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FAITH WITHOUT WORKS. James 2:14-26. 09/15/2024. #10.
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.
1. Can workless faith save?
a. James is not contradicting Paul (Romans 4)
a1. Eph. 2:8-9 we are saved by grace through faith and not of works
a2. Romans 10:13 calling on name of Lord brings salvation
b. James’s argument is that with salvation comes evidence that a person is saved
a1. II Corinthians 5:17 if there is no change in one’s life, there is no actually saving faith
a2. Intellectual faith (believing a doctrine of the existence of God and atonement of Christ does not save a person)
a3. The demons believe in God and even tremble, but they do not possess salvation
c. Just as a body is dead without the spirit, so faith is dead without the manifestation of faith in works
d. A workless faith is useless (empty)
a1. It cannot save, nor benefit others
a2. To claim faith without showing faith is mere idle talk
e. Many illustrations of this truth
a1. Matthew 7:21 faith is doing the will of My Father
a2. Matthew 25 the sheep fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, and visited the imprisoned; the goats did not
a3. Romans 14:23 whatever is not of faith is sin
a4. I John 3:16-23 faith is shown in love which in turn is shown in good deeds to others
2. Of paupers, patriarchs and prostitutes
a. Reformers tended to reject any connection of works with salvation, while social gospel focused on all works without faith
a1. Faith is shown in works, as clouds produce rain or the sun produces heat
a2. We are not saved by works, but faith works
b. The lack of works concerned the biblical writers
a1. Were the Corinthians truly saved if their lives had not changed?
a2. If the Hebrews followed the Law, were they truly in Christ?
c. James used 3 illustrations:
a1. If a poor brother needs clothes and food which you can provide, are you saved if you ignore his needs, sending him away empty?
a2. Did not Abraham demonstrate his faith when he obeyed God by offering up Isaac?
a3. Did not Rahab the Harlot show her faith by protecting God’s spies?
d. True salvation produces a relationship with God which motivates us to please God by obeying him and through serving others in his name
e. True belief is seen in obedience (no ∆ = no faith!)
3. From fallen nature to spiritual nature
a. We are saved by grace through faith, but once saved the evidence of faith is seen (Eph. 4:22-24)
b. Matthew 7:16-23 by the fruit the tree is known
a1. John 15 good branches on the vine produce fruit, but false branches produce no fruit
a2. James shows his faith by his works
c. Not all who call Jesus Lord are saved (Philippians 2:12)
d. Life is the spirit in the body-not one without the other
Key passage: 1 John 3:16-2316 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 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. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.