James 2:14-26

 

Our outreach pastor preached today’s sermon, very fitting as outreach is a great way to do works. 

 

Many of us have a faith that hears, but not one that obeys. We know scripture and enough theology to get by, but we don't let our faith lead to works. What is faith though? It is trusting in God. And what are works? They are our acts of obedience. 

 

Big Idea: Real faith changes everything—starting with you.

 

  1. Faith without works is fiction (vv. 14-16). … James is talking to the people who talk a good game but never get on the field, the people who know but don't do. Our faith should show up in how we live, from what we do at home to how we treat coworkers and strangers. 
  2. Faith without works is dead (v. 17). … Paul tells us that we are saved by faith and not works. At first glance, this verse seems to disagree with that, but it's really a complementary verse. We are saved by grace, but our faith should lead to works. Dietrich Bonhoeffer says “only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believers.” 
  3. Faith without works is demonic (vv. 18-20). … Even demons believe in God. The demons know about the Trinity. They know God created the universe. They know about Heaven and Hell. And. They. Shudder. In The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis, uncle Screwtape tells Wormwood that the goal is to get people to be complacent and comfortable in not turning faith into works. Screwtape says “Lethim do anything but act. Let him think about Christianity, debate Christianity, even feel warmly about Christianity—so long as he never actually acts.” And “Our best work is done when a man thinks that because he ‘believes,’ he need not obey. He says with his lips that Christ is Lord, but his life looks no different. The great thing is to persuade him that faith is a feeling, not a life of surrender.” The enemy will work to sideline believers by convincing us not to work. 
     
  4. Faith with works is completed (vv. 21-22). … works do not save us and they don't improve our faith. Works are a reflection of our faith and they complement it, completing it. As we do works, we reinforce our convictions and that deepens our faith. 
  5. Faith with works is proven (vv. 23-26). … We can't see the hearts or intentions of others, but we can see their works. Those works are the evidence of our faith and salvation. James shows us this in Abraham and Rahab, two very different people who showed their faith by their works. 

 

For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message

  • James: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary by Brandon D. Crowe
  • The Epistle of James by Peter H. Davids
  • The Letter of James by Douglas J. Moo
  • Living Faith by John MacArthur