James_Lesson_6_04182010

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Faith Is Ratified by Good Works

James 2:14-26 Page 1

Introduction:

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Key verse: 2:24, You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by

faith only

Topic: Faith and Good Works

One theme: faith and works and their interaction.

Faith and works mentioned together 10 times in these 13 verses

No antagonism between faith and works: distinct yet inseparable elements

of salvation

Usage of the terms faith, works and justification by James and Paul

Term James Paul

Faith

The giving of intellectual assent

to the facts of Christianity, an

assent that was barren of good

works, inactive, and therefore

useless

Saving faith in Jesus Christ, which

faith issues normally and naturally

in works of righteousness

Works

Acts of ministry, mercy, love,

and justice done in obedience to

the demands of God'sindwelling Spirit

Acts performed legalistically in

observance to the letter of the lawin order to earn salvation

Justification

The believer's final acceptance

by God at the last judgment

God's immediate acceptance of

any sinner who repented and

believed in obedience to the call of

the gospel

Justification before men proof

and demonstration of saving

faith

Declared Righteous Christ's

righteousness imputed the sinner

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Sidebar: Paul and James in conflict?

James Paul

KeyVerses

2:21,24, "Was not Abraham our father

justified by works when he offered Isaac

his son on the altar? You see then that

a man is justified by works, and not by

faith only"

Romans 3:24, "being justified freely by His

grace through the redemption that is in

Christ Jesus"

Romans 3:28, "Therefore we conclude that

a man is justified by faith apart from the

deeds of the law"

Romans 4:1-3, "What then shall we say

that Abraham our father has found

according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham

was justified by works, he has something

to boast about, but not before God. 3 For

what does the Scripture say? Abraham

believed God, and it was accounted to

him for righteousness."

Romans 5:1-2, "Therefore, having been

justified by faith, we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through

whom also we have access by faith into

this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in

hope of the glory of God."

Galatians 2:15-17, We who are Jews by

nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16

knowing that a man is not justified by the

works of the law but by faith in Jesus

Christ, even we have believed in Christ

Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in

Christ and not by the works of the law; for

by the works of the law no flesh shall be

justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be

justified by Christ, we ourselves also arefound sinners, is Christ therefore a

minister of sin? Certainly not!"

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Detail: Faith is Ratified by Good Works

1) The Expression of Valid Faith (James 2:14-19)a) The assertion (2:14)

i) Text: What does itprofit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith butdoes not have works? Can faith save him?

ii) Issue is:(1)The kind or the quality of faith(2)A faith that is mere intellectual assent is not saving faith(3)A faith with the object NOT in the person and work of Christ is not

saving faith

(4)A faith that does not express itself in(a)Repentance from sins and(b)Repentance from dead works is not saving faith

(5)A faith that does not acknowledge the authority of Christ as Lord isnot saving faith

b) The example (2:15-17)i) Text: If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and

one of you says to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but

you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, whatdoes itprofit?

17Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is

dead.

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ii) Comments:(1)Even in the OT God expected true believers to express their love for

Him by ministering to others, especially widows, orphans and the

truly needy

(a)Isaiah 58:6-9, Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose thebonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the

oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?7Is itnot to

share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your

house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that

you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?8

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing

shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall gobefore you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

9

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and

He will say, Here I am.

(b)Micah 6:8, He has shown you, O man, what is good; And whatdoes the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God? (trivia: inPresident Jimmy

Carters Inaugural Address)

(2)RBP: Talk is cheap. One may openly confess a relationship with JesusChrist yet have no verifying works to accompany his words. James

was questioning whether faith that lacks verifying works is really

saving faith. One is not saved by works, but one who is saved will

work.

(3)Ephesians 2:8-10, For by grace you have been saved through faith,and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

9not of works, lest

anyone should boast.10

For we are His workmanship, created in

Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we

should walk in them
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c) The assessment (2:18-19)i) Text: But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show

me your faith without yourworks, and I will show you my faith by my

works.19

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the

demons believeand tremble!

ii) Note chiastic structure

Your faith

By my works My faith

Apart fromworks

James 2:18, Show me your faith without yourworks, and

I will show you my faith by myworks

iii)Cf I John 4:20-21, If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother,he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how

canhe love God whom he has not seen?

21And this commandment we

have from Him: that he who loves God mustlove his brother also.

iv)Comments:(1)Idea presented that works demonstrate the genuineness of saving

faith (I will show you my faith by myworks)

(2)Ominous warning: You believe that there is one God. You do well.Even the demons believeand tremble!

(a)Demons believe in the Trinity! They know that Jesus is Messiahand Lord!

(b)They have a theological understanding greater than any atheist!

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(3)Matthew 7:20-23, Therefore by their fruits you will know them.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.22

Many

will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in

Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wondersin Your name?

23And then I will declare to them, I never knew you;

depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!

2) The Examples of Valid Faith (James 2:20-25)a) The example of Abraham (2:20-24)

i) Text: But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without worksis dead?

[ 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he

offered Isaac his son on the altar?22

Do you see that faith was working

together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

23

Andthe Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it

wasaccounted to him for righteousness.And he was called the friend of

God.24

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith

only.

ii) Text is interesting because James quotes the famous Genesis 15:6(1)Also used by Paul in Galatians 3:6 (just as Abraham believed God,

and it was accounted to him for righteousness.) and Romans 4:3!

(2)Thus no real contradiction between James and Paul(3)James understood and taught saving faith (imputed righteousness!)

iii)How was Abraham justified by offering Isaac on the altar?(1)He was obedient(2)He expressed faith in the ability of God to resurrect his son!

(Hebrews 11:17-19, concluding that God was able to raise him up,

even from the dead)

(3)His act demonstrates saving faith to his generation and to allsucceeding generations! RBP: the faith of Abraham was

demonstrated to be real in the eyes of men

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iv)Abraham the friend of God(1)Isaiah 41:8, But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have

chosen, The descendants ofAbraham My friend

(2)2 Chronicles 20:7, Are You not our God, who drove out theinhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the

descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?

(3)What a privilege to be called a child of God!b) The example of Rahab (2:25)

i) Text: Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works whenshe received the messengers and sent them out another way?

ii) From Joshua 2iii)

NT references:(1)Hebrews 11:31, By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those

who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

iv)Why Rahab in James argument?(1)From famous patriarchal saint (Abraham) to famously named harlot

Rahab!

(2)From Father of all Hebrews to a Gentile woman!3) The Explanation of Valid Faith (James 2:26)

a) Text: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works isdead also

b) The funeral example.i) Weve probably all seen a body in a casketii) The body is there . The spirit is not!iii)DEAD!iv)In the same way faith unadorned and unaccompanied by works is dead

(not saving) faith!

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