It's on page 1214, 1214.
James chapter 2, starting at verse 14.
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,
we find this,
for we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
In Romans chapter 4, verse 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,
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,
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,
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
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.
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 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.
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
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
Thank you Jason
We're going to sing now
when I survey
the wondrous cross
that
fans