Genuine Faith - James 2:14-26

It's on page 1214, 1214.

James chapter 2, starting at verse 14.

James 2 · chapter mention

Page 1214.

Let's read.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?

Can such faith save them?

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

If one of you says to them, go in peace, keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, you have faith, I have deeds.

Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

You believe that there is one God.

Good.

Even the demons believe that and shudder.

You foolish person.

Do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

You see that his faith and his actions were working together.

And his faith was made complete by what he did.

And the scripture was fulfilled that says,

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.

And he was called God's friend.

You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

In the same way, was not Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies

and sent them off in a different direction?

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

I'm going to ask Jason now.

He's going to come and preach this morning.

Thanks, Jason.

I'm just going to pass around a pen or two.

Anybody like a pen?

Well, I want to thank Johnny and the elders for entrusting this responsibility to me this morning.

It is no small thing to entrust somebody with the ministry of the word.

And so I hope to serve you well this morning as we look into God's word.

We have been here since this past Wednesday.

And we have been staying with the Campbells.

And the hospitality here in Ireland is amazing.

We have not only been at their home, but we've been at several other homes.

And I think I have eaten more in the last five days than the last five months combined.

So thank you so much for your kindness and your hospitality.

We've been drinking gallons, it seems like, gallons of tea.

Or liters, I guess.

Is that what I would say here?

Liters of tea?

But it's just been wonderful.

Pints.

A lot.

A lot of it.

So it has just been wonderful.

Thank you so much for your hospitality.

As Johnny said, we'll be in James 2 this morning.

If you haven't already turned in your copy of the scriptures to James 2,

you can do that now.

A couple of years ago, I read a very interesting story about a man named Wolfgang Beltracchi.

Perhaps some of you have heard about him.

Wolfgang's paintings brought him millions and millions of dollars during a career that spanned nearly 40 years.

His paintings made their way into museums, galleries, and private collections all over the world.

Now, what is most notable about the work of Wolfgang Beltracchi is that all of his paintings are fake.

And what makes him an unusual forger is that he didn't copy the paintings of great artists,

but he created new works which he imagined some well-known artist might have painted

or which might have gotten lost.

Here are the closing two sentences of the article that I read.

It said,

Connoisseurs and dealers acknowledge that Beltracchi is the most successful art forger of our time,

perhaps of all time.

Brilliant not only as a painter,

but as a con man of epic proportions.

Can you imagine what it would feel like to pay millions for a painting only to find out that it's a fake?

No one I've ever known likes to be tricked or deceived.

In fact, it makes us feel silly, maybe even ashamed when it happens to us.

And of course, deception can bring with it a great cost.

Like those who paid a tremendous sum of money for a work of art that was not what it claimed to be.

You see, being fooled can have devastating consequences, can't it?

Now consider this.

As awful.

As awful as it would be to lose money.

There is absolutely nothing more devastating than if you were to find out in the last day

that you fooled yourself

about the nature of genuine faith in Christ.

How can you know?

How can you know if your faith is genuine?

How do you know that you're a true believer and not a fake?

How can you determine whether or not you're being fooled by a false or counterfeit faith?

I want to invite you friends to look with me at God's Word.

And together, we will find answers to these very important questions.

We want to know that our faith in Christ is genuine.

And if you're here this morning and you don't know Christ,

you've never turned in repentance and faith to believe in Jesus,

trusting in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins,

then I want you to understand what it means to truly believe.

Our text, James 2, 14-26,

this text answers two major questions.

And here is the first.

Question number one.

What is true faith?

This is a fundamental and foundational question

that we must answer and we must answer it correctly

so we go to God's Word.

Look at verse 14 again.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,

if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?

Can such faith save them?

So I want you to notice a couple of things here.

First is this.

True faith, true faith is more than a mere announcement.

That's found in verse 14.

James begins this section with two questions

and both of them expect the same answer.

He asks, does faith without works help a person?

The answer is no.

Then he asks, does faith without good works save a person?

Again, the answer is no.

There is a very important word in verse 14 that you must see.

James writes, if someone claims to have faith.

James is not suggesting that this individual actually has faith.

He's not talking about someone whose faith has been confirmed as genuine.

He's simply referring to someone who regularly claims to have faith.

Does simply making a claim of faith without a lifestyle of good works save a person?

And the answer is no.

This verse, and really this whole text,

has been one of the most controversial and misunderstood in all of Scripture.

The question is often asked,

is James saying that works save a person?

Or we might ask the question this way,

is James disagreeing with the Apostle Paul?

Here's a quick sampling of what the Apostle Paul wrote.

You heard some of it already this morning.

In Romans chapter 3, verse 28,

Romans 3:28

we find this,

for we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

In Romans chapter 4, verse 5,

Romans 4:5

this is what we find,

and to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly,

his faith is counted as righteousness.

And then in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 and 9,

Ephesians 2:8

for by grace you have been saved through faith,

and this is not your own doing.

It is the gift of God,

not a result of works,

so that no one may boast.

You can see from these texts why some confusion may exist,

but we need to understand the purpose of each writer.

Simply put, Paul is writing,

Paul is writing about our declaration of faith,

and James is writing about our demonstration of faith.

One well-known pastor in the States wrote something very helpful

in his commentary on James.

This is what he wrote.

Listen carefully to this.

There is no real contradiction between James and Paul regarding faith.

Paul's teaching about faith and works focuses on the time before conversion,

and James' focus is after conversion.

Paul was fighting against tradition which promoted a false works salvation.

James was fighting against a light or trivial or easy faith

which minimized the necessity of works after coming to Christ.

Paul says works cannot bring us to Christ.

James says after we come to Christ,

they are imperative.

In fact,

in fact,

in fact,

in fact,

brothers and sisters,

the Apostle Paul actually makes the very same point that James is making

in the text that Alex read for us earlier.

After Paul wrote those wonderful verses about faith alone

as the basis for our salvation in Ephesians chapter 2,

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

he followed it immediately with chapter 2, verse 10.

For we are God's handiwork,

created in Christ Jesus to do good works

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

And so you heard it said already,

Paul and James would agree that counterfeit faith

makes all kinds of statements and claims,

but never,

never supports those words with actions.

In contrast,

true faith is demonstrated

by a life of good works.

Paul's emphasis on salvation by faith alone

was intended to correct our natural desire

to earn salvation by means of our own effort and good works.

As Paul came face to face with pharisaical legalism,

the teaching that our works affect our standing before God,

he emphasized the truth that nothing in us,

nothing in us can merit God's favor.

Only Jesus Christ can earn right standing with God for us.

And this right standing comes to us

through faith alone in Christ alone.

What Paul makes clear in Ephesians chapter 2

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

is that we are not saved by works,

but we are saved to works,

or for works.

Works do not contribute a thing to our justification,

but works are the result and aim of our justification.

Friends, James as well is insisting

that genuine faith always produces righteous works.

Now, I want to be as clear as I can be,

these works,

these works do not make us righteous before God,

but they demonstrate the reality

that we have already been made righteous

before God in Jesus Christ.

To summarize this first observation,

brothers and sisters,

the genuineness of a profession of Jesus Christ

as Savior and Lord

is evidenced more by what a person does

than by what he claims.

So what is true faith?

It is more than a mere announcement.

And a second observation here,

true faith is more than a statement of sympathy.

It's more than a statement of sympathy.

Look at verse 15.

Suppose a brother or a sister

is without clothes and daily food.

If one of you says to them,

go in peace,

be warm and well fed,

but does nothing about their physical needs,

what good is it?

In the same way,

faith by itself,

if it is not accompanied by action,

well, it's dead.

As James so often does,

he provides a powerful illustration.

In preaching through James

and studying through James,

there are these moments

when you're reading

and you read an illustration

that he offers

and at least if you're like me,

I go,

ouch,

that hurts.

I think he's talking about me.

Imagine you're sitting in church.

Week after week,

the same man sits down beside you.

You notice that his clothes are torn.

They're really insufficient

to keep him warm,

dry,

clean,

and protected.

You also notice

that as each week goes by,

he looks like he's malnourished

and he's becoming very unhealthy.

So you begin to wonder,

what should I do?

Clearly,

this man has a need.

What should I do?

And here is what you decide.

You approach him

and you begin to speak

and this is what you say.

Brother,

you're not looking good.

It looks like you've fallen

upon hard times.

You need help.

So may God be with you this week.

Go.

Find some clothes

and warm yourself.

And then you turn

and walk away.

Well, of course,

this man would be confused

thinking,

well,

don't you think

I would have already

clothed myself

and fed myself

if I could?

What if this

is all you did,

friend?

The expression

of the Christian love

that you claim to possess

has motivated you

to do nothing more

than offer

religious platitudes

to someone in obvious need.

If that is your only response,

then according to God's Word,

how should you

interpret your own actions?

The answer is in verse 17.

If you offer

a sympathetic statement

without actually doing

anything loving,

without actually meeting the need,

then your faith is dead.

And please understand,

dead faith is not only lifeless,

but it's useless.

It serves no purpose.

Oh, friend,

this is not what God

redeemed you for.

Genuine faith is more than

feeling compassion

for someone in need.

The Apostle John

challenges us

in 1 John 3,

but if anyone

has the world's goods

and sees his brother

in need,

then listen to this expression.

Yet closes his heart

against him.

How does God's love

abide in him?

Little children,

let us not love

in word or talk,

but in deed

and in truth.

You see,

real faith

is not seen

in statements,

but in action.

Counterfeit faith

stops with a promise

to pray.

Real faith

starts by not only

praying for someone

in need,

but providing them

with a meal

as well.

Counterfeit faith

stops with

sympathetic words.

Real faith

suffers

to help

someone in need.

Counterfeit faith

stops with

empty words

of compassion.

Real faith

starts

with loving

actions.

I try to explain

that to my children

all the time.

You can say

you're sorry

to your brother

or sister

a hundred times,

but if you turn around

and do the same thing

over and over again,

your words

will ring hollow

when you say

I love you

or I forgive you

that needs to be

followed by actions

that demonstrate

the validity

of your words.

What is true faith?

Well,

it's more than

a mere announcement.

It's more than

a statement of sympathy.

And then a third

observation here.

True faith

is more than

a declaration

of doctrine.

Look at verse 18.

But someone

will say

you have faith

I have deeds.

Show me your faith

without deeds

and I will show you

my faith

by my deeds.

You believe

that there is

one God.

Good.

Even the demons

believe that

and shudder.

You foolish

person.

Do you want

evidence

that faith

without deeds

is useless?

James anticipates

an objection

we might all have

to what he's teaching us.

We might suggest

that claiming faith

is no different

than demonstrating faith.

It's like we're

saying to James,

James,

stop looking

so closely

at what I'm doing.

Don't you know

what I believe?

You see,

a lot of people

assume that

making a declaration

of faith

is enough.

But friends,

genuine faith

is more than

a declaration

even if that

declaration

includes

correct doctrine.

James'

next words,

verse 19,

are a shocking

illustration

of this truth.

Look at verse 19.

Do you realize

this morning,

as you look

at this text,

do you realize

this morning

that no demon

is an atheist?

Every demon

believes in God.

Do you realize

that no demon

is a polytheist?

Every demon

believes

there is

one true God.

It's frightening

to think

that there are

probably questions

that you and I

would get wrong

on a theological

exam

that demons

know.

But James

is making

a point here.

It's a warning.

So let me

offer this

warning to you,

brothers and

sisters.

This,

this is a

church that

believes

in the importance

of right doctrine

and rich theology,

theology,

which is

wonderful.

Most of you

care deeply

about what the

Bible says,

and you should.

But be careful.

A commitment

to biblical

knowledge alone

does not

equal true

faith.

No amount

of biblical

knowledge

guarantees

genuine

faith.

faith.

So I

ask you,

what are you

trusting in

for the

forgiveness

of your

sin and

for eternal

peace with

God?

Are you

trusting in

the depth

of your

biblical

knowledge?

Is your

confidence

in facts

you have

learned

or have

you placed

your faith

in the

person

and work

of Jesus

Christ

alone?

our first

major question,

what is

true faith?

And James

primarily

answers that

in this

section by

telling you

what it's

not or

what it's

not limited

to.

But then he

expounds.

Question number

two,

what does

true faith

look like?

And in

explaining

this,

he defines

the nature

of saving

faith.

Look with

me at

verse 21.

Was not

our father

Abraham

considered

righteous

for what

he did

when he

offered

his son

Isaac

on the

altar?

You see

that his

faith and

his actions

were working

together.

And his

faith was

made complete

by what he

did.

And the

scripture was

fulfilled that

says Abraham

believed God

and it was

credited to

him as

righteousness.

And he

was called

God's

friend.

You see

that a

person is

considered

righteous by

what they

do and

not by

faith alone.

In the

same way,

was not

even Rahab

the prostitute

considered

righteous for

what she

did when

she gave

lodging to

the spies

and sent

them off in

a different

direction?

As the

body without

the spirit

is dead,

so faith

without deeds

is dead.

As James

continues his

discussion of

living faith,

he provides

us with two

role models

who are

very,

very different

from each

other.

The first

is a

patriarch who

shows us

what true

faith looks

like over a

lifetime.

The second

is a

prostitute.

A

prostitute

who shows

us what

true faith

looks like

in a

moment.

The first

example,

true faith

in the

life of

a patriarch.

Abraham

was the

epitome

of faith

in God.

And James

begins with

a question

about his

faith.

And this

is what

he asks.

Wasn't

Abraham

considered

righteous

for what

he did?

The ESV

says it

this way,

wasn't

Abraham

justified

by his

works

when he

offered

Isaac.

Now,

there are

two meanings

for the

word justified.

It can

mean to

be declared

righteous,

and that's

probably how

you typically

think about

it.

But it

can also

mean this,

to vindicate,

to show,

to prove

righteousness.

So the

question becomes,

didn't Abraham

demonstrate his

righteousness by

the act of

offering Isaac?

Or,

wasn't

Abraham

shown to

be righteous

by this

act?

If we

were to

take the

time to

turn to

Genesis,

here is

what we

would find

explained

about

Abraham,

and this

is so

important.

In

Genesis

22,

God

commanded

Abraham

to take

his only

son and

offer him

as a

burnt

offering.

Abraham's

response to

God's

command will

show us

whether

Abraham

truly

believes

in

God,

right?

His

works

will

demonstrate

whether

or not

his

faith

is

real.

But

remember,

this

command

took place

nearly

30 years

after Abraham

was

declared

righteous

by God

in

Genesis

15.

The

command

he has

given

now

to

sacrifice

his

son,

well,

it went

against

everything

in

him.

His

love

for

Isaac,

his

understanding

of

morality,

his

common

sense,

his

dreams,

but

still he

obeyed

God.

And in

so doing,

Abraham

demonstrated

that his

faith was

genuine

or

authentic.

So,

this is

how it

works.

Abraham

was

declared

righteous

by faith

alone,

Genesis

15.

But he

was

shown

to be

righteous

by his

act

of faith

in

Genesis

22.

That's

precisely

what the

point is

in

James.

So,

back in

James 2,

we find

that Abraham's

life shows

the important

connections

between faith

and works.

In the

first part

of verse

22,

we find

that faith

and works

were active

together.

They were

active

together.

One

pastor

said it

this way,

faith

isn't

shy

or

timid.

It

doesn't

like to

be

alone.

Faith's

constant

companion

is

works.

Abraham's

works

supported

his

faith.

Then we

see in

the second

part of

verse

22,

faith

was

brought

to

maturity

through

works.

God

was

working.

It's

interesting, that's in the passive voice.

God was working.

God was working to bring Abraham's faith to a certain point of maturity.

And he did this through his works.

This is Philippians 1.6.

God, who has begun a good work in you, he will bring it to completion.

That's so encouraging.

That we're not only saved by grace, but we're sanctified by grace.

Your sanctification is not ultimately dependent upon your own effort, your own creativity, your own ingenuity.

The God who saved you, who brought life into your spiritual death, is continuing to make you alive to good works which exalt and magnify Jesus Christ.

In verse 23, we see that faith was demonstrated as genuine through works.

Abraham's faith was counted or credited to him as righteousness.

Nothing he did made him righteous.

That came through faith alone in Jesus Christ, but the reality of his faith was evidenced through his works.

Yes, Abraham believed God's promise of a son, but it wasn't until he was willing to offer that son on an altar that the genuineness of his faith was demonstrated.

You see this often when someone is suffering.

There's a Christian and they give every evidence of joy.

And then you find out that they're ill.

That there's some illness that will probably lead to death.

And you see in their suffering a level of joy you could have never imagined.

That suffering is proving the genuineness of their faith.

Now look at verse 24.

You see that a person is considered righteous or justified by what they do, their works, and not by faith alone.

This statement answers the question posed in verse 14.

Can faith without good works save a person?

No, the answer is no.

Not because works produce righteousness, but because saving faith will always produce righteous works.

Abraham shows us true faith in the life of a patriarch, but the second example is quite different.

Isn't it?

Verse 25.

True faith, not in the life of a patriarch, but in the life of a prostitute.

Look at verse 25 again.

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies

and sent them off in a different direction?

The example of Rahab continues the same point as the example of Abraham.

But it would be difficult, wouldn't it, to put together two people with more striking differences.

Abraham was a patriarch.

Rahab was a prostitute.

Abraham was moral.

Rahab was immoral.

Abraham was a man.

Rahab was a woman.

Abraham was a Jew.

Rahab was a Gentile.

Abraham was respected.

Rahab was rejected.

I love John Calvin's comment on James' use of these two examples.

Listen to what he says.

He designedly put together two persons so different in their character

in order more clearly to show that no one,

no one, whatever may have been his or her condition,

nation or class in society,

no one has ever been counted righteous without good works.

It could be easy for us to dismiss Abraham's example as impossible for us.

If you're like me, I tend to think this way.

I think I could never be like Abraham.

He was a friend of God.

This passage could therefore lead us to discouragement.

We might worry.

I haven't done any works of faith in the category of Abraham.

So is there any hope for me?

Oh, friends, in Rahab,

we are encouraged, aren't we?

She was a wretched sinner.

I can identify with that.

She has real problems.

She wasn't a model of perfection.

But according to God's Word,

she was a model of faith.

Well, how do we know this?

How do we know this?

Is it because she told us?

Is it because of the great theological work she wrote?

Is it due to the clarity of her doctrinal confession?

No.

No, it's because Scripture bears testimony to her life.

Her actions demonstrated real, authentic, genuine, living faith.

Her works.

Her works.

Her works declared louder than her words ever could that she believed God.

When she protected the spies from their pursuers,

her faith was revealed as genuine.

I'm so encouraged that this is the way God works.

There are those who I'll hear them share the gospel with someone.

In fact, we were with our brother Shane in passage the other night

and listened to him declare the gospel in a Bible study

and I thought, this brother is so gifted.

He's so clear in sharing the gospel.

I wish I had that gifting.

I wish I had that ability.

And yet, I know from texts like this

that God in His infinite and sovereign wisdom works in different ways.

You may not have an eloquent testimony

where you can share words beautifully with people,

but it may be your life and the depth of your faith

and your actions of love and kindness and grace to others

that will announce to them the glory of the gospel

and the transforming grace of Jesus Christ

in ways that you would fail to do in the way you want to with your words.

God works in both ways and we see this reality in our text.

God works in both ways and we see this reality in our text.

Verse 26 summarizes and illustrates the truth

behind the examples of both Abraham and Raham.

As the body without the spirit is dead,

so faith without deeds is dead.

A faith that doesn't work is no better than a corpse.

Faith and works, like a body and spirit,

are inseparably connected.

So in closing, friends, let me offer you two reminders.

And I hope and pray that God's Spirit will work through His Word

to open your eyes.

If you're being deceived this morning

about the genuineness of your faith,

I pray you'll see that

and turn in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ.

So the first reminder, just quickly,

salvation is by faith alone.

Salvation is by faith alone.

Your works in no way contribute to your standing before God.

The only way you can be saved

is by faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

It's His completed work that is important.

So have you ever renounced

both your good deeds and your bad deeds

and called out to Jesus for mercy?

Oh friend,

turn from your sin

and receive Jesus Christ by faith this morning

and then rest.

You can stop running.

The effort to be good enough

in hopes that someday God will accept you,

you can stop.

Jesus has run that race perfectly.

He has crossed the finish line

and now He will give you everything you need by faith.

Remember, salvation is by faith alone.

And then the second reminder,

salvation is by a faith that is never alone.

Salvation is by faith alone,

but salvation is by a faith that is never alone.

True, saving faith always works.

Genuine faith is demonstrated.

Faith in Jesus Christ always results in a changed life.

No works of righteousness can ever bring God's favor,

but if God's favor has been given to you

through faith in Jesus Christ,

it will be revealed in your life.

It was Jesus who said,

by their fruits you will know them.

The reality of your faith

will be revealed in your actions.

So let me just ask you,

is your faith seen in your actions?

Like just think through the last several days.

What you believe is seen in how you behave.

What is your life revealing about your faith?

How is your faith in Jesus displayed in your marriage?

In your parenting?

In your place of work?

With your neighbors?

Friends, let this text serve as both a warning

and an encouragement.

Be warned that faith without works is dead.

But be encouraged.

If you see evidence of a living faith in your life,

it means that you belong to God.

He has made you new by the Holy Spirit

and brought you into union with Jesus Christ

and He will now use you in a thousand different ways

every single day to glorify His name

and point people to the life transforming power

of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a divine miracle from beginning to end.

Only God can bring a sinner to genuine faith in Christ

and only God can produce righteous deeds

in those who are redeemed.

Both the initiation of faith

and the life of faith

is the work of Almighty God.

So friends, marvel.

Marvel at the good hand of God

as He works in your life

and the lives of your brothers and sisters.

Recognize God's hand.

I would have to imagine it would be encouraging

if you were to go to a fellow member in this church

and to point out to them

an evidence of God's grace in their life.

Not as a way of puffing them up

or tempting them to become proud or arrogant,

but to draw attention

to the ongoing work of grace

that is happening in the life

of every single Christian.

let this text also motivate you.

Let it motivate you to pray.

Pray that God will rescue

your lost friends and family members

so they too can experience the joy

of genuine faith

and eternal rest

in Jesus Christ alone.

Will you pray with me?

Father, we thank You for Your Word.

It seems inadequate

to simply thank You

and yet

in our frailty

sometimes we

we're left with words

that seem inadequate.

We know that Your Word is powerful.

We know that when Your Spirit

accompanies Your Word

miracles happen

particularly the miracle of regeneration.

So we ask You

even in this moment, Father

if there is someone here

who is not yet

who is not yet

tasted of the grace

of the Lord Jesus Christ

through repentance and faith

Holy Spirit

grant that to them even now

for the person who may be deceiving themselves

Holy Spirit

give them eyes to see

ears to hear

and a heart to receive

the hard truth

that their faith

is not genuine

but then immediately

lead them to the hope

that is found in Jesus.

And I pray that my brothers and sisters

here would be encouraged

as they see

evidence

of the ongoing work

of the Spirit

in their life

that they wouldn't be discouraged

but that they would be encouraged

to see that as evidence

of genuine faith

the ongoing work

of the Holy Spirit

the continual work of grace

that You are doing

O triune God

in sanctifying us

by Your Word and Spirit

So Father

we do indeed

thank You

for Your Word

and we pray now

that Your Spirit

would work

in ways

that only

the Spirit can work

to bring conviction

to bring comfort

to bring instruction

to bring clarity

we pray this all

in Jesus' name

Amen

Amen

Thank you Jason

We're going to sing now

when I survey

the wondrous cross

that

fans