James 2:14-26 (Week 8)

Text: James 2:14-26 (Week 8)

Title: Living Faith Works

Series: Living it Out!

I. Introduction:

A. Background:

Last time we learned that

(1) someone who has Saving Faith and is spiritually mature in their faith does not favor based on outward appearance,

(2) partiality breaks the royal law of love, brings judgment and is sin,

(3) keeping the whole law but failing in one point breaks the unity,

(4) showing no mercy will bring you no mercy in return

Problems in the church James was writing to:

1. Wrong Attitude in Temptation (ch 1)

a. impatience (v. 2-4)

b. double mindedness (v. 5-8)

c. blaming God for their temptation (v. 13-15)

2. Shallow Faith (Disobedient Faith) (1:19-27)

3. Personal Favoritism (2:1-13)

4. False Faith (Fruitless Faith) (2:14-26)

B. Proposition:

1. Your lifestyle (works) proves the kind of faith you have

2. Living saving faith proves itself by works

C. Main Divisions:

1. Expression of true faith (2:14-17)

2. Evidence of true faith (2:18-20)

3. Examples of true faith (2:21-26)

II. Exposition:

Expression of True Faith (2:14-17)

A. Jas 2:14-17 NKJV

(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.

Jas 2:14-17 NLT

(14) What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?

1. James presents two questions:

a. Question 1: what does it profit if someone says or claims he has faith but does not have works? (v.14)

1) “faith” G 4102

a) conviction of the truth of something

b) trust; confidence (Thayer)

c) firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing; used in the NT always of "faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual." (VINES)

b. Question 2: can that kind of faith save him? (v.14)

1) workless faith

c. “profit”

1) advantage

d. James asks: what use is it if someone claims to have faith but does not demonstrate it by their actions?

1) specifically acts of compassion (v.15; 1:27)

2. Works and Faith

a. Faith not demonstrated by works or deeds cannot save anyone because it is dead

b. we are not saved by works

1) Eph 2:8-10 NKJV

(8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

(9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.

(10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

2) Rom 3:21-26 NKJV

(21) But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

(22) even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(24) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

(25) whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

(26) to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

3) one is saved by grace alone through faith alone (Rom 3:20; 4:1-25; Gal 3:6, 11; JMSB Jam 2:21)

c. works prove— show, give evidence of and establish as true or false— one’s faith to others

1. Righteous Behavior

2. Spiritual Fruit (John 15:1-8; PCT pg 385-87)

a) Christ-like character (Gal 5:22-23)

Gal 5:22-23 NKJV

(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

(23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

b) good works (doing God’s will, Col 1:10; Phil 1:11)

c) knowledge of Christ (2Pet 1:8)

d) Christian ministry (Rom 1:11-15)

d. real saving, mature, living faith is proved or shown to be true by works

1. works are part of saving faith

e. faith cannot be seen without works (v.18)

f. anyone can claim they have faith, but does their fruit, actions or works back it up?

1. not everyone who claims to be a Christian is one

a. Jesus said to be fruit inspectors (Matt 7:15-20)

b. speaking about false prophets

Mat 7:20 NKJV

(20) Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

2. Mat 7:21-23 NKJV

(21) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

(22) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'

(23) And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

3. saving faith involves commitment to obedience

4. works are a natural product of faith that’s real and alive

B. Faith expressed in Daily Life (v.15-16)

1. James gives an example of faith and action

2. if a brother is in need of basic food and clothing and you just tell them that you care for them but do not do anything in your power to help them, what use is it?

3. James says three times that faith by itself, without works is dead or lifeless (v.17, 20, 26)

4. 1Jn 3:17-18 NKJV

(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.

a. we are to demonstrate our love by works or deeds

b. love without works is dead

5. believers are obligated to provide for other believers; we are of the same family of God

a. 1Ti 5:8 NKJV

(8) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

b. 1Th 4:9 NKJV

(9) But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

C. Summary

1. what use is it if someone claims to have faith but does not demonstrate it by their actions?

2. Faith not demonstrated by works or deeds cannot save anyone because it is dead

3. works prove— show, give evidence of and establish as true or false— one’s faith to others

4. anyone can claim they have faith, but does their actions/ works back it up

5. Faith expressed in Daily Life

6. works do not save anyone

D. Application

1. Do you back up your faith by your actions?

2. can your faith be seen by your actions or works?

3. if a brother or sister is in need, do you put your faith to work and help them?

Evidence of True Faith (2:18-20)

A. Jas 2:18-20 NKJV

(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?

1. “dead”

a. (v. 17, 26) G 3498: lifeless; inactive; inoperative; fruitless

b. (v.20) G 692: useless, lazy

2. faith by itself without works is dead, lifeless

a. does not save

3. James gives The Test of Righteous Works or Faith

a. true, saving mature faith shows itself by works

b. real faith helps those in need

1) Jas 1:27 NKJV

(27) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

c. real faith produces good deeds

4. James addresses a possible objection: some have faith; some have works (v.18)

a. false idea that there is salvation by faith and by works

b. some may have had the false idea that since works do not save they are not necessary at all (JMSB)

5. his response: Faith cannot exist or be seen without works (v.18)

B. Demonic Faith (v.19)

1. Demons believe that there is a God; they are not atheists

a) Mat 8:28-29 NKJV

(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?"

b) Act 19:15 NKJV

(15) And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"

2. “believe” G 4100

a) to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in (Thayer)

1) to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith

b) reliance upon, not mere credence (Vine)

c) commit oneself to

3. demons do not have saving faith

a. they have 2 of the 3 parts of saving faith:

1) knowledge of God

2) belief in God

C. Saving Faith (Theo Program Session 7)

1. Trusting that Jesus was the ultimate perfect sacrifice that appeased or satisfied God’s wrath on sin.

a) demons don’t trust in Jesus for salvation

2) Being convinced that Jesus alone paid our fine so that we could escape eternal punishment and separation from God.

3) Accepting the Lord’s atoning work by faith

a. Recognizing and understanding (confessing) that you are a sinner by nature and by choice , born spiritually separated from God, who deserves hell

b. Repenting or “turning away from our old, sinful lifestyles and being willing to change and become a different person” (Harvest: What is The Gospel?)

c. atonement is Jesus’ dealing with humanity’s sins on the cross (PCT pg 168)

d. salvation is the benefits of atonement divinely applied to a believer

4) Includes all 3 parts:

a) Knowledge: awareness of the plan of salvation (gospel)

b) Believe: giving mental assent; accepting as true

c) Trust or commitment: involves acting upon what you believe; change of mind; repentance

1) will, mind and heart are all involved

5) Joh 3:15-18 NKJV

(15) … whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

(16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

(17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

(18) "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

6) Joh 5:24 NKJV

(24) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

7) Joh 6:40 NKJV

(40) And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

Joh 6:47 NKJV

(47) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

D. James says that faith without works to back it up is useless

1. living faith saves and works

a. true believers reflect Jesus; they behave more and more like Him

b. Gal 2:20 NKJV

(20) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

c. saving faith practices righteousness as a lifestyle (JMSB 1John 3:7)

2. dead faith does not save, it is lifeless

3. faith without works is like the faith that demons have for they do not have saving faith or the works that saving faith produce

4. faith without a Christian lifestyle to back it up is dead

E. Summary

1. false idea that there is salvation by faith and by works

2. the false idea that since works do not save they are not necessary at all

3. Demonic Faith

a. Demons believe that there is a God; they are not atheists

b. they do not have saving faith

4. Saving Faith

a. Trusting that Jesus was the ultimate perfect sacrifice that appeased or satisfied God’s wrath on sin.

b. Accepting the Lord’s atoning work by faith

c. Includes all 3 parts: Knowledge, Believe, Trust or commitment

5. living faith saves and works

6. dead faith does not save, it is lifeless

7. anyone can claim to be a Christian, but their works reveal the truth

F. Application

1. Is your faith living or dead?

2. do you have saving, dead or demonic faith?

Examples of True Faith (2:21-26)

A. Jas 2:21-26 NKJV

(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.

1. “Justified: (G 61344)

a. declared just as you never sinned

b. legal acquittal (release) that declares one both not guilty and righteous (Theo Nts)

c. in right standing before God

2. “working together”

a. help in work; be partner in labor (Thayer)

4. “perfect”

a. complete

b. to bring something to it’s end or fullness (JMSB)

5. James gives two examples of true faith from the OT

B. Abraham (v.21-24)

1. Abraham offered Issac many years after he had saving faith in God and was justified (Gen 12:1-7; 15:6)

2. his offering of his promised son showed or demonstrated the realness of his faith

3. he obeyed God which proved his faith was real

4. his faith was made complete by his actions

5. faith works together with works

a. James says that trust in God labors together with and is made complete by works, actions, obedience

b. putting into action what one says they believe

c. faith that lacks works is not saving mature faith

6. Gen 15:5-6 NKJV

(5) Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."

(6) And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

a. “believe” (aman) (NET)

1) to support; confirm, be faithful

2) to be reliable; trusty

3) to consider something reliable (or dependable)

b. “justification” (NET)

1) God credits one with righteousness

2) God does not credit his sins against him because he is forgiven

c. “accounted” or “reckoned”

1) charge, impute; regard (BDB)

d. Abe was concerned about having descendants (Gen 12:2; 13:16)

e. God made His promise clearer (v.4)

f. Abe then believed or trusted God for He knew that He was reliable and dependable, having blessed him and guided him up to this point

g. God considered Abe’s response of faith and credited righteousness to his account

h. God rewards faith, trust in Him for what He promises to do

i. Salvation in Dispensations/ duties or responsibilities from God to man (Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics)

1) basis of salvation—death of Christ

a) here: looking forward

2) requirement for salvation—faith/trust

3) object of faith—God

4) content of faith—changes with progressive revelation

a) Abe did not know about Jesus

b) Abe trusted in God for doing what He said He would—give him children, make him a great nation

7. Gen 22:1-2 NKJV

(1) Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."

(2) Then He said, "Take now 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."

a. God tested Abe’s faith

b. Abe had only one son of promise—Abe covenant

1) promise of many descendants; nation

c. Abe obeyed God; he was willing to follow God’s plan

d. God provided

e. Abe knew who his God was

f. he had complete trust in God, in what He said He would do—give him a nation (Heb 11:17-19)

g. Abe demonstrated his faith in God by being willing to do what God told him to do.

1. this proved that his faith was real

2. real saving faith is proved to be true by works, actions

3. without works to exercise faith, faith cannot be seen

h. God did not tempt Abe to sin (Jam 1:2-4; 12-18)

8. James says that a man is justified by works and not by faith that is alone

a. Abe was justified or demonstrated to be righteous by works before men

b. Abe was justified or judicially declared righteous by faith before GodNUBH

1) Rom 4:2-4 NKJV

(2) For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

(3) For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

(4) Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

C. Rahab (v. 25)

1. (25) Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

2. Jos 2:4-11 NKJV

(4) Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

(5) And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them."

(6) (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.)

(7) Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.

(8) Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,

(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.

a. Rahab knew who God was

b. she had saving faith and hid the spies of Israel (Heb 11:13)

c. she ends up saving her family by her act of obedience

3. she was a harlot

4. ancestor of Jesus (Matt 1:5)

5. God rewarded her faith (v.9-16)

6. her faith was not dead

7. her faith and actions worked or labored together

8. she demonstrated her saving faith by being willing to protect the spies

9. she put into action what she believed

10. people saw her trust in God

11. her faith was made complete by her actions.

D. Dead Faith (v.26)

1. (26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

2. James says that the body without the spirit is dead or inactive, lifeless, without force

3. faith without works is also dead, inactive, lifeless

a. faith needs works to demonstrate itself just like the body needs the spirit

b. works prove or test faith

c. works give evidence of faith; showing it to be real or false

1) Tit 1:16 NKJV

(16) They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

d. faith lacking works or righteous deeds is not real saving faith

e. true faith can be seen in one’s life: attitudes, actions, speech (James Study)

1. Rejoices in diverse trials

2. Resists in deadly temptation

3. Obeys The Word

4. Does Not Favor

5. Controls the Tongue

6. Produces Wisdom

7. Produces Humility/Selflessness

8. Proves Itself by Works

f. real faith has power

g. real faith changes one’s life

h. faith and works cannot be separated

E. Summary

1. Abraham

a. God tested Abe’s faith

b. Abe demonstrated the realness of his faith

c. he obeyed God which proved his faith was real

d. his faith was made complete by his actions

e. Abe believed or trusted God

f. God considered Abe’s response of faith and credited righteousness to his account

g. Abe was justified or demonstrated to be righteous by works before men

2. trust in God labors together with and is made complete by works, actions, obedience

3. Rahab

a. her faith and actions worked or labored together

b. she put into action what she believed

c. her faith was made complete by her actions

4. Dead Faith

a. faith without works is also dead, inactive, lifeless

b. faith lacking works or righteous deeds is not real saving faith

c. real faith changes one’s life

d. faith and works cannot be separated

F. Application

1. Does your faith work together with your actions, your lifestyle?

2. Is your faith complete or incomplete?

3. are you putting into action, living out what you say you believe?

4. what promises of God am I concerned about?

5. Do I view God the way Abe did as reliable and dependable?

6. remember to look back at what God has done, how He guided and provided to help you look forward

7. God rewards faith, trust in Him for what He promises to do

8. Do I trust that God is big enough to keep His promises, even to do what is humanly impossible?

9. when God tests my faith, my obedience, do I pass?

10. am I willing to do what God tells me even if it seems illogical, even if I don’t fully understand?

11. Do you know who your God is? What He is capable of?

12. Does my faith and actions work together?

13. am I willing to demonstrate my faith even if it involves personal risk?

14. do people see my faith by my works?

15. is your faith dead, lifeless?

16. what do your works, actions, attitudes, words say about your faith?

17. has your faith changed your life?

III. Summation:

We have learned that real saving, mature faith is proved by works, that faith without works is dead, that works prove or show, give evidence of and establish one’s faith as true or false and that your lifestyle proves what kind of faith you have. We also looked at the faith of Abraham and Rahab.

IV. Invitation:

We studied three types of faith: demonic, dead, and saving. So, what kind of faith do you have? Saving Faith means trusting that Jesus was the ultimate perfect sacrifice that appeased or satisfied God’s wrath on sin, accepting the Lord’s atoning work by faith and it includes all 3 parts: Knowledge, Belief, Trust or commitment. Is this the kind of faith you have or the kind that you would like to have?