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JAMES CHAPTER 2 PART 2

FAITH

  1. Two examples of having only head faith (2:14-20)
  2. In regard to the destitute(
  3. James 2:14-18 (King James Version)
    14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
    15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
    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?
    17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
    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.
  4. Head faith by itself isempty faith and attempts to minister to the poor by religiouswords A LOT OF EMPTY TALK
  1. In regard to the demons
  2. James 2:19-20 (King James Version)
    19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
    20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
  3. The fiction (2:19a):
  4. James 2:19 (King James Version)
    Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
  5. "Do you still think it's enough just tobelieve that there is one God?"
  6. The facts (2:19b-20): "Well, even the demons believe this,and they tremble in terror!"
  1. Two examples of having head, heart, and hand faith2:21-26
  2. Abraham
  3. James 2:21-24 (King James Version)
    21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
    22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
    23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
    24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
  4. He proved his faith by his willingness tooffer up his son Isaac.
  5. Rahab
  6. James 2:25-26 (King James Version)
    25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
    26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
  7. She proved her faith by protecting the twoIsraelite spies.
  1. CLOSE
  2. Faith without works is "dead" faith.
  3. If you discover a dead body, you know that it was once alive.
  4. The fact that it is dead doesn’t mean it was never alive.
  5. When James speaks of a "dead" faith, he does not mean a false faith,
  6. but an inoperative faith,
  7. one that lacks vitality
  8. As the Spirit gives life to the body,
  9. so works energize our faith and keep it energetic and fruitful.
  10. Christians must maintain works to keep their faith "alive" and productive.
  11. James challenges us to put our faith to work
  12. When we do:
  13. We will be saved from the chastisement of God
  14. We will be justified before others
  15. Our faith will be strengthened and increased
  • We are not to find assurance of our eternal salvation in works.
  • That was not James’ intention at all.
  • Works have nothing at all to do with salvation from sin.
  • Nor is "goodness" proof that a person is a child of God.
  • One can be a moral person without saving faith.
  • James is speaking of works of faith –
  • works that show others the reality and reliability of God.
  • Those are the kinds of works by which we are justified in the sight of others.