PREACHED:OL,
JAMES STUDY #5
(Faith and Works)
INTRODUCTION:
1§ No subject draws a line of demarcation
between the churches of Christ and the denominational world more than the
subject of “Faith and Works.”
A. The
idea that works have absolutely nothing to do with salvation dates back to the
teaching of Augustine.
1. His
concept of salvation by “Faith Only” was crystallized into a doctrine by John
Calvin and later was evangelized by Charles Wesley.
a. It
is one part of a theological view called “Calvinism.”
B. Though
modified, many of the tenants of Calvinism form the theological base for most
groups that call themselves “Evangelical” or “Fundamentalist.”
2§ The vital question is, “Will faith
alone save?”
A. That brings us to our study in James
tonight:
1. James
2.14-26
DISCUSSION:
u TWO VITAL QUESTIONS,
v 14. “What good is it, my brothers, if
someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”
A. What
good is faith alone? Can Faith Alone Save?
1. The
question is can belief produce salvation or does an active, responsive faith
save?
2. Can
merely believing in Jesus as the Son of God bring forgiveness of sins?
a. After
all, from what are we saved? Our sins!
v A SIMPLE ILLUSTRATION, v 15, 16. “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking daily food, and one
of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without give them the
things needed for the body, what good is that?”
A. A
mere discussion of benevolent needs of others means nothing for the person in
need nor does it validate the faith of those that see the need but do not
respond.
B. I John 2.3 “By this we know that we have come to know him if we keep his
commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is
a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 3.17,18
“But if anyone has this world’s
goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does
the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love is word or talk
but in deed and in truth.”
C. Remember the test of the rich young ruler?
1. Matt 19.21 “If you would be perfect, go and sell what you possess and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.”
w A LOGICAL DEDUCTION, v 17. “So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead.”
A. A faith without works is a dead faith!
1. Rom
10.17; Heb 4.12a; Rom 7:4
B. The Bible description of saving faith -
1. Heb
11.6; Gal 5.6
C. What
was a clear incorporated part of the faith of the ancients for which God
commended them?
1. Action!
a. Their
faith, “…offered…walked… built… obeyed… worshipped… refused…
kept… marched… conquered… administered… shut… quenched… faced… wandered…”
D. Question: Can a dead faith save? NO!
x A THOUGHT-PROVOKING CHALLENGE, v
18. “But someone will say, ‘You have
faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works and I will
show you my faith by my works.’”
A. James
says, “It’s spiritual ‘show-and-tell’
time!”
B. It’s
like a man terminally ill who says he
has faith in his physician’s training, expertise, diagnosis and correctness in
prescribing treatment that would remedy his malady—but chooses not to do it!
1. Will
his belief in the doctor’s ability save him without doing what the physician
prescribes save his life?
y A STARK REMINDER, v 19. “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and
shudder!”
A. Even the demons respond—Shudder!!
1. Gadarene demoniac - Matt 8.28-32. “And behold
they cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you
come to torment us before the time?’ Now a herd of many pigs was feeding
at some distance from them. ‘If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of
pigs.’ And he said to them, ‘Go.’ So they came out and went into
the pigs…”
z THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE, vs 20-23. “Do you want to be shown, you
foolish person that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on
the altar? You see that faith was active
along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and
the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was
counted to him as righteousness’—and he was called a friend of God.”
A. We are justified only when faith obeys!
B. Our
faith must be completed by our works in order to be justified by God!
C. We
truly believe only when we obey God’s commands!
D. Righteousness
is accounted to us not by a useless, dead faith but by an active, obedient
faith!
E. We
are God’s faithful friend only when we do what he says for us to do!
{ A SUMMARY CONCLUSION, v 24-26. “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
And in the same way was not Rahab the prostitute
justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by
another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead,
so also faith apart from works is dead.”
A. Rahab had heard of the mighty deeds of God and the way he
had blessed
1. But
when she acted on that faith,
she was saved from the destruction of
B. It
is not works designed to justify ourselves that save us, but trust in
God that responds to his commands in humble submissive obedience!
1. That’s why Jesus said: Matt 7.21
2. That’s
why the Hebrew writer said: Heb 5:8,
9 “Although he was a son, he learned
obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the
source of eternal life to all who obey him.”