March 12, 2017

True Faith Works

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Series:
Passage: James 2:14-26 (NASB)
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True Faith Works

 James 2:26 (NASB)

26  For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

 James & Paul – Salvation. Born again!

 James 2:14-26 (NASB)

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

16 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?

17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

18 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."

19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;

23 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.

24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

25 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?

26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

 1. Never Settle For Dead Faith & Self Righteousness

James 2:14-17 (NASB)

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

16 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?

17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

 2. Living Faith Continually Believes & Responds In Obedience

James 2:18-20 (NASB)

18 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."

19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NASB)

4  "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!

5  "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

 Matthew 7:15-23 (NASB)

15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'

23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness .'

3. Living Faith Trusts & Takes The Leap

Romans 3:28 (NASB)

28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

James 2:24 (NASB)

24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

James 2:21-26 (NASB)

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;

23 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.

24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

25 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?

26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

 Genesis 15:6 (NASB)

6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

 Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB)  

8  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Colossians 3:17 (NASB)

17  Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.