JAMES 2:14-26 WHAT KIND OF FAITH DO YOU HAVE PART 1?

Christian Life has 2 dimensions:

Faith in God

Love towards Men sum of the Ten Commandments

1. Faith is an essential element in the Christian life:
2. Without faith, it is impossible to please God –

He 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

1. The Christian is saved by faith - Ep 2:8-9
2. The Christian’s faith is going to produce good works,

Ephesians 2:10 We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”

1. The Christian is to walk (live) by faith - 2Co 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight
2. The Christian is to show faith out of love for God

Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

1. Whatever we do apart from faith or against our conscience is described as sin

Ro 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Explain

2. It is important to realize, that there are different kinds of faith, but only one that is true "saving faith"
3. In James 2:14-26, we find James discussing the different three kinds of faith, with an emphasis upon that faith which will save the soul

v14 If someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can this faith save him? is the key verse

James deals with Liberalism – Saved and can live any way you want to

Paul Deals with Legalism – Can be saved by works

Works are the proof of Salvation, not the path of Salvation

1. DEAD FAITH (14-17)

   V15-16 Substitutes words for deeds (consider James' example)

1. People with this kind of faith:

            1) Know the correct vocabulary for prayer and principles

            2) Can even quote the right verses from the Bible

1. But their "walk" does not measure up to their "talk"!
2. Is only an INTELLECTUAL faith
3. In one's mind, he or she knows the way to get saved
4. But they have never really submitted themselves to God and trusted in Jesus for salvation
5. They know the right "words", but they do not back up their words with their "works"!
6. CAN THIS KIND OF FAITH SAVE?
7. NO! Three times in this passage, James emphasizes that "faith without works is dead" –

 James 2:17, 20, 26 – Uses three different examples of dead faith - No works, false compassion, shallow conviction

2. Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false

declaration:  A DEAD FAITH!

3. Dead faith is counterfeit faith and lulls the person into a false confidence of eternal life

C. DO WE HAVE THIS KIND OF FAITH?

1. We do, if our life does not measure up to our TALK!
2. We do, if our WORKS do not measure up to our WORDS!

Mt 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 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. [We need to beware of mere mental faith.

2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1Jo 3:17 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.

As Warren Wiersbe said, “No one can come to Christ by faith and remain the same, any more than he can come into contact with a 220-volt wire and remain the same."

1Jn 5:12-13 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

1. v18-19 DEMONIC FAITH shallow conviction
2. PERHAPS TO SHOCK ANY SMUG or Self Satisfied READERS, JAMES REMINDS US THAT

      EVEN "DEMONS" HAVE A KIND OF FAITH!

1. They believe in God
2. They even believe in the deity or divine nature of Christ

Mk 3:11-12 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God." 12 But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.

3. They also believe in the existence of hell

Lk 8:31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.

4. They believe Jesus will be the Judge! - Mt 8:28-29 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?"
5. WHAT KIND OF FAITH DO "DEMONS" HAVE?

V19 The demons "believe and tremble")they tremble out of fear of God, not respect

1. CAN THIS KIND OF FAITH SAVE?
2. NO! A person can be educated in his mind and even stirred in his heart and still be lost forever!
3. True saving faith involves something more, something that can be seen and recognized: a changed life! (cf. Ja 2:18)
4. Being a Christian involves repentance, trusting Christ and living for Christ!
5. You first RECEIVE the life of Christ

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit

1. Then you REVEAL the life of Christ living in you
2. Do we have the same kind of faith as the demons?
3. We do, if our service to God does not go beyond...
4. Intellectually clinging to the right beliefs
5. Emotional experiences while attending services