James 2:14-26 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.
Ditch 1: It’s All About Works
Ditch 2: It’s Not At All About Works
Truth #1 Faith Alone Saves
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith
“Do”
“Done”
It’s not about what you do, it’s about what Jesus has done.
Jesus has already done the doing
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— so that no one can boast.
James 2:23 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.
Reckoning is the act of God where he credits christ's perfect righteousness to the sinner's account and declares the debt fully forgiven.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Truth #2 The Faith That Saves Is Never Alone
James 2:14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
James 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Matthew 12:33 a tree is known by its fruit.
Ephesians 2:8-10 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.
Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
Good works are the life of Jesus in me being lived through me
1. Being Saved By Faith Means God Is Now Changing Me
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Philippians 1:6 Be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
2. Works Give Evidence To The Change
James 2:15 - 17
1 John 3:17
