those who refuse to work because they are to lazy to work.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
I am not saying that we should not show compassion to people like this. We must be careful not to harden our hearts toward people even those that are lazy. At the same time we must be careful not to endorse such a life style.
However James is dealing with something entirely different. In the early church Christians were poor because, to confess Jesus as Savior was to loose everything they possessed or at least risk the lose of everything. When people got saved back then they were stripped of their earthly possessions.
Real Faith is more than being emotionally moved. You can be emotionally moved and never act on it. You can go to church and get a quiver in your liver, goose bumps but it never makes any difference.
James say’s in v. 15 "Suppose a brother or sister is without ( one translation say’s destitute of ) clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him `Go, I wish you well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" He’s saying, it’s more than just words. It’s more than just feelings.
If, after church, I walk outside and you’re getting into you car and you happen to slam eight fingers in your car door. And you’re standing there in agony with blood on your fingers. If I walk up and say, "I really feel for you!" Is that any help?
· Real Faith Is Moved With Compassion To Help Meet The Need Of The Brother Or Sister That Has Fallen Upon Hard Times.
Real faith is more than just sympathy and feeling and emotion. You give assistance. You do something about it. You act on it. Real faith takes the initiative. A real believer has real faith and it’s practical. It gets involved with people. He’s talking about Christians here. (This is the only time in Scripture that Christian women are called sisters.) When you become a part of God’s family you have some family responsibilities. A real believer will care about other believers.
· Real Faith Is Generous In Giving To Those In Genuine Need.
I John 3:17 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" Real faith is generous. It wants to give. Who can count on you in a crisis? How many Christians have the freedom to call you up in the middle of the night if they are in an emergency? Not just talking the talk. Not just feeling for people. I John 3:14 says that one of the proofs of salvation is that we love other Christians. Do you have fellowship with believers? Real faith wants to be around other believers. You love them. We are known we are Christians by our love.
We are a lot better at verbalizing our faith than practicing it. I can’t meet everybody’s needs but I can meet somebody’s. Even Jesus couldn’t meet everybody’s needs. James is saying that if my faith doesn’t lead me to share with others it’s wrong. v. 17 "In the same way, faith by itself if it’s not accompanied by actions is dead."
Matthew 9:35-38 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He Saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His Harvest.
Jesus was a Man of Compassion. We has Christian should show the same compassion.
3. REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN A SHALLOW CONVICTION:
People are driven by their convictions. If we have deep biblical convictions then they will have a positive impact on our lives. There are many people that say I don’t feel any convictions on this or that. Convictions are not determined by how you feel, but by what God’s word says. There are some that say, " I know that the bible says that I should do this or not to do that, but I haven’t been convicted over it yet. If they feel convicted about it or not is irrelevant, God’s word has spoken and that settles it. Your convictions will determine your attitude, your course of action and your affection.
James imagines that someone will object v. 18 "Someone will say, " Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
· Real faith is visible by our actions
Circle "show me". You can see it. It’s apparent. If you claim to be a Christian, people will be able to see it. James says, show me. If you claim to be a Christian I have a right to ask you to prove it by looking at your lifestyle. Somebody said, "Faith is like calories. You can’t see them but you can sure see the results." You can’t see faith but you can see the results.
James must have been from Missouri. The theme of the state of Missouri is the "Show me" state. James is saying, You say you’re a Christian? Prove it. Let me see your actions back up your words. "If you’re saved and you know it then your life will surely show it." That’s what James is saying. Show me. You claim to have real faith.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Any time a person becomes a Christian he becomes a new person inside, the old things have passed away. All things become new." Everything may Not happen overnight. But they start becoming new.
If you grab onto a 220 wire you’re going to know it. I don’t see how somebody as big as God can enter your life and it not change you. James says, flat out, if it doesn’t change you there’s a question whether He’s really in your life. What can I see in my life that proves it?
4. REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN SAYING YOU BELIEVE IN GOD:
James goes on to say in verse 19, " Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: The Devils also believe and tremble. James is saying to these Christians, you claim to have faith in God that’s good, But without action to back it up, it is no different than that of the Devils. In other words faith without convictions that change our lives is the same faith that the Devils possess.
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that -- and shudder!" There are a lot of people who have strong beliefs in God, the Bible, about Christ. They can quote the bible and talk religion. James says, "big deal!" Just saying I believe in God is not enough to get you to heaven. Even the devil believes that.
The Bible says, "The fool has said in his heart, there is not God." It’s foolish to be an atheist and the devil is no fool. The devil believes in God! The devil is a great theologian. He knows a lot more about the Bible than we do. He’s been around a whole lot longer. He knows theology backwards and forwards. He believes. His demons believe and shudder. The Greek word is "to bristle" -- their hair stands up on end. It’s the kind of word you’d use reading a Steven King novel. Why? Because the devils understand the majesty and awesomeness of God. They believe in God and they tremble.
The word believe in Greek means "to trust in, to cling to, to rely on, to commit yourself completely."
It’s more than just a head knowledge. A lot of folks are going to miss heaven by 18 inches. They’ve got it in their head but not their heart. They say "I believe in God." James says, "Big deal. Devils believes in God." How do you have a creation without a Creator. But that’s not enough.
Real faith is not just saying "I believe". There is so much easy believeism in America. Article in the Register: "Many in Orange Count believe but don’t practice." They did a survey and asked people all over Orange County and they found a high degree of belief. "Sure, I’m a believer. I’m a Christian." Do you attend church. No. "Do you donate your time." No. "Do you tithe." No. James would say that’s a phony belief. You’re just conning yourself. A lot of people are doing that.
5. REAL FAITH IS MADE PERFECT ( COMPLETE ) BY WORKS:
In the next couple of verses James gives two illustrations that says real faith is something you do. Faith is active. It’s not passive. It’s a commitment.
Two illustrations of two very different people, Abraham and Rahab -- exact opposite extremes. Abraham is a man. Rahab is a woman. Abraham is Jewish. Rahab is a Gentile. Abraham is a patriarch. Rahab is a prostitute. Abraham is a somebody. Rahab is a nobody. Abraham is a major character in the Bible. Rahab is a minor character. He uses these illustrations to say, it doesn’t matter who you are as long as you’ve got the important thing. They only had one thing in common -- their faith in God. Their faith in God led them to an action.
Commitment To God Will Cause Us To Sacrifice Our Future If Need Be
When Abraham offered up Isaac to God he was sacrificing his future to God. Isaac was to be the son through which the Lord Jesus would eventually come. Everything God had ever promised Abraham was wrapped up in Isaac. By sacrificing Isaac, Abraham was sacrificing his future.
Commitment To God Will Cause Us To Sacrifice Our Lives For The Sake Of Others
This is exactly what Rahab did. She jeopardized her life and the life of her family when she hid the spies that came into Jericho. She willing to sacrifice herself for the welfare of those spies. Notice that these spies were her archenemies As result of her actions she was saved as well as her family. Not only that she became a part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. Is not this what Jesus did for us? He offered Himself as a sacrifice on our behalf. He died that we might live and have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus faith in humanity was demonstrated by His commitment to die in our place. What wonderful love, what grace, amazing grace.
Our faith is not determined by what we do, it is demonstrated by what we do.
About 35 years ago there was a famous tight rope walker named George Blondin who, for a publicity stunt, decided he would walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. On the appointed day they stretched a tightrope from one side of Niagara Falls to the other. He got out there and there were crowds lining both the Canadian and American side. Thousands of people showed up to see this unbelievable feat. Blondin walked up to the edge of the tightrope, put one foot on the tightrope and put another foot out and began to walk across -- inch by inch, step by step. He got out in the middle and everybody knew that if he’d make one mistake in balance he’d fall off the rope and into the Falls and obviously be killed. Blondin got to the other side and the crowd went wild, shouting and cheering. Blondin said, "I’m going to do it again." He got to the other side and the crowds went crazy. Blondin said, "I’m going to do it again but this time I’m going to push a wheel barrow full of dirt." He pushes the wheel barrow across. He got to the other side. He did this nine or ten times. On about the tenth time, he pushed the wheel barrow right in front of a tourist who said, "I believe you could do that all day." Blondin dumped out the dirt and said, "Get into the wheel barrow."
In a very real sense that’s what God says to you. Talk is cheap. Put your money where your mouth is. "I believe in Jesus!" Prove it. Our faith is demonstrated by our actions. Actions speak louder than words. Our behavior shows what we really believe.
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith." Test. Check it out. See if you’re really a believer or not.
A couple of questions:
Am I really a Christian after all? In the light of what James says, am I really a Christian?
What changes can I point to in my life? Is my life style any different than that of unbelievers? So many people think it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you believe. James says that’s not true. He’s not saying you work your way to heaven. He’s not saying works deliver salvation. He’s saying they demonstrate it. He’s saying, if your faith doesn’t work, what good is it?
How do I know for sure? You settle it in your mind. Maybe some of you have had doubts whether you’re really a believer or not. You’re a good person, you’ve gone to church, and maybe you’ve known about Christ, and you’ve read the Bible, and you’ve had religion and you’ve gone to classes. But are you absolutely sure that if you died today you’d go to heaven? The fact is you can be sure. You don’t have to leave here and have the shadow of a doubt. You can settle it right here.
How do you do that? Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, for a life of good works God has already prepared for us to do." God’s grace. God reaches down. He says, I want you to know Me. I want to have a relationship with you. That’s grace. And you look up and say "I want to know You, Lord. I want to have a relationship with You." When God’s hand of grace comes down and your hand of faith goes up, that’s called salvation. That’s what it means to be a believer. Saved by grace, through faith to do exactly what God made you to do in the first place. He has a plan for your life. You are not here by accident.
