“The Book of James 2:14-26
Pastor Mike Barnett ~
James 2:14-26 says:
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have
faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose
a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If
one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well
fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied
by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, "You have
faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show
you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is
one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20You
foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]? 21Was not our
ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son
Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his
actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham
believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[b] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not
by faith alone. 25In the same way, was not even Rahab
the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to
the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As
the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James
2:14-26
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16:
16In the same way, let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord,
Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21
1 John 3:7-10 says:
7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you
astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8He
who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning
from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the
devil's work. 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's
seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
10This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the
devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is
anyone who does not love his brother. 1
John 3:7-10
NOTE: Jesus repeatedly emphasized the basic gospel
truth that mere ____________________________(intellectual) acceptance of divine
truth does not bring salvation.
That’s why James urged Christians in James 1:22:
22Do not merely listen to the
word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
NOTE: For the self-deceived, however, salvation
amounts to nothing more than a casual acknowledgement of the facts about
Christ, with no idea or intention of permanent, irrevocable commitment to Him
and to His Word and will.
·
As in most Christian assemblies, some of them were
genuine believers and some were not.
·
That was the reason for James’s presenting so many
test of faith.
·
It is why Paul also admonishes, “Test yourselves to
see if you are in the faith: examine yourselves!”
·
James was speaking to some Jews who had gone from an
extreme _______________________(legalistic) Judaism to the _________________________(opposite)
extreme of an __________________________(antinomian) Christianity where
morality does not matter because one has been saved by grace.
·
These Christians replaced a works-righteousness
system with one that required _________ ________________(no works) at all. The
Bible condemns both extremes.
·
These professing Christians believed that a
profession of faith in Christ that did not lead to good deeds was legitimate
saving Faith – James rebuked them for their heresy and articulated the opposite.
·
These Jews had long since realized that they could
not possibly keep all the commands of God or meet His standards of
righteousness.
·
The Law was a hopelessly demanding burden they could
not possibly carry.
·
Over the previous centuries, rabbis had added still
more burdens in the form of traditions which they laid on “men’s shoulders”.
·
Consequently, when they heard the gospel of salvation
through grace alone and faith alone, many Jews were immediately attracted.
·
Some assumed this new religion called
Christianity__________________(gave) _________________________(everything) and
___________________ ___________________ (demanded nothing).
NOTE: Such people would make a profession of
believing about Christ, but with the mistaken notion that, because good deeds
are not _____________________(required) for salvation, they are not necessary
after salvation.
·
The inevitable result was non-saving faith and a type
of living that differed little from the way they formally lived. It may have
even led to worse conduct.
·
James provides three characteristics of such dead and
worthless faith:
1) (Empty Confession).
V. 14
2) False Compassion).
Vs. 15-17
3) (Shallow Conviction).
Vs. 18-20
HUMAN TENDENCY: When we realize that our old methods
do not work, It is natural human behavior to swing to one
_______________________(extreme) to another, when most of time God’s will
reside in a healthy _________________ __________________(middle ground).
NOTE: Human beings tend to gravitate to the
__________________ __________ ______________ __________________(Path of least
resistance) and mistake that path for ______________ _________(God’s will).
Romans 2:6-10, 13-16 says:
6God "will give to each person according to what
he has done."[a] 7To those who by persistence in doing good
seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those
who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be
wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who
does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and
peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it
is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when
Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,
they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since
they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their
consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending
them.) 16This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets
through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Romans 2:6-10, 13-16
·
Paul opposes “____________________
________________________”(works- righteousness) legalism that negates salvation
by faith alone in Christ.
·
James opposes “____________________
________________________” (easy - believism) that negates the Lordship of
Christ.
·
Both Paul and James make clear that we are going to
be ___________________(judged) on the basis of what we have _____________________(done),
for that is a sure ______________________(indicator) of genuine salvation.
John 5:28-29 says:
28"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is
coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and come
out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil
will rise to be condemned.” John 5:28-29
2 Tim
19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm,
sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"[a] and, "Everyone who confesses the name
of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." 2 Tim 2:19
Titus
16”They claim to know God, but by their actions they
deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.” Titus 1:16
ZACCHAEOUS – A BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF TRUE SALVATION -
Luke 19:1-9:
1Jesus entered
5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and
said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house
today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter,
"He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,
"Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and
if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the
amount."
9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has
come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” Luke 19:1-9
·
Newborn believers do not immediately understand the
full implications of the gospel and know everything they should believe and
everything they should and should not do.
·
Those things come with ever-increasing awareness as
one grows in knowledge of the Word and in fellowship with the Lord.
·
But there is an immediate and new spiritual and moral
orientation that the Lord gives every child who is born into his family and
kingdom.
·
Salvation does not produce immediate perfection, but
a _____________ _____________________(new direction).
·
The new disposition that hates sin, loves the Lord,
and seeks to know Him and obey His will begins to manifest itself in behavior.
Jesus said in Luke 6:46-49:
46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and
do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and
hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a
house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came,
the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well
built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is
like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the
torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
Luke 6:46-49
1 John 2:4-11 says:
4The man who says, "I know him," but does
not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone
obeys his word, God's love[a] is truly made complete in him. This is how
we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
7Dear friends, I am not writing you a new
command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old
command is the message you have heard. 8Yet I am writing you a new command; its
truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true
light is already shining.
9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates
his brother is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother lives in the
light, and there is nothing in him[b] to make him stumble. 11But whoever hates
his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not
know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. 1 John 2:4-11
“EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE AND SHUTTER” V. 19
NOTE: As far as factual doctrine is concerned, demons
are monotheist, all of whom know and believe there is one true God. They also are very much aware that scripture
is God’s Word, that Jesus Christ is God’s son, that salvation is by grace
through faith, that Jesus died, was buried, and raised to atone for the sins of
the world, and that He ascended to heaven and is now seated at the Father’s
right hand. They know quite well that there is a literal heaven and hell. The
Demons have a clearer knowledge of the millennium and its related truths than
does the most devoted Bible scholar. But all of that orthodox knowledge,
divinely and eternally significant as it is, cannot save them. They know about
God, Christ, and the Spirit, but hate it and them.
Luke
41Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting,
"You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow
them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.[a] Luke
4:41
Acts
15(One day) the evil spirit answered them,
"Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Acts
NOTE EVERY PROFESSION OF FAITH LEADS TO
REPENTANCE - Acts 8:9—22 says:
9Now for some time a man named Simon had
practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that
Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When
they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply
been baptized into[a] the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter
and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at
the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19and said,
"Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may
receive the Holy Spirit."
20Peter answered: "May your money perish with
you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have
no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you
for having such a thought in your heart.
Acts 8:9—22
James 2:21-26 says:
21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for
what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You
see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was
made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was
fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness,"[a] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not
by faith alone. 25In the same way, was not even Rahab
the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to
the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As
the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Hebrews
19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and
figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Heb 11:19
·
In those instances, his works obviously did not
justify him before men.
·
But James point is that, in the overall pattern of
his life, Abraham faithfully demonstrated his saving faith through his many
good works, above all else by offering Isaac.
·
When a man is justified before God, he will always
prove that justification before other men through his good works.
·
A man who has been _____________________(declared)
and ___________________(made) righteous by God will live righteously before men.
·
_________________________(IMPUTED) RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL
MANIFEST _________________________(PRACTICAL) RIGHTEOUSNESS!
·
__________________________(POSITIONAL) RIGHTEOUS
BEFORE GOD WILL LEAD TO __________________________(EXPEREINTIAL) RIGHTEOUSNESS
BEFORE MEN.
·
John Calvin said “Faith alone justifies, but the
faith that justifies is never alone”.
ILLUSTRATION:
·
Even before it is planted, at seed contains the
generic structure for producing its own kind of fruit. When a person is born
again through saving faith and is given a new nature by God. He is given the
generic structure, as it were, for producing moral and spiritual good
works….that is the sense in which faith is perfected.
It produces the godly fruit from which it was designed.
Just as a fruit tree has not fulfilled its goal until
it bears fruit, so also faith has not reached its end until it demonstrates
itself in righteous life.
Romans 4:2-5 says:
2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had
something to boast about—but not before God. 3What does the Scripture say?
"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."[a] 4Now when a man works, his wages are not
credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does
not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as
righteousness. Romans 4:2-5
Jesus said in John 15:14:
14You are my friends if you do what I command. John
15:14
THE EXAMPE OF REHAB – James 2:25-26
Jesus said in John 12:25:
25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the
man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25
Paul said in 2 Cor. 13:5
5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in
the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in
you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Cor. 13:5
Galatians 5:6 says:
6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing
itself through love. Galatians 5:6
Matt 7:15-23 says:
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come
to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their
fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs
from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree
bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot
bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord,
Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we
not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many
miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me,
you evildoers!' Matt 7:15-23
·
The point is, faith without works is “faith” in name
only – it needs to be validated with action.
·
“Put your money where your mouth is” – applies here!
·
Faith alone after professed salvation is
insufficient.
·
This is the natural equivalent to Paul’s formula of
“faith expressing itself through love”.
·
James uses a word play when he says: “Faith without
works (ergon) does not work (arge = a + ergos).
·
Abraham and rehab performed deeds of mercy because of
their faith in God.
·
Rehab showed hospitality to the spies just as Abraham
did to the three strangers.
·
This example is chosen because the church has refused
to show hospitality to those whose outward appearance indicate that they have
no ability to benefit the church.
·
The teaching of James in this passage is a call to
integrity, a call to live out the gospel.
·
As Christians we bear a responsibility to those
caught in the grip of systemic evil and neglect. We also must recognize that at
times we are also caught in the same net…our desire for status and wealth is
but one example…we are called to be Abraham and Rehab to our world.
QUESTION: How can
·
Serve the needy?
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Protect the unprotected?
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Combine our faith and deeds together to show the
world that Jesus cares through his
believers?