James 2:18-26

James 2:18-20

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

● James challenges us to inspect our faith● I say “I have faith”● James says, “I can’t see your faith but I can see your works;

show me your works!”

● v. 20 - what do demons believe?● That there is a God● That there is one God● That God should be feared● Any belief system that affirms the facts of the Bible about

God but doesn’t affect a heart change/life change● An understanding of Jesus without an affection for Jesus

James 2:20-26

20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

● To clarify faith and works, James gives 3 illustrations: a Jew, a Gentile, a dead body

● We are made righteous by faith through the works of Christ on the crosso 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Cor. 1:30; Phil. 3:9

● We work out our faith as evidence & to form and shape uso Phil. 2:13; 2 Cor. 5:9

● Abraham’s timeline:o Gen. 15:6 - saved by faitho Gen. 22 - “justified” by faith

● James and Paul are showing different facets of faith:o Paul - unto salvation James - leading to works

● And different facets of justification:o Paul - unto salvation James - a

proof or working out of salvation

● James isn’t confronting how to get to heaven; he’s confronting the fat middle of Christianity - those who profess and don’t doo Cultural Christians- 25%o Congregational Christians- 25%o Convictional Christians- 25%

● “The ‘squishy middle’ is collapsing while convictional Christians are staying relatively steady.”- Stetzer

● No one needs 1 and 2!!

● Are we preaching works/do?o Yes - to the degree that my works flow from and show

my love for Jesus (John 14:15)● We must divorce from the idea of doing good works to earn

God’s love/salvation● Think of it as continuing the works of Jesus

● What are these works?o Broadly - worship, morality and ministry - IVPo Specifically - discipline/relationships

● James says:o If you are saved you will worko I’m concerned about the people who claim faith but they

are corpseso Dead faith without life; no living reality

● “The grace that does not change my life cannot change my soul.”- Spurgeon

Mayor Annise ParkerSteve RiggleDavid WelchKhan HuynhMagda HermidaHernan Castano