Saved by a Faith That Works
James 2:14-26
We need to understand that good deeds do not save us. Likewise, good beliefs do not save us. But what saves us is a faith that rests in Christ Jesus; His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven; a faith that shows itself in works. For the bible declares that faith without works is dead and without faith it is impossible to please God.
(Tell story about the Great Blondin)
A lot of us say I believe, I believe; but how many of us are willing to get into God’s wheel barrel?
I get into many conversations with people who say they are Christians, and I am amazed at how their faith in God works:
• Some tell me they believe in God but are not sure of what part Jesus plays in it if any.
• Some tell me that God exists, but faith is this magical thing that happens because you are a good person.
• Some tell me that the bible is written by man and so it has some contradictions, so they just pick and chose out of the bible what works for they philosophy in life.
• Some tell me that they believe in God and that is good enough.
In listening to these people and looking at the way us so-called Christians act. I find that most of our faith only lives at the surface. It is not a faith that is rooted in the core of our being. It is a faith that only works when it appeals to us, when we don’t have to give up our life and activities to serve God. It is the kind of faith that a person can look you right in the eye and say “I’m done with my service for the Lord for today, now I’m going home to watch basketball.”
So this tells me that we have a fake-faith. It’s not the real belief as the bible says, but something that we shape and mold to fit our lifestyles.
James chapter 2 tells us what real faith is. This chapter points out that there is a phony faith…a devils faith you might say. And it tells what real saving faith is.
(Read James 2:14-26)
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.“
(Tell subject of sermon)
In these verses James is telling us that a true saving faith is the kind of faith that shows itself in the works you do after you are saved by His grace.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
In these verses Paul kicks off our understanding of a saving faith by letting us know that it is God’s grace first and foremost that has allowed us to sit here and believe anything. And that it is not anything you have done, thought about doing, or ever will do that allows you to be saved. But it is a gift of God alone offered to us in Christ by the gospel; and is received by faith alone, without the merit of your works.
Now James comes in with his two-cents and tells us that ok you have some faith but what good is it if it is not producing any good fruits? When is it going to get you in God’s eyes if your faith is all talk but no action? He tells you that it is dead, being alone, of no use to you in your race toward your soul salvation. He says that our faith in Christ Jesus produces works and the two together that lets us know we are saved by a faith that works.
And so that James is sure that his listeners are clear on the subject he states in verse 19 that even the devils believe, and they tremble. So we see that they also have faith and we can read in the New Testament that there were many evil spirits that confessed that Jesus was the Son of God, but how many of them were saved? Where have you read in the bible that Jesus said “Because you call me son of God, I can see that you are a Christian spirit, so I will not cast you out”? So we can see that there is a devils faith, a belief without any saving grace. Now if we do nothing with our faith and knowledge of God, then we are worst than the demons, because they at least tremble. So if we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, there ought to be a way of distinguishing the haters who confess the same thing.
It has been said that “Faith alone saves, but a faith that saves is never alone.” A saving faith produces works, not the other way around.
Our saving faith is not just believing or giving lip service, it is trusting in the promises of the Lord. And that trust springs forth in actions. If you trust your road map, you will it. If you trust a bridge, you will drive over it. If you trust your burglar alarm, you will sleep easily at night. If you trust your boss, you will do the work you are assigned. If you trust Jesus, you will obey His commandments.
And in our scripture James gives us some examples of people who did not just give lip service, but showed their faith in action:
• Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac.
o In Genesis 22 God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son and by faith Abraham follows through with God’s command. In this chapter we know that Abraham has faith, but if we read verse 5 very carefully we can see that Abraham tells the two young men that accompanied them that he and the lad would come back after they go and sacrifice. Here we see that Abraham had faith that God would some how give him back his son after he killed him.
• Rahab by faith hid the scouts for Joshua
o In Joshua 2 we can read the story of Rahab and know that her actions were not of faith in man, but in the Lord. She could have turned them over to the king if her faith was in him. Or could have hid the men because her faith was in them, but she hid them as it states in verse 9 that she knows that the land had been given to them by the Lord. Here we see that Rahab had faith in God who would deliver her from the midst of these troubles.
It isn’t the deeds of faith that save us, but the faith made manifest in deeds. Abraham, Rahab, and a host of others in the bible were saved by a faith that works.
All of these people put their faith into action. What about you? Are you saved by a faith that works? Or are you professing a faith that profits you nothing? Do not squint your eyes and say, “I believe, I believe, I really, really believe”, hoping that you really do. Instead, open your eyes and live with your faith. Get into God’s wheel barrel and let your actions from faith speak volumes about the God you serve.
The bible tells us: “For we stand by faith, and not by sight.” No! It tells us: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Note the action word there: “walk”. Our genuine faith does not allow us to stand still, but causes us to do all that we can for our Lord. We are merely standing, laying down, sitting, or thinking; we are acting out our faith in words and in deeds.
Is your faith producing works? Or is your faith a professing faith:
• Bragging about what you did.
• Or only doing things where you were sure to stand out and be noticed.
• Or shouting “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” and at the same time looking at the clock hoping the preacher was going to finish soon.
What did you do when that person came to you asking for some change? Did you give it to them or did you push them off with a kind word? Remember what James 2:15-16 says about a saving faith that works:
“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
So, are you going to be like those people who shouted “I believe! I believe!” but didn’t prove their belief when the time came to get in that wheel barrel?
Are you willing to get into God’s wheel barrel?
• When offering time comes are you getting into God’s wheel barrel by giving from the heart, knowing that He loves a cheerful giver? Or are you acting on your devil’s faith and giving the bear minimum because you don’t really believe God will do what He says.
• When the Pastor asks of your time to do something are you getting into God’s wheel barrel by doing it without complaint and not giving a lame excuse?
• When you see a need are you getting into God’s wheel barrel by acting on it? Or do you wait for someone else to do it.
• When you have an opportunity to witness to someone are you getting into God’s wheel barrel by knowing that the Holy Spirit will help you to bring that person to Christ? Or do you walk away thinking that person is beyond help?
• When someone comes to you asking for some change are you getting into God’s wheel barrel by giving what you can, knowing that God asked you to help the needy? Or do you push them away with a kind word?
We are saved because we have a loving, trusting relationship with the Father. Like all relationships, there is room for us to gripe and doubt. Jeremiah griped and Thomas doubted, and yet they were saved. If we love God and recognize Him as God, we will strive to obey His will and we will love the things that He loves. Just as a small child emulates the adults he loves, we will strive to be like Jesus. If we claim a loving, trusting relationship on the basis of our verbal professions without any actions to prove it, then we are liars. If we present the outward appearance of a Christian life and deny inner desire to help in God’s kingdom…then we are fooling ourselves. It is by God’s grace alone can we be saved and within His grace we are saved by a faith that works.
