Believable Faith
James 2:14-26
Introduction
There are three things I want to accomplish this morning using this text. First I want us to look at the scriptures to what Paul says about works and what James says about works and see if they contradict each other or compliment each other. Second I want us to look at the three types of faith that are described here and third I want us to examine our own faith in light of Old Testament Patriarchs.
I. Do James and Paul Contradict or Compliment?
a) The Contradiction at face value
i) Ephesians 2:8,9 says it is by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God. Not of works lest anyone should boast
ii) While James 2:14 tells us that if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
iii) This is posed in a way that demands a negative answer. So who is right?
b) The Compliment
i) James and Paul were speaking to different issues.
ii) “Paul was responding to the Jews, who said works, such as circumcision and observing Jewish ceremonial laws, were necessary for salvation.”
iii) Jesus spoke harshly to the Pharisees in Matt 23 because they made so many addendum’s to receiving forgiveness from God and ultimate salvation.
iv) James was responding to those who believed that mere intellectual agreement or belief was enough to obtain salvation
v) Paul starts at the very beginning of conversion that no one can ever earn God’s forgiveness and salvation. We can only accept it.
vi) James spoke to the professing believer, explaining that a person must live a new life.
vii) We are not saved by good works we are saved for good works.
viii) James is pleading for the absolute necessity for post-conversion works.
II. 3 Kinds of Faith (Dead, Devil, and Dynamic)
a) Devil’s Faith (v 19)
i) First I must answer the question about demons in light of this passage
(1) Shouldn’t demons be saved based on Acts 16:31
(2) “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…”
(3) Demons are not saved because they do not exercise a saving kind of faith.
(4) This is the very point James’ is making. Just believing cannot save you.
(5) Demons don’t do good works for Christ or on His behalf…
ii) What James is saying should actually be very convicting to us.
iii) The belief that demons have causes them to tremble… What about you?
iv) Believing that anything or anyone exists does not bring us into a right relationship with them… Husband and wife…“I acknowledge you exist”
v) I want a faith that does more than hold the hem… but pulls Him down
vi) Lots of people believe few have faith and call Him Lord
vii) Saving faith is not an intellectual agreement it is a deeper expression of itself through actions.
viii) There is a devils faith and there is a dead faith
b) Dead Faith (V. 20)
i) James Says there is no profit to having great faith with out deeds.
ii) Matt 7:21 …He who does the will of my Father… Practice Lawlessness
iii) Give Service not lip service… Real help is in the doing.
iv) Red Cross and Salvation Army
v) An effective church must do something.
vi) “Go Away” (James 2:16) or “Go Your Way” Matt 28:19
(1) Jesus told us to “go” or “depart” (•••) “go (one’s) way while carrying something with you”
(2) While James 2:16 tells us what we tell people is (••/) “go away”
vii) When we give a Dollar are we giving Jesus… Do we say God Bless You with out giving a blessing?
viii) There is a difference between saying “go your way”and “go away”, which refers to going empty handed.
ix) God needs servants not celebrities… People need a touch not an autograph
x) We all have to work / status & face does not matter
xi) 2 Thess. 3:10 “if a man will not work he will not eat”
xii) If Jesus fed us based on how much we worked for Him this week…
xiii) There is also a dynamic faith
c) Dynamic Faith (Faith that does something)
i) Faith by itself cannot save you nor can works by themselves save you.
ii) We need the faith that shouts from the rooftops…LITERALLY!
iii) Street Preacher on our Streets… are they crazy or living their faith.
iv) What if these of the five-fold ministry did nothing…?
(1) Evangelists… mass conversions
(2) Apostles… churches
(3) pastors and teachers… disciples.
v) If Jesus wore a bracelet that said WWPDD (What Would Pastor Dan Do)
vi) Would Jesus’ life look a little different if He lived a Christian life according to how you and I live it?
(1) How would the gospel message look then?
(2) Would there be healings? ….Conversions? …A cross?
(3) Would He show more anger? Living Like you?
(4) Would He avoid people more? Would He have disciples?
(5) Would He pray more and work less? Would He work more and pray less?
(6) Would He shut the world out with praise songs and never listen to people?
(7) Would He feel put out more often?
(8) Would the gospel be filled with heavy sighs and whinings from Jesus?
(9) Would there be rebukes or challenges or changes?
(10) Would He rather hang out with the elite and neglect the needy?
vii) What does our works look like in comparison to Christ’s?
viii) Let everyone know that they are saved by grace and not by works
ix) But let everyone who is saved know that God sees your faith by what you do with it.
x) It is work to pray, read and love one another. It is work to trust in Him.
xi) It was work…
(1) For a woman to Push through the crowd to receive healing for bleeding (Luke 8:48)
(2) For a Greek Syro-Phoenician Gentile woman to push through the culture to ask Jesus to cast out the demons in her daughter (Matt 15:28)
(3) For a centurion to push through the pride of his command to ask Jesus to heal his servant (Matt 8:5)
xii) It is work to step out in true faith. It is true faith that steps out and works.
xiii) Your work expresses your love for Christ. John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
xiv) It is work to obey His word, if you do not obey then how do you show Jesus that you love Him?
xv) You can either have a Dead faith the devils faith or a faith that does.
xvi) Then there are two that are mentioned with great faith…
III. Abraham and Rahab’s Faith
a) Abraham’s Faith (Genesis 22:1-19)
i) He showed his faith when he got up early (verse 3)
ii) He showed his faith when he said “we will come back” (verse 5)
iii) He showed his faith when he said God will provide the lamb (verse 8)
iv) He had faith in God’s Word and Promise (the son of the covenant)
b) Rahab’s Faith (Joshua 2:9-13)
i) She had faith, not in the strong city, but in the God that could take it down
ii) She had faith to hide the spies knowing they were from God
iii) She had faith that this God of theirs would have His victory
iv) She had faith the it was God who did the things she heard about (Red Sea)
v) She had faith in someone else’s promise (Jericho and Canaan)… (v. 9)
vi) She had faith that she too could be a part of this promise…
vii) She had faith that their God was the one true God (v. 11)
viii) Because of these things she put action to her faith
Conclusion
2 Corinthians 13:5 says examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you are disqualified.
Disqualification comes when you have not made Him Lord.
What does you faith look like? What category is it in now?
Dead faith. Your saved but your not doing anything for the kingdom of God.
Devils faith, which is you don’t work for Him although you may believe in Him but that is as far as it goes. You may as well be an enemy of God.
Active (Doing) Faith, does your faith operate in a mode of “Whatever He tells me to do I’ll do it. Whatever He commands I’ll do it”
