A Profitable Faith.
James 2:14-26 C:\MyData\JAM-OLD But Good\JAMES2-2.WPD
{14} What use is it, my brethren, if a man 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} And
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.
INTRODUCTION:
When I was a newer Christian a person I was witnessing to asked me what do you get out of going to church? I had never really thought about that before, I went to give and never ask what I was getting. When I stopped to think about that question I came up with several answers.
I received from my church instruction, inspiration, opportunities of service, and opportunities to be involved in carry out the great commission. That experience caused me to ask how my faith profited me. James asked the question about faith "what use is it, my brethren, . . .". I want to answer some questions about a profitable faith.
1. A Profitable Faith is . . Practical.
2. A Profitable Faith Is . . Provable.
3. A Profitable Faith Is . . Philosophical
1. A Profitable Faith is . . Practical. v 14-16
{14} What use is it, my brethren, if a man 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?
EXPLANATION
A. Practical Faith Will . . Save Sinners. v 14
{14} What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that
faith save him?
ILLUSTRATION
The salvation of the Apostle Paul serves as an example of one saved through faith.
B. Practical Faith Will . . Satisfy Shortage. v 15-16
{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?
ILLUSTRATION
Marian Anderson was an outstanding opera star. Toscanini told her that she had the finest voice of the century. She was invited to the White House to give a private concert for the Roosevelts and the King and Queen of England. Her hometown of Philadelphia awarded her the Bok Award as the person who had done the most for the city.
On one occasion, she stood beneath the Lincoln statue and sang for a crowd of 75,000 including most of the high-ranking leaders of government. However when asked by a newspaper reporter to name the greatest moment in her life, she referred to none of those outstanding events.
Instead, she said the greatest moment of her life was the day she went home and told her mother she wouldn’t have to take in washing anymore, that she had enough to provide for her mother. Marian Anderson was not overwhelmed by her greatness or hardened by her fame. She had the right attitude about herself.
APPLICATION
A Profitable Faith is . . Practical.
2. A Profitable Faith Is . . Provable. v 17-18
{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."
Acts 9:22 But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
EXPLANATION
A. Provable because it is not . . Alone. v 17
{17} Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
B. Provable because it has . . Accomplishments. v 18
{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."
ILLUSTRATION
Eric Liddell was a member of the 1924 British Olympic team. He was the world record holder in his event and was expected to win the gold medal at the Olympics. However, when Eric discovered his race was to be run on Sunday, he refused to compete. Pressure was brought to bear on him from both the British Olympic Committee and the Prince of Wales. He still refused to run the race. He did run another race in the Olympics which was not on Sunday and he won that race, but he would not go against the convictions of his faith. He died at the age of forty-three in a Japanese prison camp during World War II. At his death, a Scottish newspaper gave this fitting description of Eric Liddell’s life: "Scotland has lost a son who did her proud every hour of his life." His faith focused attention on God and was therefore profitable to Him.
APPLICATION
A Profitable Faith Is . . Provable
3. A Profitable Faith Is . . Philosophical
EXPLANATION
A. Philosophical Argument One . . Intellectual Faith. v 19-20
{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?
B. Philosophical Argument Two . . Illustrated Faith. Vv 21-24
1. Illustrated in . . Abraham
{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.
2. Illustrated in Rahab.
{25} And 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.
ILLUSTRATION
A modern day person with an Abraham and Rahab kind of faith is the Catholic Nun Called "Mother Teresa".
Spoke at the Presidential Prayer breakfast. She weighs less than 100 pounds but it is all backbone. She pointed her finger at the President and said "stop killing our babies."
CONCLUSION:
During a tour of the beautiful Church buildings in England the guide asked for questions, and one person asked has anyone been saved in here lately. The guide did not understand the question.
1. A Profitable is . . Practical.
2. A Profitable Faith Is . . Provable.
3. A Profitable Faith Is . . Philosophical
