James Faith and Works United Look At The Book! James Faith and Works United

How Christian Are You? Is there a way to measure our likeness to Christ? What would you do for a boy with a dozen broken eggs? Do we care enough to reach out and help someone else?

Real Life Situation Call to office last week. Woman stranded in car, which was overheated. What did I do? What should I have done? How important to our salvation are the answers to these kinds of questions?

Can workless faith save? James 2:14-17 “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” Can workless faith save?

It Cannot! James asks: “What use is it?” Greek word speaks of the profit involved. Does it store up profit? The challenge is moving beyond mere words into helpful actions. Be warm? Be filled? HOW?

We Are People Called To Action Matthew 5:16 -- Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Good works are what show people the light of Christ in us.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Hebrews 13:16 – “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” How important are good works?

Faith Without Works Is Dead! Workless faith has no value to God. Pew sitting is a high form of deception. Question for self: What am I able to do? Boat with two oars: one marked FAITH the other marked WORKS.

Can Faithless Work Save? James 2:18-20 – “But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” Who says, “You have faith and I have works…?” Gives me reason to ask the above question.

Works Without Faith Cannot Save Hebrews 11:6 – “And 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 seek Him.” Philanthropists do not get a free ride to heaven. Mark 9:41 – “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”

Faith And Works Have To Work Together “Show me your faith without the works….” Is this even possible? NO! The demons have faith to know that God exists. They shudder. But their works are purely evil. They cannot be saved by faith only, neither can we.

Faith Without Works Is Useless! Illustration: What would be necessary to safely cross a deep, dangerous gorge?

Faith (with works) Reckoned Righteousness James 2:21-26 – “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

Examples of Faith/Works Union Abraham offering Isaac. Abraham’s faith was pure and noble. Yet that faith alone was not enough. God tested his faith, and Abraham responded with works. He offered his son Isaac on the altar and demonstrated with a visible work the faith of his heart..

Faith Reckoned To Him As Righteousness Vs. 23 – … “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Belief was demonstrated by action Rahab the same way. Faith led her to hide the spies from Israel, and to help them escape capture. Faith coupled with works resulted in her being reckoned as righteous.

An illustration of two dead things vs. 26 – “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” The body without the spirit is dead. Only the spirit of the man animates and gives life to the body. Faith without works is dead. Faith is a high ideal – but minus its natural response of godly works, it is a dead and useless thing.

What Works Are You Doing? Careful evaluation of abilities, talents, and physical strengths and weaknesses is called for. Using our abilities to serve God is our duty as servants of Christ. What are you doing for God? Can you do more? Eternity is at stake.