1. Which description of faith better fits James 2:14-26?

44%

56%

Faith believes when ev-idence is lackingFaith obeys in spite of consequences

Faith is a key doctrine in the Christian life

• We are saved by faith– Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV For it is by grace you have been

saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— (9) not by works, so that no one can boast.

• We live by faith– 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV We live by faith, not by sight.

• Without faith we cannot please God– Hebrews 11:6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to

please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Not “believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence”

• Hebrews 11 – men & women who acted on God’s Word, no matter the cost

• Faith is not a nebulous feeling• Faith is confidence that God’s Word is true

& that acting on it will bring His blessing• James explores three kinds of faith

1. Dead Faith

• James 2:14-17 NIV What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? (15) Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. (16) If 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? (17) In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

2. Which is the better indicator of true faith?

8%

92%

What faith saysWhat faith does

People with dead faith substitute words for deeds

• Matthew 7:21 NIV "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.

• They know the right words• They quote the right verses• Their walk does not measure up to their talk• They think words are as good as works• They’re wrong!

James’ simple illustration

• Destitute believer comes into a fellowship– Dressed in rags– Hungry

• Person with dead faith sees him & his needs, but doesn’t do anything to meet the needs

• All he does is say a few pious words! – James 2:16 NIV … "Go, I wish you well; keep

warm and well fed," …

• Visitor leaves as needy & hungry as he came

3. Which synonym comes closest to giving you a personal motivation to help another?

64%3%

33%

SympathyCompassionPityEmpathy

4. Which statement to a destitute brother is most consistent with James on faith?

3%6%

92%

I wish you wellI'd give you money, but you'd only spend it on boozeGod helps those who help themselvesSilver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you

We have an obligation to help others, no matter who they may be

• Galatians 6:10 NIV … as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

• Matthew 25:40 NIV "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

• 1 John 3:17-18 NIV If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (18) Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

In Luke 10:25-37, the priest & Levite had religious training

• But neither of them paused to help the dying man at the side of the road

• Each would defend his faith, but neither demonstrated that faith by helping

• The man who didn’t know God’s Word was the one who was blessed for helping

James 2:14 should read, “That kind of faith cannot save him, can it?”

• Faith that does not result in a changed life & good works is a dead faith– James 2:17 NIV In the same way, faith by itself, if it

is not accompanied by action, is dead.

• John Calvin: “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.”

• Dead faith is only an intellectual experience– One knows the doctrines of salvation– He knows the right words– But he doesn’t back up his words with action

2. Demonic Faith

• James 2:18-19 NIV But 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. (19) You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

A shocking illustration!

• Jews’ daily affirmation of faith – Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV Hear, O Israel: The LORD

our God, the LORD is one.

• Man with dead faith touched only in intellect• Demons also touched in their emotions

– James 2:19 NIV You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

• One can be enlightened in his mind & stirred in his heart & still be lost forever

True faith involves something more

• James 2:18 NIV But 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.

• Two kinds of defective faith– Dead faith (touches only the intellect)– Demonic faith (touches intellect & emotions)

• He closes with the only real kind of faith

3. Dynamic Faith

• James 2:20-26 NIV You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? (21) Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? (22) You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. (23) And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

3. Dynamic Faith

• (24) You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. (25) In 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? (26) As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Dynamic faith involves the whole man

• Dead faith involves only the mind• Demonic faith involves both the mind & heart• Dynamic faith involves mind, heart & will

– Mind understands the truth– Heart desires the truth– Will acts upon the truth

• “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; faith is obeying in spite of consequence.”

• Obedience – not an event but a lifetime pattern

5. Which statement best expresses James' teaching?

86%

11%3%

Faith produces worksWorks produce faithFaith exists apart from worksWorks exist apart from faith

Opposites who provide a common example: Abraham and Rahab

• Abraham:– Ancestor of Jews– Godly man– Friend of God

• Rahab:– Gentile– Sinful woman– Enemy of God

But both exercised dynamic faith in God!

Abraham’s story: Genesis 15 & 22

• Genesis 15:5-6 NIV He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (6) Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

• “Credited” is a bookkeeping term – “to put to one’s account.”

• Abraham’s spiritual bankbook was empty– He trusted & God credited his account “righteous”– He didn’t earn righteousness; it was a gift from God

Years later, he showed his faith was genuine (Genesis 22)

• James 2:21-22 NIV Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? (22) You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

• Abraham was not saved by faith plus works• He was saved by a faith that works• Dynamic faith obeys God in daily life & deeds

8. Which is the more accurate statement about Abraham offering Isaac?

11%

89%

Abraham was saved by what he didAbraham's faith was demonstrated by what he did

Rahab’s story: Joshua 2 & 6

• One of the Bible’s great examples of saving faith (Hebrews 11:31)

• Joshua sent spies into Jericho• They encountered a prostitute named Rahab

– Rahab believed in Israel’s God• Joshua 2:11 NIV When we heard of it, our hearts melted and

everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

– Risked her life to protect the spies & tell her family

• Married into Israel & was ancestress of Jesus (Matthew 1:5)

What great faith Rahab had!

• Could have had dead faith – intellect only• Could have had demonic faith – mind

enlightened & emotions stirred• She had dynamic faith:

– Mind knew the truth– Heart was stirred by the truth– Will acted on the truth– She proved her faith by her works

6. Whose faith surprises you more?

18%

82%

Abraham, God's friendRahab, the prostitute

7. Which act of faith surprises you more?

78%

22%

Abraham sacrificing IsaacRahab helping Israel's spies against her own people

James 2:14-26 holds that the mature Christian practices the truth

• He does not merely accept the truth, he practices it in his everyday life

• His faith is not dead faith of intellectuals• It is not demonic faith of fallen spirits• It is dynamic faith that changes his life

9. How can you tell if a person has been justified by faith?

3%

94%

What he thinksWhat he feelsWhat he saysWhat he does

10. "Faith and deeds are not opposites, they are inseparables."

100%

AgreeDisagree

2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV

• Examine 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?