The Book of James

III.  Instructions on Faith   James 2:1-26

  A.  Empty faith.  James 2:1-7

  B.  Examined faith.  James 2:8-13

  C.  Evidence of faith.  James 2:14-26

       James is dealing with mistaken beliefs about faith.  We should begin

       with defining faith according to the Word of God.

1. The Characteristics of Faith

1. Faith in God –  

        1).  Believes in the existence of God   

2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

        2).  Believes in the power of God       

Jeremiah 32:17  Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

        3).  Believes in the person of God, the Lord Jesus Christ

Matthew 16:15-17  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

        4).  Believes in the judgment of God

1 Corinthians 3:11-15  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

• Faith in God –

        1).  Believe the testimony of the Word of God – Jesus of Nazareth is

              the Messiah.       

John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 5:22-24  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

        2).  Believe the testimony of the Word of God –

              I am condemned and in need of  salvation    

John 3:16-18  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

        3).  Believe the Word of God – I will confess Him as Saviour and

              be saved.            

John 1:12-13  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Romans 10:9-13  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

• Faith in God –

        1).  Belief – I am a new creation in Christ          

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

        2).  Belief – I am indwelt and sealed by God the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:13-14  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

        3).  Belief – I have been saved from death to life, darkness to light

Colossians 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

        4).  Belief – I have new life in Christ which leads to living a new

               life for Christ       

2 Corinthians 5:18-21  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

• Faith in myself –

         Exodus 5:2  And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should

         obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I

         let Israel go.

         2 Chronicles 32:15-16  Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive

         you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for

         no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out

         of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less

         shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? And his servants

         spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant

         Hezekiah.

         Titus 1:15-16  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that

          are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind

          and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in

          works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and

          unto every good work reprobate.

         1 John 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the

         Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

No matter which characteristic of faith you hold, you are identified with it by your actions.  Your faith will manifest itself in your conduct!

Refer to Hebrews chapter 6  (This section from Hebrews is taken from my preaching notes on the Letter to the Hebrews)

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Standing on the sure foundation and studying the inspired Word of God, we are to be –

          c).  Steadfast.   Hebrews    6:4-8

            (1).  Explanation.  Hebrews 6:4-6    Secure 

Those that claim salvation can be lost deny the power of the Sacrifice of Jesus and the acceptance of that sacrifice by the Father.  They deny that His words from the cross “…it is finished…” have meaning for the lost world.  They bring shame on Him, not realizing that through their denial of His completed work, if they could lose their salvation, He would have to die for them again because the first sacrifice had not enough power to insure their salvation unto eternity.  Paul helps us to understand this through an –

            (2).  Illustration    Hebrews  6:7,8         Secure 

            Coming to the realization that the blessings of God come upon all,

            but not all believe and accept the goodness of God.

              (a).  Perseverance of the saints   Hebrews 6:7   

                      Blessed results of belief

              (b).  Punishment of the unsaved.   Hebrews 6:8  

                     Curse is the result of unbelief

Knowing that rebuke and reproof is not enough,  he began to correct them with this –

        3).  Exhortation                   Hebrews 6:9-20

              Paul counseled them to give –

         a).  Attendance to their salvation.  Hebrews 6:9-12   Speaks to the –

            (1).  Evidence of their salvation.                      Hebrews 6:9

Even though Paul described a dangerous and forbidding landscape caused by unbelief (…though we thus speak…), he was describing the worst condition, while expecting the best.  Those still in unbelief should be encouraged by the blessings of God upon the believers and, seeing the goodness of God, turn to Him in repentance and faith!

The testimony Paul is sharing – God sends the same rain and blessings on all.  What makes the difference?  Faith!

            (2).  Encouragement in their salvation.                Hebrews 6:10

“…For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love…”

God does not forget the loving labour and service given unto Him.  The Hebrews knew the Word of God and would respond even as the lawyer replied to Jesus in

Luke 10:27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

• The Consideration of faith.  James 2:14-17 

What is the true relationship of faith and works?

James is asking us to consider specifically the characteristics of saving faith.

1. Is saving faith a living faith? 

James 2:14  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

• Is saving faith manifested in good works?

James 2:15-17  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.

        1).   Faith is not revealed by good intentions.  Good intentions do

                not always produce good actions.     

         2).  Faith produces action!

• Is saving faith dead?  Can a dead man help you: feed you, clothe

you, house you?

Some had faith – they believed that Jesus was who He claimed to be, but they did not confess Him as their Saviour.  They had faith that he was the Son of God, but they did not have saving faith that would change their lives.  They did not want their lives to change!

John 12:42  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

There were others, that in the lifetime of Jesus that had saving faith in Him, but they kept it secret – they did not let people know they were believers because they were afraid. 

John 19:38-39  And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

We note that they had saving faith though, because the love of God for them led them to love Him and that love overcame their fear and they confessed Him as their Lord – by doing good works.  Their works revealed their faith!

• The Challenge of faith. 

James 2:18-19  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.

          The challenge to truth may be brought forth by one that says “I am

          a Christian, I have faith in God”.  The reply is simple – “Where is

          the evidence of your faith”?

          Your earnest belief is good, but if that is all that it is, your belief is

          no different than that of Satan or the demons.  They know and

          believe in God with all of their being, but they are not saved! 

          They have not submitted to Him or obeyed Him.

John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

• The Conclusion

James 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

         Faith without works is not saving faith!  It is simply belief that

         something is true.

This brings us to the evidence of the case being presented –

• The Cooperation of faith and works.   Faith and works

James 2:16-21  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?

Works grow out of faith, revealing the faith to the world.  Do you have faith?  How do you know?  Do those around you know that you have faith?