James 2:14-26 True Faith Shows
Notes
Transcript
True Faith Shows
True Faith Shows
We continue or our Series in James, the Title of the message today is “True Faith Shows”
James has been to the point, Love it
James goes in hard, not holding back any punches and I love it!
Our actions are a tangible expression of our Faith
Actions do not earn us anything from God
but they do prove that we have something from God
Faith Alone saves and true faith shows
Last week Pastor Gerrit taught us about partiality and favoritism.
Now we move into “Faith and Works” and specifically how they interact (how they go together)
Hear me when I say there is no battle between faith and works. They are not in conflict. They are in unison.
Here’s the problem. I think it’s a vocabulary problem with using the word “works.”
The word “works” has come to mean “something you do to earn God’s favor.” Something you do if you’re religious, and so this word “works,” especially for us relationally centered, Biblically centered, Christ centered followers, we see works as a negative.
So I think it’s really a vocabulary issue because James never uses the word that way. Never. Never. James never uses the word “works” as a negative.
And so I think maybe a better word is “actions.” Our actions. What are we doing? How are we living? What decisions are we making? James is saying that true faith will show in our actions.
True faith will show in how we live.
True faith will show in the choices we make.
True faith will show in how we treat people.
True faith shows.
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Our actions are the tangible expression of our faith. But, is it possible to have actions without true faith? We see that easily in the Pharisees, don’t we? And we see that from Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23 where some say to him “Lord, Lord, did we not do all these things in your name” and Jesus will declare to them “I never knew you; depart from me” But now, here’s the really big question, is it possible to believe without having true faith? That is the question we will be answering for two messages, taking us from James 2:14- 26.
This section of scripture has been a theological battleground since the days of the Reformation. Some have seen James as contradicting the clear New Testament teaching of salvation by faith alone, no works required. And some have wondered if James and Paul are actually teaching in contradiction to one another. The answer is absolutely no! They are definitely not!
One commentator say James and Paul are not standing face-to-face battling each other. They are standing back to back fighting different enemies of the same Gospel. James and Paul wrote at separate times to separate people for separate purposes. But they both wrote to defend the same true Gospel. Paul was battling how people felt prior to salvation, that works could earn them salvation. James is battling how people live after they think they’re saved and thinking their faith doesn’t have to impact their actions.
Paul wrote to counter those who would say we must work to earn our salvation and he made it clear our salvation is by faith alone with no works required. But James is writing to counter those who think they can be saved by some casual belief in God that shows no evidence of God in their lives whatsoever.
Paul makes it clear – Your works can never earn you salvation.
James makes it clear - If you have been saved (by faith) it will show.
John MacArthur (as reformed as they come) says this:
“Both James and Paul view good works as the proof of faith - NOT the path to salvation”
James begins with a rhetorical question and a follow up question.
James 2:14 True Faith/True Action
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
What good is it if someone says they have faith but there is no action in their life coming from faith? Can faith save him?
It’s a rhetorical question and the answer should be obvious and it should be a challenge to each of us!
What good is it? For us to claim we have faith in Christ, if there is no evidence in our lives to support that claim?
Can that type of faith- a faith that does not show in our lives- can that type of faith save us?
The rhetorical question demands a “NO” answer. In fact, the way it’s written the answer is, “of course it can”t save us.”
Now it’s really important we make it clear that James doesn't appear to be speaking to the hypocrite here.
He doesn’t seem to be speaking to the Christian who’s wearing a mask, playing the game. He’s speaking to the person who really thinks a casual, minimal, superficial belief in God is going to be enough to save them.
But the other person is the one who actually attends church, possibly even with good intentions, but will not accept the fact that their faith should actually make a noticeable change in the way they live.
James is talking to the person who says they believe… But there has been:
no change in how they live,
no change in how they think,
no change in how they treat people,
and they believe their faith is a true, saving faith.
James is forcing us to take a very practical test:
does your faith show in your actions.
Does it show in How you live
How you think How you treat others
And if it doesn’t, can it be true, saving faith at all?
b. Can faith save him? James did not contradict the Apostle Paul, who insisted that we are saved not of works (Ephesians 2:9). James merely clarifies for us the kind of faith that saves. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works; but saving faith will have works that accompany it. As a saying goes: faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone; it has good works with it.
Next James uses an illustration to paint a picture of how valuable faith without actions really is.
2. James 2:15-17 Dead faith.
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
a. What value does God put on faith that does not show itself in action?
Here’s the picture. Let’s put ourselves in the position of the person in verses 15-16.
First of all this person is a Christian like you. (Verse 15 says it’s a brother or sister.)
So you are a Christian and the beginning of verse 15 says you are poorly clothed.
Other translations say you are without clothes, in rags, or poorly clothed.
You are in serious need of clothing. And that’s not all.
Verse 15 goes on to say you are lacking in daily food.
Again, other translations say you are in need of, you are without, and you are lacking in daily food.
nakedness and hunger.
b. Be warmed and filled: To say this means you know that the person in front of you needs clothing and food. You know their need well, but offer nothing to help them except a few religious words.
c. What does it profit? Real faith, and the works that accompany it, are not made up of only spiritual things,
but also of a concern for the most basic needs –
such as the need for comfort, covering, and food.
When needs arise, we should sometimes pray less, and simply do more to help the person in need. We can sometimes pray as a substitute for action.
d. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead
The word dead is the Greek NEKROS, literally it means “a corpse.”
It is also the word used for the spiritually dead.
Strong’s dictionary says (of the spiritually dead) NEKROS is: “Destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God”
Faith that has no action coming for it is “Destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God.”
Again, thinking of a corpse (as James is here) Breathing doesn’t earn the corpse life.
Breathing is the proof that a person is not a corpse. T
he actions that come from our faith do not earn us life; they are proof that we have life.
Proof that our faith is not dead. Let me put in just one more cross reference here, from the Apostle John (the Apostle of Love) to show his support for this same truth.
17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Now in verse 18, James anticipates an objection from those who still try to seperate faith and actions
3. James 2:18-19 True and Living faith cannot be separated from works
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Let’s read it in the NLT version
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
The way the original is written, James is not just asking for evidence. He’s implying that without actions coming from your faith there is no true faith.
a. You have faith and I have works we have a very direct challenge from James and one that Christians love to debate and discuss and dissect.
James is all about personally applying his challenges to our individual lives.
All that matter is do we have the courage to look into the mirror and honestly apply this challenge to our own lives.
Do my actions prove that my faith is real, that Jesus Christ is truly living inside me, that he is truly my Lord, that my faith is alive enough to show?
Because if it’s not – then it’s not. But here is the good news; as long as you have the evidence that you are not a corpse (meaning you’re still breathing) you still have an opportunity to have a faith that is not a corpse (meaning a faith that is alive!)
TRUE FAITH SHOWS! And if it’s not showing, James says… it’s not true faith.
And that brings up another question, doesn’t it? How does true faith show? James is going to give us two great in the next coming verses.
But i do want to give you some scripture to study. There are so many scriptures to answer this question
Galatians Chapter 5 is great primarily because the context of Galatians is all about salvation by faith alone. But in Galatians Chapter 5 there’s a perfect picture of what it looks like when we are truly living out our faith. It’s in Galatians 5:16-26. Write that down in your Bible margin next to James 2:18.
Likewise, Ephesians is all about who we are “in Christ.” It’s about our guaranteed position in Christ, through faith. But again, in Ephesians Chapter 4 we see what it looks like when we are living out the truth of who we are in Christ. Ephesians 4:17-32. Write that down.
Study these verses. See how true faith shows.
Living right does not save you. You are saved by God’s grace and through your faith alone. So do not doubt your salvation if you’re not perfectly living up to these verses. And do not try to earn your salvation by trying to live up to these verses. STOP ALL THAT! Instead listen very carefully to 2 Corinthians 3:18.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We are saved by God’s grace and through our faith alone. AND if you have been saved, the Lord (who is the Spirit) will be in the process of changing you more and more into his glorious image
Is there evidence that your faith is alive? Or (lacking that evidence) is your faith a corpse? And so, what do you do? If you have the courage to look into this mirror and admit that your faith is actually a corpse, Jesus says you must be born again. You must receive his new life… that’s the only hope for a corpse. The reason you feel like a corpse is because you are a corpse.
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
The word tremble is what a cat does when it’s afraid and it hunches its back and the hair on its neck stands up.
That cat believes. He believes he is in real danger and that’s what this verse says about the demons – they believe!
And look closely at the beginning of verse 19, what is it that they believe? They believe that God I s one. This is a clear reference to the great SHEMA which is the statement of faith for the Jews. It is found in Deuteronomy 6:4.
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
The SHEMA is the Jewish doctrinal “statement of belief” and remember James is writing to Jewish Christians.
So he is saying, “You think you’re okay because you believe the ‘doctrinally correct’ truth about God?”
That is exactly the same as James is saying to us.
You think you’re okay because you believe Jesus is the son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, died on the cross was resurrected and is coming back again to judge this world?
You think you’re okay because you believe all that?
The demons believe all that, every bit of it. The demons believe all of WHO Jesus Christ IS and they tremble with fear.
When Jesus was passing through the area of the Gadarenes we read the following in Matthew 8:28-29.
28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.
29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
These demons knew exactly who Jesus was, and they knew he would be their eternal judge. But that belief was not going to save them and that same level of belief is not going to save us.
To believe to the extent of putting your full trust in God,
fully relying on God,
having complete confidence in God.
That is a far cry from merely believing God is who he says he is.
So, the big question is this… how do we know the demons do not have a saving belief?
We know by their actions.
how do we know if we do have a saving belief?
By our actions.
How do we know that we have put our full trust in God,
are fully relying on God,
put our complete confidence in God?
Because that level of belief shows in our actions!
When we put your full trust in Jesus Christ- it shows!
When you are fully relying on Jesus Christ – it shows!
When you have complete confidence in Jesus Christ – it shows!
John Calvin - Institutes of The Christian Religion
“Those who are justified by true faith prove their justification by obedience and good works, not by a bare and imaginary semblance of faith . . . And as Paul contends that men are justified without the aid of works, so James will not allow any to be regarded as justified who are destitute of good works.”
We have to keep clear faith and works go together and the teaching of Paul and James go together
I heard it said this week:
Paul deals with the root of salvation – faith
James deal with the fruit of salvation – action.
And since we are teaching James, the point today is, true faith absolutely will show in our actions.
And you might say, Bobby. We get it. Can we move on? And I’d have to say, No, because James isn’t ready to move on. So let’s continue in James 2:20.
4. James 2:20-24 Abraham’s living faith
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
The phrase “But do you want to know” is a nice way of saying “Hey, PAL - Pay ATTENTION to THIS.”
And then just for emphasis James adds you foolish person.”
“Foolish” means – you seriously lack understanding. James is trying to make his point with a serious impact. That faith apart from action is a corpse.
Two great examples from opposite ends of the Jewish respect scale.
Father of the Jewish Faith and then a gentile prostitute.
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
In Genesis 22 is the famous story of God telling Abraham to go offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice on Mt. Moriah. This was an incredible test of Abraham’s faith, because God had already told Abraham that through Isaac his descendants would be too numerous to count.
There are wonderful truths in this even in Genesis 22, including:
#1) Abraham’s faith that even if Isaac did die, that God would raise him from the dead in order to fulfill his promise.
#2) That God asked the Father of our faith to offer his only son just as our Heavenly Father would actually offer his only son.
#3) That it was done on Mt. Moriah which is the same hill Jesus Christ was offered on as the final sacrifice of our sin.
But for this message the point is Abraham was willing to obey God in offering up his only son because of the incredible faith Abraham had in God.
Abraham’s faith in God is recorded in Genesis Chapter 15 where God made this promise:
6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness in Genesis Chapter 15. But then, in Genesis Chapter 22 God tells Abraham to offer this only son as a sacrifice, which (agonizingly) Abraham was willing to do because he believe God that much. Let’s look at how the NLT translates James 2:21.
21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
James is saying Abraham believe God so much, that even if his only son had to die as a sacrifice (even at his own hands) that God would still bring his promise to pass. Not even the death of his son could stop Abraham’s faith in God
Isaac (of course) didn’t have to die and Abraham’s faith was “completed” or “brought to maturity” this testing of his faith. This is a huge deal and it’s explained in James 2:22.
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
We will not know the depth of our faith until it is tested.
And if we will stand strong, the testing of your faith will mature your faith.
When your faith turns into action it is “Perfecting” our faith. The Greek word means: “To come to maturity.” Only when your faith becomes an action will it begin to mature.
You can talk all you want, but when your faith really starts coming out in your actions then you’ll know you’ve got the real deal and you’ll begin growing and maturing in that true faith.
But until your faith becomes action, James says, it is dead. So, next, James 2:23 says:
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
How was the scripture fulfilled? The word fulfilled here means “To carry through to the end - to bring to realization.” Abraham’s faith was brought to realization. It was made manifest or shown. HOW? In his actions.
Abrahams actions probed his faith was genuine and by his “actions of faith” Abraham was called “a friend of God” and you and I can be as well. And so James concludes his example of Abraham in James 2:24.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
let’s see what the NLT reads it
24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.
Key words we are shown to be right with God by what we do, by our actions that flow forth from our faith.
Are we getting it? Could James be done? Probably. Is he?
No.
He wants to use an example from the other end of the spectrum.
5. James 2:25-26 Rehab's Living Faith
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
I believe James wants to include everybody. So he goes from the highest to the lowest. From the Father of the Faith to a gentile prostitute, Rahab.
Her story is also a great one. It’s found in Joshua Chapter 2.
The first battle after Israel crossed into the Promised Land was at Jericho and before the battle, Joshua sent two spies into Jericho to scout it out.
And a prostitute named Rahab hid them and helped them.
Because, as Rahab says to them in Joshua 2:9-12:
9 and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token,
Rahab believed in the God of Israel.
She believed enough to take action and to risk her life for her belief.
This gentile prostitute became the mother of Boaz (Book of Ruth) and a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ.
So from the top of the list with Abraham, to the bottom of the list with Rahab, every person in the Bible who has been saved by faith has been saved by a faith that showed itself in action.
This is true from Genesis to Revelation.
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
True faith creates action.
It creates life movement.
Faith is dynamic.
It is not static.
Dynamic means faith brings action, it makes things happen.
Static means nothing is happening. No action. No change in our lives.
God says a faith with no action is dead. Let’s commit to change that right now.