This Sunday we continue our series in James and will be looking at chapter 2 verses 14-26. This message is part 2 of a two-part message, looking at the 2nd and 3rd point of our 3-point outline. In this passage James says “faith without works is dead!” and then illustrates with an illustration that you would never think would happen. Not helping someone in need when you have the ability to do so (verses 15-16). Especially when you say you have faith, – then show it, help that person, prove it!
Now our 2nd point is just that – prove it, where James uses an imaginary objector “yea, a man may say,” or “but someone will say,” where James challenges the objector with a test – “ok, show me!” And with some sarcasm James implies, “what so I’m supposed to be impressed?” Leading up to verse 19: “so what! you say you believe, the demons believe and tremble!” “If you have faith,” James says, “it will show, it will be REAL,” we will be able to see it!!! Which leads us to the last point we will talk about: that being “Let’s process this. Here James gives 2 illustrations, 2 different genders, 2 different lives and backgrounds to show what true living faith looks like.
As you examine your own life, do you have real faith that shows? You’re not just talking about it, but you are living it every day, and people around you can see it? Are your works evidence that you have faith?
James in this passage here is looking at…talking about works that come from TRUE faith. That is why he presented in his epistle so many “tests” of faith. Were there some that thought they only needed saving faith and thus needed no works after salvation (easy believism)? James says in a sense “hey, you have faith, show me! If you don’t have works to back it up or prove that faith; WHAT GOOD IS THAT FAITH?!” Faith without works (to back it up) is dead. Do you have real, true faith? Can people see your faith; evidence of that faith? Saving faith AND living faith?
More on this Sunday morning…
See you Sunday,
Pastor Weaver
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