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!!!