You Call That Faith? James 2:14-26 (Page 1026 in pew Bibles)

You Call That Faith?You Call That Faith?James 2:14-26James 2:14-26

(Page 1026 in pew Bibles)(Page 1026 in pew Bibles)

James 2:14-26(Page 1025 in pew Bibles)

14.14. What good is it, my brothers, if What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith does not have works? Can his faith save him? save him?

15.15. If a brother or sister is without If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, clothes and lacks daily food,

16.16. and one of you says to them, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is what the body needs, what good is it?it?

17.17. In the same way faith, if it In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by doesn’t have works, is dead by itself. itself.

18.18. But someone will say, “You have But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. show you faith from my works.

19.19. You believe that God is one; you You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder.and they shudder.

20.20. Foolish man! Are you willing to Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is learn that faith without works is useless?useless?

21.21. Wasn’t Abraham our father Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Isaac his son on the altar?

22.22. You see that faith was active You see that faith was active together with his works, and by together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected. works, faith was perfected.

23.23. So the Scripture was fulfilled So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. God’s friend.

24.24. You see that a man is justified You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. by works and not by faith alone.

25.25. And in the same way, wasn’t And in the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by messengers and sent them out by a different route? a different route?

26.26. For just as the body without the For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. works is dead.


4 Cheap Substitutes for Genuine 4 Cheap Substitutes for Genuine FaithFaith

James 2:14-26James 2:14-26

Genuine Faith Is More Than Genuine Faith Is More Than Saying One Believes Saying One Believes

• Vs. 14, NAS: “What use is it, my Vs. 14, NAS: “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can faith but he has no works? Can thatthat faith save him?” faith save him?”

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Genuine Faith Is More Than Genuine Faith Is More Than Saying One Believes Saying One Believes

• Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who sayssays to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My the one who does the will of My Father in heaven."Father in heaven."

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Genuine Faith Is More Than Genuine Faith Is More Than Warm Sentiment Warm Sentiment

• Vs. 15-16 “If a brother or sister Vs. 15-16 “If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily is without clothes and lacks daily food, and one of you says to food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what them what the body needs, what good is it? good is it?

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Genuine Faith Is More Than Genuine Faith Is More Than Personal Style Personal Style

• Vs. 18 “But someone will say, Vs. 18 “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I will show without works, and I will show you faith from my works.’”you faith from my works.’”

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Not My StyleNot My Style

• ““I’m not very good at praying in I’m not very good at praying in public, teaching, witnessing, doing public, teaching, witnessing, doing disaster relief, helping with the disaster relief, helping with the youth, serving on the sound crew, youth, serving on the sound crew, singing in the choir, working with singing in the choir, working with children, driving the church bus, or children, driving the church bus, or handing out bulletins, so I don’t do handing out bulletins, so I don’t do anything - but I have faith.anything - but I have faith.

• ““I have faith inside, but for me it’s a I have faith inside, but for me it’s a very personal thing”very personal thing”

• ““Just because I believe in God Just because I believe in God doesn’t mean I have to change my doesn’t mean I have to change my lifestyle”lifestyle”

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Genuine Faith Is More Than Genuine Faith Is More Than Correct Doctrine Correct Doctrine

• Vs. 19 “You believe that God is Vs. 19 “You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder.”also believe—and they shudder.”

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Demonic “Faith”Demonic “Faith”

• Matthew 8:29 “Suddenly they Matthew 8:29 “Suddenly they shouted, ‘What do You have to do shouted, ‘What do You have to do with us, Son of God? Have You come with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the here to torment us before the time?’”time?’”

• Mark 1:24 “What do You have to do Mark 1:24 “What do You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”are—the Holy One of God!”

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Genuine Faith Is More Than Genuine Faith Is More Than Correct Doctrine Correct Doctrine

• Demons know how many gods there Demons know how many gods there are (one) and which one is the true are (one) and which one is the true GodGod

• Demons recognize JesusDemons recognize Jesus– Compare Osama Bin LadinCompare Osama Bin Ladin

• Demons had an emotional reaction to Demons had an emotional reaction to JesusJesus– They “shudder with fear”They “shudder with fear”– That’s better than some people who are That’s better than some people who are

bored with Jesus – with no emotional bored with Jesus – with no emotional reaction at allreaction at all Lst

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Is Your Faith of Any Use?Is Your Faith of Any Use?

• Vs. 20 “Foolish man! Are you Vs. 20 “Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without willing to learn that faith without works is useless?”works is useless?”

Def >

Lit., empty, vain (or in vain) -without spiritual life.


• Vs. 20 “Vs. 20 “FoolishFoolish man! Are you man! Are you willing to learn that faith without willing to learn that faith without works is useless?”works is useless?”

Def >

Useless, barrenUsed of money which yields no interest and of unused farmland


• Vs. 20 “Foolish man! Are you Vs. 20 “Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without willing to learn that faith without works is works is uselessuseless?”?”

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Two Biblical ExamplesTwo Biblical ExamplesJames 2:14-26James 2:14-26

Example 1: AbrahamExample 1: Abraham

• Vs. 21-22 “Wasn’t Abraham our Vs. 21-22 “Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active You see that faith was active together with his works, and by together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected.”works, faith was perfected.”

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Example 1: AbrahamExample 1: Abraham

• Vs. 21-22 “Wasn’t Abraham our Vs. 21-22 “Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active You see that faith was active together with his works, and by together with his works, and by works, faith was works, faith was perfectedperfected.”.”

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Fully realized & accomplishing its purposeIn Abraham’s greatest act of faith

and obedience

Fully RealizedFully RealizedA seedling A seedling isis a tree, but a mature tree produces shade and fruit a tree, but a mature tree produces shade and fruit

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Which Came First?Which Came First?

• Vs. 23 “So the Scripture was fulfilled Vs. 23 “So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.”and he was called God’s friend.”

• ““Credited to him for righteousness”: Credited to him for righteousness”: accounting term – Abraham’s faith was accounting term – Abraham’s faith was written up as righteousness written up as righteousness

• This (Genesis 15:6) was thirty years This (Genesis 15:6) was thirty years before the “sacrifice of Isaac test” on before the “sacrifice of Isaac test” on the mountain (Genesis 22) – Abraham’s the mountain (Genesis 22) – Abraham’s faith was already credited to his faith was already credited to his account as righteousnessaccount as righteousness

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Principle from AbrahamPrinciple from Abraham

• In the beginning faith changes our In the beginning faith changes our standing, but in the big testing faith standing, but in the big testing faith changes our landing.changes our landing.

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Example 2: RahabExample 2: Rahab

• Vs. 25 “And in the same way, Vs. 25 “And in the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she justified by works when she received the messengers and sent received the messengers and sent them out by a different route?” them out by a different route?”

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Joshua 2Joshua 2

8.8. Before the men fell asleep, she went up Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roofon the roof

9.9. and said to them, “I know that the LORD and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that dread of has given you this land and that dread of you has fallen on us, and everyone who you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of lives in the land is panicking because of you.you.

11.11. Now please swear to me by the LORD Now please swear to me by the LORD that you will also show kindness to my that you will also show kindness to my family…family…

12.12. that you will spare the lives of my father, that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”belong to them, and save us from death.”

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How Do We Know How Do We Know She Really Believed? She Really Believed?

• James 2:25 “She received the James 2:25 “She received the messengers [into her home and messengers [into her home and into her protection] and sent them into her protection] and sent them out by a different route”out by a different route”

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Insight from RahabInsight from Rahab

• Faith is an insight into an invisible Faith is an insight into an invisible reality that you believe enough to reality that you believe enough to act on, even at personal risk.act on, even at personal risk.

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What you do is what What you do is what you really believe; you really believe; the rest is just the rest is just

talk.talk.

Peter LordPeter Lord


Timeout for a Timeout for a Question…Question…

James 2:14-26James 2:14-26

Question: Is James Contradicting Question: Is James Contradicting Paul?Paul?

• Paul: Romans 3:28 “For we Paul: Romans 3:28 “For we conclude that a man is justified conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.”by faith apart from works of law.”

• James 2:24 “You see that a man James 2:24 “You see that a man is justified by works and not by is justified by works and not by faith alone.”faith alone.”

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Standing Back To Back Standing Back To Back Fighting Different Fighting Different

EnemiesEnemies• James and Paul were “soldiers of James and Paul were “soldiers of

the same army, fighting back to the same army, fighting back to back against enemies coming from back against enemies coming from opposite directions” opposite directions” (W. H. Griffith (W. H. Griffith Thomas)Thomas)

• Paul is taking issue with those who Paul is taking issue with those who think they can earn their way to think they can earn their way to heaven by their good record – heaven by their good record – instead of coming by faith aloneinstead of coming by faith alone

• James is taking issue with those James is taking issue with those who merely claim to have faithwho merely claim to have faith

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Because They Face Different Because They Face Different Enemies, They Have Different Enemies, They Have Different

EmphasesEmphases• Paul emphasizes that faith is the Paul emphasizes that faith is the

one way to be right with Godone way to be right with God• James emphasizes that there is one James emphasizes that there is one

kind of true faithkind of true faith– ““Faith alone justifies, but not the faith Faith alone justifies, but not the faith

that is alone” – Robert Johnstonethat is alone” – Robert Johnstone

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They Both Talk About Spiritual They Both Talk About Spiritual Life & DeathLife & Death

• JamesJames– James 1:18 “He [God] gave us a James 1:18 “He [God] gave us a

new birth by the message of new birth by the message of truth...”truth...”

– James 2:26 “For just as the body James 2:26 “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” faith without works is dead.”

• PaulPaul– Ephesians 2:1-5 “You were dead Ephesians 2:1-5 “You were dead

in your trespasses and sins… But in your trespasses and sins… But God… made us alive”God… made us alive” >

They Both Talk About Spiritual They Both Talk About Spiritual Life & DeathLife & Death

• Paul: Titus 3:5 “He saved us—not Paul: Titus 3:5 “He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of mercy, through the washing of regenerationregeneration and renewal by the and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”Holy Spirit.”

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To give new life. Restoration of life after death A radical change for the better.

Restoration of a thing to its pristine state, renovation.

Paul’s Writings Reinforce JamesPaul’s Writings Reinforce James

• Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s giftnot from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one —not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His can boast. For we are His creationcreation—created in Christ Jesus for good —created in Christ Jesus for good worksworks, which God prepared ahead , which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in of time so that we should walk in them.”them.”

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You Call That Faith? James 2:14-26 (Page 1026 in pew Bibles)