Faith Without Works is Dead

FEBRUARY 26, 2020 STUDY NOTES JAMES 2:17-20 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. “Even so,” meaning “in the same way,” just like previously explained “Faith” here is the same “say-so” faith that James has already presented, a “wordy faith” It is the “say-so” faith that a person claims to have but it does nothing but talk The faith that James questioned, can that kind of faith save? Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? James implies that faith without works is not the faith unto salvation, which he now explains James goes back to the illustration found in, Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, Referring first-of all to church members who are in need and then to anyone else James had a question, Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? What good comes from a faith that does nothing but talk, a faith that does not work? Nothing is gained when there is nothing done No one benefits when there is nothing to benefit from James now answers his question for us by applying the truth of his illustration to faith Faith within itself, apart from works is of no value to those who are in need The point that James makes throughout the chapter is that faith without works is useless Look at the emphasis of that point in this chapter: Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Same point in, Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Same point in, Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Same point in, Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Does James have a point in mind? Does James have something he wants us to think about? James is not telling us that we are saved by works, he tells us we are saved by faith But salvation faith is not alone, genuine saving faith will work James explains a faith that has no works---if it hath not works, “Works” is a performance that achieves something, something is accomplished A faith that does not accomplish something is not a true genuine faith Even though it is called faith, if it is without works it is not real faith If it does not produce acts of mercy that meets the needs of others, it is not faith Even though you might call it faith, it is not a living faith, it is a dead faith The contrast is not between faith and works but between a dead faith and a living faith James does not say that works must be added to faith before you can be saved He says that good works are of the nature of genuine faith, the natural outcome of saving faith James does not contradict any scripture related to salvation by faith, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: James agrees that we are not saved by works, Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. He does not contradict Paul’s teaching on faith But he does make a strong statement concerning faith If faith does not have works it is dead, “Dead” refers to that which is inactive, inoperative Having no action because there is nothing to encourage the action That which is lifeless because there is no life in it, therefore it is useless and without value Faith without works is a “Dead Faith,” true faith is a “Living Faith” If a person is not of “True Faith” they are producing “dead works” The author of Hebrews refers to “dead works,” Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, “Repentance from dead works” took place when you turned to God by faith for salvation In salvation you turn to Christ in order to turn from sin, that is repentance In salvation you receive a new life through faith and turn from “dead works” Dead works are lifeless deeds, acts that claim to have life in them but don’t Doing things that have no value of life in them, they cannot impart or attain life As Christians we must “go on,” which means turning from “dead works” to live by faith “Faith” is described as “faith toward God,” which is the faith that saves The faith that not only saves but obeys God, it is the faith that is alive and works “Faith toward God” should be a daily experience of our life It is the “faith” that believes “God can” and “God will” When we exercise that “faith,” we experience God can, God will, and “God did” “Dead works” describe our life before we experience “saving faith” “Dead works” do not come with the life that comes through “Saving Faith” James describes “dead works” as being alone Faith that is all by itself is not genuine faith, real faith is never alone It is faith alone that saves but the faith that saves is never alone Faith without works is like a tree in the summer that has no leaves, it is a dead tree Leaves or fruit on the tree are not what makes a tree live, its life comes from its roots The trees leave’s and fruit are the evidence that the roots of the tree are alive Genuine faith is rooted in the life of Christ and will bring forth fruit In scripture the fruit of faith refers to our conduct, our deeds of good works Jesus said that through the fruit of faith the world will be able to identify a Christian, Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. James now shows us that without the works of faith the world will not know you Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. James now explains by way of contrast comparing two people who claim to have faith One person says that he has faith, but he has no works as a result of the faith he claims The other person has the works that says he has the faith, faith that results in the works So, James is strongly stressing the importance of Christian works James shows Christian works to be the things that Christians do to help those in need We see that in his illustration found in verses 15-16 James has a challenge for the one who claims faith but has no works of faith shew me thy faith without thy works, James says, you are going to have to prove to me that you have faith And how can you do that apart from your works, you can’t, it is impossible Faith alone is invisible faith and can only be seen by others when it is put into practice It is only through the good works of faith that faith is manifested to others Good works put faith on display for all to see, works turn the light on so you can see the faith and I will shew thee my faith by my works. The only way that true, genuine faith can be revealed to others is through works The works are those which come as a result of the faith, they are the works of faith Without the faith this kind of works could not be done, they emerge from the faith Good works put faith on exhibit, works display faith, works bring faith to light Christians reveal the life that they have received through faith by their works The only way to verify true faith is through genuine works It is not what we say but what we do that proves to the world that we are a Christian The world needs what the Christian should be doing, which is maintain good works, Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. First Paul spoke of how important his instructions were, affirm them constantly Paul said, those who “have believed in God,” speaking of those who have exercised faith They must “be careful to maintain good works,” be concerned, be sure to take care of it “Good works” come from a living faith and they are excellent and profitable for everyone Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James has in mind someone who is persuaded that there is a “True God” But he has not committed his life to the One True God through faith Jews believe that there is one God, Christians believe that there is one God, and that’s good The great majority of Americans will tell us that they believe in God A large percentage of Americans will say, “I believe in Jesus” and I believe the Bible James says, “you do well,” such belief is good as far as it goes, but it does not go far enough The good of persuasion can only go so far But the kind of works that James speaks of do not come forth from an intellectual confession According to James, if we could survey the demons, 100% would say, “I believe in God” the devils also believe, The “devils” are the fallen angels, the unseen evil spirits, they are also called “demons” Demons are not atheists, they are not agnostics, demons confess the existence of God They know the truth about God and Christ, but they hate the truth of God and Christ Their knowledge of God does not change their character or their conduct Demons confessed the name of Christ during the earthly ministry of Jesus, Mar 1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. Listen to the demon, “Jesus, I know who you are” He said, “what have we to do with thee,” what he said had to do with all demons The demons know that Jesus is the Son of God, Mar 5:7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. The “Most High God” is often found in the OT referring to the One, True, God of Israel Demons do not deny the power and authority of God, but they “tremble” before God and tremble. The word “tremble” means “to shudder in horror,” to shake in fear That is how the demons react when they are faced with the reality of God’s existence They shudder, the picture is horror that causes the hair to stand on end Like a dog when the hair on his back bristles up Demons know their destiny, Mat 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? The time of their destiny has already been set by God The place of their destiny has been set by God, Luk 8:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. Currently the “deep” is a prison for evil spirits, in the original it is called the “abyss” Meaning an extremely deep place or the “Bottomless Pit” It is the intermediate place of punishment for demons The “Lake of Fire” will be the place of their eternal punishment, Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Those who have true faith in God do not shudder in terror when they approach God, Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. “Let us” refers to those of genuine saving faith, we can come boldly to the throne of grace There we do not find judgment but mercy and grace to help in time of need Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James now makes a point based upon the previous verse, something that he must now say Something that they must know but not all are willing to accept It is like saying, “Do you really want to know the truth?” Some don’t want to face the truth of the issue, they are not ready to agree with James But they must come to the place that they understand and agree with what James says O vain man, The meaning of the word “vain” is “empty,” like a hollow vessel The thought is something that is without quality, that lacks content, it is ineffective An empty life is an open vessel for evil, faith without works is an empty life that is open to evil that faith without works is dead? Again, James refers to faith as the profession of faith without works Faith that is without the evidence of being genuine He speaks of “works” as that which the true faith will produce Understand the word “dead,” the meaning is barren, idle, unproductive, ineffective Without power, without life, useless, lazy James makes a play on words, he says, “works that are workless” CONCLUSION James has developed his case which has been the truth of genuine faith Genuine faith not only saves, it works The conclusion of what James has told us is: The genuine faith in Christ that brings salvation will work, it is a “do so” faith “Say so” faith that only talks and does not work is not a living faith, it is a dead faith