FAITH THAT WORKS

Lesson 6 for November 8, 2014

Faith and works Faith examples

““What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”dead.” (James 2:14-17)(James 2:14-17)Is there a faith that does not save?Is there a faith that does not save?

A living faith saves. A dead faith cannot save.A living faith saves. A dead faith cannot save.

How can I distinguish if my faith is alive or How can I distinguish if my faith is alive or dead?dead?

According to James, my faith is shown on how According to James, my faith is shown on how I treat others.I treat others.

When we confront somebody’s need and we When we confront somebody’s need and we do nothing about it, we are not practicing our do nothing about it, we are not practicing our faith. That faith slowly weakens and dies. A faith. That faith slowly weakens and dies. A faith without works gradually dies.faith without works gradually dies.

“But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)

Genuine faith is shown by selfless actions, “which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)Paul stated that God “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” (Titus 3:5) Then, he wrote:

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” (Titus 3:8)

Both James and Paul agree; faith and works are inseparable. But works cannot save us anyway, only faith can.

“Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine.

It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. ‘He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.’ ‘Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments.’ 1 John 3:24; 1 John 2:3. This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness.”

E.G.W. (Christ’s Object Lessons, cp. 24, pg. 312)

“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:19-20)

The faith James is talking about is just a certainty that some doctrines are true. We could be convinced because of the evidence we may find in God’s Word, but our heart could remain coldand unconverted.So a mere mental belief alone cannot save us. That’s the “faith” of a “foolish man.” That’s a dead faith; the faith of demons.Only the faith in Jesus as our personal Savior can save. That faith becomes visible in my life as it did in the lives of Abraham and Rahab.

““Was not Abraham our Was not Abraham our father justified by works father justified by works

when he offered Isaac when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was you see that faith was working together with working together with

his works, and by works his works, and by works faith was made perfect? faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, fulfilled which says,

‘Abraham believed God, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to and it was accounted to him for righteousnesshim for righteousness.’ .’ And he was called the And he was called the friend of God. You see friend of God. You see

then that a man is then that a man is justified by works, and justified by works, and not by faith only.”not by faith only.” (James (James

2:21-24)2:21-24)

““What then shall we say What then shall we say that Abraham our father that Abraham our father has found according to has found according to

the flesh? For if the flesh? For if Abraham was justified Abraham was justified

by works, he has by works, he has something to boast something to boast

about, but not before about, but not before God. For what does the God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was believed God, and it was

accounted to him for accounted to him for righteousnessrighteousness.’ .’ Now to Now to

him who works, the him who works, the wages are not counted wages are not counted as grace but as debt.”as grace but as debt.”

(Romans 4:1-5)(Romans 4:1-5)

Both James and Paul studied Abraham’s example. James concluded that we are justified by works, but Paul concluded that we are justified by faith. How can we explain that apparent contradiction?

Both James and Paul studied Abraham’s example. James concluded that we are justified by works, but Paul concluded that we are justified by faith. How can we explain that apparent contradiction?

JamesJames PAULPAUL

Let’s see how Paul theologically studied Abraham’s life.

1. Abraham did no work that could justify him before God (Romans 4:1-5)

2. He obeyed God by faith when he was ordered to leave his homeland (Acts 11:8)

3. He believed that God could give Sarah a son by faith (Romans 4:19)

4. He offered Isaac by faith (Hebrews 11:19)

1. Abraham did no work that could justify him before God (Romans 4:1-5)

2. He obeyed God by faith when he was ordered to leave his homeland (Acts 11:8)

3. He believed that God could give Sarah a son by faith (Romans 4:19)

4. He offered Isaac by faith (Hebrews 11:19)

So Paul (and James) understood that Abraham’s faith was PERFECTED by his works. He gradually walked more firmly in his faith.James said that Abraham was justified by his works. That is, the works that show his faith was true; the faith that actually saved him.

“Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

(James 2:25-26)

Would her faith have saved her if Would her faith have saved her if she hadn’t hidden the she hadn’t hidden the messengers?messengers?

Would her faith have saved her if Would her faith have saved her if she hadn’t placed that crimson she hadn’t placed that crimson thread at her window?thread at her window?

Would her relatives have been Would her relatives have been saved if they hadn’t stayed at saved if they hadn’t stayed at Rahab’s?Rahab’s?

So James concludes that if you So James concludes that if you are saved by faith, then you will are saved by faith, then you will live according to that faith. If you live according to that faith. If you don’t, your faith is dead.don’t, your faith is dead.

Rahab believed that the God of the Israelites would conquer Canaan (including Rahab believed that the God of the Israelites would conquer Canaan (including Jericho)Jericho)

“We need the faith of Abraham in our day, to lighten the darkness that gathers around us, shutting out the sweet sunlight of God’s love, and dwarfing spiritual growth. Our faith should be prolific of good works; for faith without works is dead. Every duty performed, every sacrifice made in the name of Jesus, brings an exceeding great reward. In the very act of duty, God speaks and gives His blessing.”

E.G.W. (Reflecting Christ, March 6)