James 2:14-26 (HCSB)James 2:14-26 (HCSB) 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works?

Can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, 16

and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you don't give

them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way faith, if it doesn't have

works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show

me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. 19 You believe that

God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder. 20 Foolish man! Are

you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father

justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was

active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected. 23 So the Scripture was

fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness ,

and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith

alone. 25 And in the same way, wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when

she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route? 26 For just as the

body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

A Biblical view of worksA Biblical view of works

The Doctrine of Work vs. The Doctrine of Works?

Work refers to 3 things in scripture The Work of God The Work of Man Religious Works

Are they a means to salvation or a proof of faith?

The Work of GodThe Work of God Creation – Genesis 2:2-3

22 By the seventh day, God completed His work that He had done, By the seventh day, God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. done. 33 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.He rested from His work of creation.

Sustainment – Hebrews 1:3 33 He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature,

and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making and He sustains all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. high.

Salvation - John 19:28-30John 19:28-30 2828 After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now

accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, "I'm accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, "I'm thirsty!" thirsty!" 2929 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth.    sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth.    3030 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

The Work of ManThe Work of Man In Obedience – Genesis 1:26

2626 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals, all the earth, and the creatures the animals, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth."that crawl on the earth."

For Purpose & Provision – 1 Timothy 5:8 88 Now if anyone does not provide for his own Now if anyone does not provide for his own

relatives, and especially for his household, he relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.unbeliever.

Religious worksReligious works

Replacing Grace with Works is sinful Religion is compared to…

Ezekiel 9:4 99 "Also take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt. Put them in a "Also take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt. Put them in a

single container and make them into bread for yourself. You are to eat it single container and make them into bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the number of days you lie on your side, 390 days. during the number of days you lie on your side, 390 days. 1010 The food you The food you eat each day will be eight ounces by weight; you will eat it from time to eat each day will be eight ounces by weight; you will eat it from time to time. time. 1111 You are also to drink water by measure, one-sixth of a gallon, You are also to drink water by measure, one-sixth of a gallon, [which] you will drink from time to time. [which] you will drink from time to time. 1212 You will eat it as [you would] a You will eat it as [you would] a barley cake and bake it over dried human excrement in their sight." barley cake and bake it over dried human excrement in their sight." 1313 The The LLORD said, "This is how the Israelites will eat their bread—ceremonially said, "This is how the Israelites will eat their bread—ceremonially unclean—among the nations where I will banish them."unclean—among the nations where I will banish them."

Ezekiel 36:16-18 1616 The word of the L The word of the LORD came to me: came to me: 1717 "Son of man, while the house of "Son of man, while the house of

Israel lived in their land, they defiled it with their conduct and actions. Israel lived in their land, they defiled it with their conduct and actions. Their behavior before Me was like menstrual impurity. Their behavior before Me was like menstrual impurity. 1818 So I poured out So I poured out My wrath on them because of the blood they had shed on the land, and My wrath on them because of the blood they had shed on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols.because they had defiled it with their idols.

Religious worksReligious works

Motive is the key – Questioned culled from James 2 What Good is claiming faith if it is not lived? James 2:14 What’s better? Preaching to the poor or feeding the

poor? James 2:15-17 Is faith meant to be stated or is it meant to be lived?

James 2:18 Am I any better than a demon? James 2:19 Am I any better than a pagan? James 2:20-24; Genesis

12:1-4 Am I any better than a prostitute? James 2:25; Joshua

2:1-13 Faith – Works = a dead religion James 2:26