Faith without Works

Faith without Works

James 2:14-26
The necessity of good works to prove the sincerity of faith, which otherwise will be of no more advantage than the faith of devils.
James 2:14-26
(14) My brothers, what profit is it if a man says he has faith and does not have works? Can faith save him?
(15) If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
(16) and if one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them those things which are needful to the body, what good is it?
(17) Even so, if it does not have works, faith is dead, being by itself.
(18) But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith from my works.
(19) You believe that there is one God, you do well; even the demons believe and tremble.
(20) But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
(21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
(22) Do you see how faith worked with his works, and from the works faith was made complete?
(23) And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."
(24) You see then how a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
(25) And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also 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.


A common teaching thru this section would be one of faith and works together to be proof of salvation.
Examples would be:
Going forward at an invitation to salvation and them walking out of the service living your life as though nothing happened. Fire insurance.

Or being the prince of volunteers, tithing, fasting, public prayer and sacrifice. Doing all these things but never giving your whole life to Him.

My venture here is more in words vs deeds.
Keep in mind that faith comes first and works are a result of that faith. We do not work for our salvation we work because of our salvation. Do you see the difference?

There is a war of words we battle every day.
What do we say? Is it from our head?
For example, if I were to walk up to you and punch you in the arm, and then say I am sorry, you may believe me and forgive me without another thought, however if I were to do that again and again how valid is my apology? If I say I am sorry but do nothing to stop it from reoccurring or do nothing to undo the damage done then my words are worthless.

If we wrong someone and are convicted of it, we are required, by the Love of Christ, to bring some sort of resolution. An old saying once said “that, the words, and 15 cents will get you a cup of coffee” Now days it would be better to say “that and 3.25 would get you a cup of coffee”. Meaning, the “that” is worthless.

As disciples of Christ we must follow up our apologies, promises and agreements with works. Something tangible so that one receiving will better understand.

This is where we should be, our words are our bond. If we say we are going to be somewhere or do something we are bound to comply. Even if it costs us. Remember being taught slow to speak, that means that we must think thru what we are going to say before we say it. We must be different. We must be men of our words. We must not act like the world around us that says one thing and does another. We are called to be in the world but not of the world. This is one example of that. It does not mean to be oddballs, or obnoxious.

You can see all around the ones that take the Word out of context by being separate and useless to the lost around them, Amish.
Branch Dividian.

On the other hand our silence is not effective either. We can not just live life not making agreements or promises. We can not live in silence. That would also not be effective for the kingdom either. We are called to be a living sacrifice, which means in part to sacrifice self for others.
What does that mean?
It can mean that we give up our comfort and pleasures so someone can be blessed, or to give in and not have it our way, or not give our opinion when it is not asked for, or to go without, entertainment, 2nd helpings or what ever.
Where are you at in this? Do you sacrifice? Give some examples of what someone could sacrifice so someone else can see faith at work.


(19) You believe that there is one God, you do well; even the demons believe and tremble.
This is a great verse to give those whose words of conversion aren’t followed up by obedience to the Lord and a life not transformed by the Spirit. If a life is not changed then a conversion is in word only and it is dead.

Here is a good example..
You confess your love to a woman, and she reciprocates. You get married yet instead of coming home every night from work you go out with the boys, get yourself a date with another gal and basically find other things to do other than spending your time with your wife. You may have said you loved here but your actions are anything but that love you professed.

You confess your love for Jesus, yet you are spending your time waxing, pampering and otherwise worshiping your car. You don’t read the love letter he wrote you and you don’t do as he asks.

Jesus is not an add-on, a side dish, He is not the fries with that burger, He is the whole meal, the main coarse, the sides, the drink and desert!!!

Are You a Carnal Christian?

Carnal Christianity

What is a Carnal Christian?

Some say a carnal Christian is someone who came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ but sorta went back to the world and is ‘back-sliding’.

You are probably asking, ‘that sounds reasonable, what is the problem?’
You are also thinking ‘What makes this guy think he knows the truth?’

Well, first of all it is not a reasonable summation that a carnal Christian is a backslidden Christian. Also I have realized that, in my daily reading, it is impossible to be both. Yes I do have scripture to back this up, and No I have not taken anything out of context.
Rom 8:5 For they who are according to the flesh mind the things of flesh, but they who are according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace
Rom 8:7 because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be.
Rom 8:8 So then they who are in the flesh cannot please God.

According to the text you are either living according to the flesh or according to the Spirit, it cant be both. Being a Carnal Christian is a lie from the Enemy to lull and deceive folks as to not make that repentant decision for Christ.

But you say “I went forward, I said the prayer, I, I, I…”
Scripture says it is not what we do, so walking or praying isn’t the answer.
Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the Word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says Jehovah of Hosts.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,
Eph 2:9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Notice it says “not of yourselves” and “not of works”. Reassuring? Yes. Condemning? Could be. The walk forward and the Prayer are works. These do not save you.

So, a carnal Christian, you see, is an oxymoron. These two words are mutually exclusive and have no business together.

The message of Easy Believe(ism) is a trap set by the enemy. A True Christian is one that has become a student of the Word, has a hunger for the things of God and is desiring to be molded, shaped and yes even broken by the hand of God in order to serve Him wholly and completely.

You may not like this message and say it is not what you have been taught all your church going life. I tell you to study Romans for yourself and see if the Spirit does not convict you.

You may say, I do not have time to study a whole book, then I say I rest my case. If you can not make time for Him, He will not find time for you. You are not one of His and He will say to you Depart from Me I never knew you.

A True Christian thirsts for the word. A true Christian makes time for their Lord.

Mat 7:21 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.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!

Interlude Post: Carnal Christians?

What is a carnal Christian?
Is it possible to be a carnal Christian?
What is the difference between a true disciple of Christ and a Carnal Christian?

Answers upcoming in future posts.
(that means in the next few minutes or hours or days)

James – An Overview

Albert Barns notes

The first question is, Who was the author? It has been attributed to one of three persons: to James “the elder,” the son of Zebedee, and brother of John; to James “the less,” son of Alphaeus or Cleophas; and to a James of whom nothing more is known. Some have supposed, also, that the James who is mentioned as the “Lord’s brother,” Gal_1:19, was a different person from James, the son of Alphaeus.

There are no methods of determining this point from the Epistle itself. All that can be established from the Epistle is:

(1) that the name of the author was James, Jam_1:1

(2) that he professed to be a “servant of God,” Jam_1:1

(3) that he had been probably a Jew, and sustained such a relation to those to whom he wrote, as to make it proper for him to address them with authority; and,

(4) that he was a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, Jam_2:1; Jam_5:8

There are two persons, if not three, of the name of James, mentioned in the New Testament. The one is James, the son of Zebedee, Mat_4:21; Mar_3:17; Luk_6:14; Act_1:13, et al. He was the brother of John, and is usually mentioned in connection with him; Mat_4:21; Mat_17:1; Mar_5:37; Mar_13:3, et al. The name of their mother was Salome. Compare Mat_27:56, with Mar_15:40. He was put to death by Herod Agrippa, about 41 a.d. Act_12:2. He was called the major, or the elder - to distinguish him from the other James, the younger, or the less, Mar_15:40; called also, in ancient history, James the Just.

The other James was a son of Alphaeus or Cleophas; Mat_10:3; Mar_3:18; Act_1:13; Luk_24:18. That Alphaeus and Cleophas was the same person is evident from the fact that both the words are derived from the Hebrew הלפי h-l-p-y. The name of the mother of this James was Mary, Mar_15:40; and James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas, are mentioned as brethren; Mat_13:55. There is also a James mentioned in Mat_13:55; Mar_6:3; and Gal_1:19, as a “brother of our Lord.” On the meaning of this expression, see the notes at Gal_1:19

Matthew Henry

The writer of this epistle was not James the son of Zebedee; for he was put to death by Herod (Acts 12) before Christianity had gained so much ground among the Jews of the dispersion as is here implied. But it was the other James, the son of Alpheus, who was cousin-german to Christ, and one of the twelve apostles, Mat_10:3. He is called a pillar (Gal_2:9), and this epistle of his cannot be disputed, without loosening a foundation-stone.

Mary the wife of Cleophas - She is said, in Mat_27:56, (see the note there), and Mar_15:40, to have been the mother of James the Less, and of Joses; and this James her son is said, in Mat_10:3, to have been the son of Alpheus; hence it seems that Alpheus and Cleopas were the same person. To which may be added, that Hegesippus is quoted by Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. l. iii. c. 11, as saying that Cleopas was the brother of Joseph, the husband of the virgin. Theophylact says that Cleopas, (brother of Joseph, the husband of the virgin), having died childless, his brother Joseph married his widow, by whom he had four sons, called by the evangelists the brothers of our Lord, and two daughters, the one named Salome, the other Mary, the daughter of Cleopas, because she was his daughter according to law, though she was the daughter of Joseph according to nature. ( I don't buy into this, because if you study the marriage traditions the woman had to be a virgin and had to prove it during the 3 day "alone time" the bride and groom had in the room he built off his fathers house.) There are several conjectures equally well founded with this last to be met with in the ancient commentators; but, in many cases, it is very difficult to distinguish the different Marys mentioned by the evangelists.

In my opinion, the writer of this letter is the brother or our Lord, Jesus. Joseph and Mary had other children and James was one of them. Alphaeus or Cleophas could also be nick names for Joseph.

This epistle of James is one of the most instructive writings in the New Testament. Being chiefly directed against particular errors at that time brought in among the Jewish Christians, it does not contain the same full doctrinal statements as the other epistles, but it presents an admirable summary of the practical duties of all believers. The leading truths of Christianity are set forth throughout; and on attentive consideration, it will be found entirely to agree with St. Paul's statements concerning grace and justification, while it abounds with earnest exhortations to the patience of hope and obedience of faith and love, interspersed with warnings, reproofs, and encouragements, according to the characters addressed. The truths laid down are very serious, and necessary to be maintained; and the rules for practice ought to be observed in all times. In Christ there are no dead and sapless branches, faith is not an idle grace; wherever it is, it brings forth fruit in works.

James 1 -

(Jam_1:1-11) How to apply to God under troubles, and how to behave in prosperous and in adverse circumstances.

(Jam_1:12-18) To look upon all evil as proceeding from ourselves, and all good from God.

(Jam_1:19-21) The duty of watching against a rash temper, and of receiving the word of God with meekness.

(Jam_1:22-25) And of living according thereto.

(Jam_1:26, Jam_1:27) The difference between vain pretences and real religion.

James 2 -

(Jam_2:1-13) All professions of faith are vain, if not producing love and justice to others.

(Jam_2:14-26) The necessity of good works to prove the sincerity of faith, which otherwise will be of no more advantage than the faith of devils.

James 3 -

(Jam_3:1-12) Cautions against proud behaviour, and the mischief of an unruly tongue.

(Jam_3:13-18) The excellence of heavenly wisdom, in opposition to that which is worldly.

James 4 -

(Jam_4:1-10) Here are cautions against corrupt affections, and love of this world, which is enmity to God.

(Jam_4:11-17) Exhortations to undertake no affairs of life, without constant regard to the will and providence of God.

James 5 -

(Jam_5:1-6) The judgments of God denounced against rich unbelievers.

(Jam_5:7-11) Exhortation to patience and meekness under tribulations.

(Jam_5:12-18) Cautions against rash swearing Prayer recommended in afflictive and prosperous circumstances, Christians to confess their faults to each other.

(Jam_5:19, Jam_5:20) The happiness of being the means of the conversion of a sinner.

My First Posting

I am a Teacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I make no apologies for this. I guess I was encouraged to start this blog when I saw a posting/blogger ask a question, long in word but asked, which church should I attend? He was Mormon and has started to see the truth. Had issues with basic beliefs of the Christian church but was searching. The replies he got were disturbing. I wanted to post a reply but thought better to start my own blog.

This blog will cover basic understandings of the True Christian Faith. (That to be explained) It will also go into end times issues. My hope is that those "left behind" will come across this and it will guide them thru the coming 7 year tribulation period.

I will post my teaching notes with commentary.

If you are going to post replies or comments, I welcome them, however, I will remove comments that are abusive, irreverent to my Lord, or just inappropriate.

In His Grip
By His Command
Dave