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Faith Works

James: Faith Works
Sunday, June 16, 2024
Pastor Jojo Ma

 

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe --- and shudder!

Theologian Doug Moo: “Paul denies any efficacy to pre-conversion works, but James is pleading for the absolute necessity of post-conversion works.”

While James talks about faith and works, the practical concern for him is not really about faith and works --- it’s really about genuine faith and counterfeit faith.

I.         False faith is characterized by nice talk [vv15-17]
II.        False faith is characterized by mere belief [v19]
III.       True faith is characterized by good works [v18]

While we don’t always live out what we say we believe, we do always believe what we live out, what we do. And that is what really matters --- what we do --- because what we do and how we actually live reveals our hearts, it reveals our deepest beliefs.

There are countless people who say they believe in God but have no changed life, nothing distinctive about their “Christianity”, no costly obedience, no marked holiness, no love for the local church whatsoever.

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

I.         False faith is characterized by nice talk [vv15-17]
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

“Faith alone saves but saving faith is never alone.”

“Love for God appears (or not) in how a person treats his neighbors. So, if you want to see someone’s spiritual sincerity more clearly, don’t mainly watch him in church. Watch him with his children. Watch him at work. Watch him in traffic. Watch him when offended. For you will know him by his neighbor-love.”

Gal 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

1 Jn 3:17-18 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

II.        False faith is characterized by mere belief [v19]
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe --- and shudder!

Deut 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

“Tragically, hell will be filled with people who are monotheistic, trinitarian, orthodox, and lost forever.”

James says it is the demonstration of faith working itself out in love that is the real proof.

III.      True faith is characterized by good works [v18]
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Matt 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Keep looking to Christ and his gracious gospel, knowing that it is his love, his life, and his death that saves you, not your good works. But also know that once you are in Christ, once you have experienced his love, your life will be a channel of that same love to others and it will be shown in a life of holiness and good works. And that we can truly praise God for.