TEXT: James 2:14-26
This epistle shows Christ as our pattern. It’s a guide to every day Christian life and conduct. He tells us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only.
We’re going to talk
about three kinds of faith. Here in
chapter two of James, we find that James is discussing the different kinds of
faith with emphasis upon that faith which works to the saving of the soul.
Faith is an
essential element in our Christian life.
First of all, we know that “Without Faith it is impossible to
please God: for he that comes to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Secondly, we are saved by faith. Ephesians
2:8, “For by grace are you saved through
faith, and not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God”.
Thirdly, we are to walk by faith: 2nd Corinthians 5:7: For we walk by faith, and not by
sight.
Fourthly, whatever we do apart from
faith is sin: Romans 14:23: He that doubts is damned if he eats because
he eats not of faith: for whatsoever
is not of faith is sin.
So it’s important for us to realize
that there are different kinds of faith, mentioned in scripture: saving
faith (Ephesians 2:8) “For
by grace are you saved through faith, and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”: and also dead faith (James 2:17): Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. But there is only one truly “saving faith”.
I’ve been asked the question, “What faith are you”? Ephesians 4:4: There is one body and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope
of your calling: vs 5: One Lord, one faith, one
baptism. Vs 6: One God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all.
This is sustaining faith
in God that no matter what, I will trust God!!
What is faith? It’s from the Greek root
word pis’tis, meaning, persuasion, in relation to credence; moral
conviction (of truth, or the truthfulness of God); reliance upon Christ for
salvation, constancy in such profession; assurance; belief; fidelity.
Faith enables the believer to
persevere and remain steadfastly loyal to God and His Word at all times. Faith believes in spiritual realities, seeks
God, and believes in His goodness. Faith
perseveres while one is going through tests.
Faith obeys God's commands, has confidence in His Word, performs mighty
acts of righteousness and endures persecution.
So as we look at the three kinds of
faith we will see which category we
fit in. Let’s take a look at James 2 in
relation to the first kind of faith he speaks of:
·
Dead faith: vs 14: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? Vs 15: If a brother or sister be naked
and destitute of daily food: vs 16:
And one of you say unto them, “Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled”: notwithstanding, you give them not those
things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? Vs 17: Even so faith, if it hath
not works, is dead, being alone.
This kind of faith substitutes words for deeds. “Yes
Sister Sue we are coming by and have prayer with you and your family”. Months have passed and you still haven’t made
it to Sister Sue’s house yet. “Yes, we’re going to get together and visit
the sick and shut in”. Days and
months, even years pass and we haven’t accomplished a thing.
How can we substitute words for
deeds? (1) People with “dead faith”: Know the correct vocabulary
for prayer and sound doctrine: they can
even quote scripture and use the right verses from the Word of God. (2) But their “walk” does not measure up to their “talk”!
Dead faith is only an intellectual
faith. Well, “How is that”? I’m glad you asked. Because in one’s mind, he or she knows the
doctrine of salvation, yet, have never really submitted their self to God, nor
trusted in Jesus for salvation. They
know the right words but don’t back
up their words with their works.
So the question is “Can this kind of
faith save me”? The answer is NO!!
James puts emphasis on the truth three times in this second chapter that “Faith without works is dead”: Verse 17, Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone. Vs 20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Vs 26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith, without works is
dead also.
Any declaration of faith that does
not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration, “a dead faith”!
Dead faith is counterfeit and lulls the person into a false confidence of eternal
life.
Let’s ask ourselves, “Do we have this kind of faith”? We do, if our walk does not measure up to our talk. We do, if our works do not measure up to our words. So let us beware of intellectual faith.
Remember, the essential nature of true faith will express itself in righteous
deeds. So faith and works can never be separated.
·
James 2:18: Yea, a man may say, “Thou hast
faith, and I have works”: show me thy
faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works”.
The latter (works), flows naturally from the former (faith). After all, no man
can come to Christ by faith and remain the same, because there will be evidence
of his faith by his works.
The next kind of faith found in James
2 is:
·
Demonic faith: vs 18: Yea, a man may say,
thou hast faith, and I have works: show
me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Vs 19: Thou believe that there is one God, thou do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Even devils have a kind of faith.
·
Mark 3:7-12 (A multitude follows Jesus by the
sea): vs 11: And the unclean spirits, when they
saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, “Thou art the Son of God”.
Even they believe in God (Acts 16:16-40) [Paul and Silas
imprisoned]:
·
Vs 16: And it came to pass, as we went
to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met
us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: vs 17: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, “These men are the
servants of the Most High God, which show unto us the way of salvation”.
Demons even believe in the Deity of
Christ (Mark 3:7-12) [A multitude follows
Jesus by the Sea]:
·
Vs 11: And unclean spirits, when
they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, “Thou art the Son of
God”. Vs 12: And he straitly charged them (the multitude)
that they should not make him known.
· Acts 19:11-16 [The Sons of Sceva beaten by a man with the evil spirit]: vs 15: And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you”?
Even devils believe in the existence
of a place of condemnation (Luke 8:26-39) [Jesus heals the demoniac of the Gadarenes]:
·
Vs 30: And Jesus asked him, saying “What
is thy name”? And he said, “Legion”:
because many devils were entered into him. Vs 31: And they besought him that he would
not command them to go out into the deep.
Vs 32: And there was there a herd of many
swine feeding on the mountain: and they
besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered
them. Vs 33: Then
went the devils out of the man and entered into the swine, and the herd ran
violently down a steep place into the lake and were choked. (Also Matthew
8:28-34).
Devils know that Jesus is real and
know that God is Lord with all power.
·
Acts 19:11-20 (the sons of Sceva): Vs 13: Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call
over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure
you by Jesus whom Paul preaches”. Vs
14: And there were seven sons of one
Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. Vs 15: And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and
Paul I know, but who are you”? Vs
16: And the man in whom the evil
spirit was leaped on them and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so
that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
What kind of faith do “demons” have? We saw how the man with “dead faith” was touched only in his intellect.
Remember, in one’s mind, he or she knows the doctrine of salvation, yet,
have never really submitted their self to God, nor trusted in Jesus for
salvation. They know the right words to say, but don’t back up their words with their works.
The “demons” are touched in their emotions
and intellect, making it one step above a “dead faith”. Keep in mind,
James said in chapter 2:19, “The devils
also believe and tremble” (bristle; shudder; fear).
Believe here is pisteu’o, meaning to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to,
a person or thing); to entrust (one’s spiritual well-being to Christ; commit to
trust; put in trust with).
I’m asking the same question again, “Can this kind of faith save”? No it can’t!
·
A person can be enlightened in
his/her mind and even stirred in their heart and still be lost.
When Paul was tried before King
Agrippa, all the words Paul spoke concerning Moses and the prophets and even of
his own conversion, King Agrippa was touched in his mind and heart, but did not receive Christ into his heart. King Agrippa said to Paul, Acts 26:28,
“Almost thou persuaded me to be a
Christian”.
True saving faith involves something more or something that can be seen and recognized. In this chapter, St. John 2, Jesus performs His first miracle; and speaks of a changed life.
·
Vs 18: Then answered the Jews and said
unto him, “What sign show thou unto us, seeing that thou do these things”?
·
Vs 19: Jesus answered and said unto them,
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”.
The Temple Jesus was saying that He
would raise up, was not that physical Temple, they were in, but it would be His very own body, which was the dwelling place, or Temple of the Living God, that would be raised from the dead.
In John chapter 12, take a look at
what Jesus said: vs 31: Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast
out. Vs 32: And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men unto me. Vs 33: This he said, signifying what death he
should die.
Jesus knew that the only way men (humanity) could be saved, would be through
and by His death, burial, and resurrection!!
·
Romans 10:9: If thou shall confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Vs
10: For with the heart man believes unto
righteousness: and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
·
Hebrews 9:22b: For without shedding of blood is no
remission.
Being a Christian involves trusting
Christ and living for Him. We first receive the life: (Jesus said):
John 10:10: The thief comes
not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that
they might have it more abundantly.
But, to receive this life, we
must do what Romans 10:9 states: If thou shall confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved.
Then we reveal
the life. How do we reveal the
life? We reveal the life by manifesting Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians
1:27). We therefore must manifest the fruit of God’s Spirit which is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance
(Galatians 5:22-23). We must also let
the light of Christ shine through us.
While Jesus was in the world, He was the
light of the world (John 8:12), but we, true believers now are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). So we must let His light shine through
us!
Do we have this kind of faith (saving faith)?
We do if we just believe the right things and feel
the right things.
·
Philippians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are
of good report: if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things.
We do if our service to God does not go beyond what He has told us to do:
·
John 13:34: A new commandment I give unto
you, that you love one another: as I
have loved you, that you also love one another.
Vs 35: By this shall
all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love, one to another.
·
1st Corinthians 10:31: Whether therefore you eat, or
drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Intellectually, adhering to the right doctrines, and living of our emotional experiences: these
two kinds of faith can never save dead
faith. Involving the intellect alone and demonic faith involves emotions
and intellect, and it stops right
there. Thank God for the third faith James describes in verses
20-26:
·
James 2:20: But will thou know, O vain man,
that faith without works is dead? Vs
21: Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Vs22: See thou how faith wrought with his works and by works, was faith
made perfect? Vs 23: And the scripture was fulfilled which
said, “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for
righteousness: and he was called the
Friend of God”. Vs 24: You see then how that by works man is
justified, and not by faith only. Vs
25: Likewise also was not Rahab the
harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent
them out another way? Vs 26: For as the body without the spirit is
dead, so faith without works is dead also.
This is DYNAMIC faith!
What kind of faith is this? We already know from other passages of
scripture that such faith is based upon the Word of God.
·
Romans 10:17: So then faith comes by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God.
·
1st Corinthians 2:5: That your faith should not stand in
the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
·
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are you saved though
faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
·
Ephesians 6:16: Above all, taking the shield of
faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
·
Colossians 1:23: If you continue in the faith
grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which
you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under
heaven: whereof I Paul am made a
minister.
·
Hebrews 10:38: Now the just shall live by
faith: but, if any man draws back, my
soul shall have no pleasure in him.
·
Hebrew 11:6: But without faith it impossible
to please God: for he that comes to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him.
Matter of fact, read the whole of Hebrews
chapter 11, and there are many more scriptures to use. This is just a few.
Dynamic faith involves the WHOLE MAN. Dead
faith involves the intellect. Demonic
faith involves the mind and emotions. Dynamic
faith involves the intellect,
emotions, and the will.
The mind understands the truth.
The heart desires and rejoices
in the truth. The will acts upon the truth. I
will exalt Him. I will praise Him. I will be a doer and not a hearer only. I will obey His Word.
True saving faith then leads to action.
It is not intellectual
contemplation. It is not emotionalism. But it is that which leads to obedience in
doing the will of God.
Let’s look at Abraham and Rahab, two
totally different people. Abraham was
the father of the Jews. Rahab was a
Gentile. Abraham was a godly man! Rahab was a harlot! Abraham was a friend of God. Rahab belonged to the enemies of God. They were very different but they both had a
common denominator. Both had saving faith in God. Abraham demonstrated his saving faith by his works. Rahab demonstrated her saving faith by her works.
Faith without works is a dead faith. This faith only, cannot justify anyone. That perfect faith, that dynamic faith necessitates works.
It is very important that we examine
our own heart and life and make sure we possess true saving faith which is a dynamic
faith. Remember Satan is the great
deceiver and one of his devices is imitation.
If he can convince a person that counterfeit
faith is true faith, he already
has that person in his power.
·
John 10:10: The thief comes not but for to
kill, and to steal, and to destroy: but
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly.
Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection
destroyed the works of the devil. 1st
John 3:8: He that commits sin is of
the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
·
Revelation 20:1: And I saw an angel come down from
heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his
hand. Vs 2: And he laid hold on the dragon (the systems of government), that old serpent
(not a snake, but a type of sly cunning, malicious
person), which is the devil (diab’olos
[traducer; false accuser; slanderer]), and Satan (the accuser; an opponent; the arch-enemy of good;
adversary; withstand], and bound him a thousand years: vs 3: And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal
upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years
should be fulfilled: and after that he
must be loosed a little season.
The devil is already loosed. But the power that Jesus had, He has given
unto us to defeat the enemy that comes against us.
·
Matthew 28:18: And Jesus came and spoke unto
them, saying, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”.
This word power in Greek is exousi’a, meaning, in the sense of ability:
privilege; force; capacity; competency; freedom; mastery; superhuman;
potentate; token of control; delegated influence; authority; jurisdiction;
liberty; power; right; strength. Now
we have this same power!!!
·
Luke 10:19: Behold (look;
see), I give unto you power (exousi’a)
to tread (pate’o) [trample; tread down under
foot] on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the
enemy: and nothing shall by any means
hurt you.
This is all by faith! Let’s thank God
for dynamic faith that lets us step
out on nothing believing God that something’s there!!! This is the kind of faith that rises up on the inside of someone and causes
them to launch out into the deep, because God told them to do so. That dynamic
faith that says, “I’m going if I have
to go by myself”. That dynamic faith that stands and say, “I must be about my Father’s business”. That dynamic
faith that won’t allow you to look at your finances, but to trust God,
knowing that the same God that brought you through that, will bring you through
this!! Same God THEN, is the same God NOW!!!
Launch out in your faith, because, “You are of God, little children (darlings), and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you,
than he that is in the world” (1st John 4:4).
Evangelist Mary Perry
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