How Does Faith Work

1
How Does Faith Work?

• James 214-26

2
Review of James

• Week 1 Responding Well in Trials

3
Review of James

• Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to
  sin and when sin is accomplished, it brings
  forth death.
• James 115

4
Review of James

• Week 1 Responding Well in Trials
• Week 2 Hear and Obey the Word

5
Review of James

• Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all
  that remains of wickedness, in humility receive
  the word implanted, which is able to save your
  souls.
• James 121

6
Review of James

• Week 1 Responding Well in Trials
• Week 2 Hear and Obey the Word
• Week 3 Avoid Favoritism

7
Review of James

• So speak and so act as those who are to be
  judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will
  be merciless to one who has shown no mercy mercy
  triumphs over judgment.
• James 212-13

8
Review of James

• Week 1 Responding Well in Trials
• Week 2 Hear and Obey the Word
• Week 3 Avoid Favoritism
• Week 4 Live What You Believe

9
James 214-26

• I. Faith Without Works Cannot Save Life (14-17).

10
Interpretive Options

• A. Works are a condition of receiving eternal
  life in heaven.

11
Interpretive Options

• Now to the one who works, his wage is not
  credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to
  the one who does not work, but believes in Him
  who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited
  as righteousness.
• Romans 44-5

12
Interpretive Options

• For we maintain that a man is justified by faith
  apart from works of the Law.
• Romans 328

13
Interpretive Options

• A. Works are a condition of receiving eternal
  life in heaven.
• B. If you are disobedient, it proves you were
  never saved.

14
Interpretive Options

• - James calls his readers brothers fourteen
  times in this short book!
• - A person could never be certain of salvation (1
  Jn. 513).
• - 1 Corinthians 310-15 indicates that some
  believers are disobedient and carnal.

15
Interpretive Options

• According to the grace of God which was given to
  me, like a wise master builder I laid a
  foundation, and another is building on it. But
  each man must be careful how he builds on it. For
  no man can lay a foundation other than the one
  which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

16
Interpretive Options

• Now if any man builds on the foundation with
  gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
  each mans work will become evident for the day
  will show it because it is to be revealed with
  fire, and the fire itself will test the quality
  of each mans work.

17
Interpretive Options

• If any mans work which he has built on it
  remains, he will receive a reward. If any mans
  work is burned up, he will suffer loss but he
  himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
• 1 Corinthians 310-15

18
Interpretive Options

• A. Works are a condition of receiving eternal
  life in heaven.
• B. If you are disobedient, it proves you were
  never saved.
• C. Save does not refer here to eternal life,
  but to something else.

19
The Big Question

• Saved from what?

20
The Big Question

• Possible Options
• 1. Physical deliverance from death or sickness
  (Mt. 2749 Mt. 825 Mt. 1430)
• 2. Salvation from this world at the time of
  Jesus return (Rom 1311).
• 3. Salvation from the power of sin in our lives,
  i.e. sanctification (1 Peter 22).
• 4. Salvation for believers from the consequences
  of sin (James 115 1 Cor. 310-15).

21
The Big Question

• In this context
• - Salvation from the consequences of sin
• - At the judgment seat of Christ (112-13).
• - In our earthly lives (121 520).

22
James 214-26

• I. Faith Without Works Cannot Save Life (14-17).
• II. Faith and Works Belong Together (18-20).

23
Imaginary Objector

• But someone will say, How are the dead raised?
  And with what kind of body do they come? You
  fool! That which you sow does not come to life
  unless it dies.
• 1 Corinthians 1535-36

24
Imaginary Objector

• 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.
• James 218, NASB

25
Imaginary Objector

• But someone will say, You have faith I have
  deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I
  will show you my faith by what I do.
• James 218, NIV

26
Imaginary Objector

• But someone will say, You have faith I have
  deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I
  will show you my faith by what I do. You believe
  that there is one God. Good! Even the demons
  believe thatand shudder.
• James 218-19

27
Imaginary Objector

• His point
• - Pretend you have faith, and I have works with
  my faith.
• - Neither of us can really show our faith.
• - For you, faith produce a response of works.
• - But for the demons, it only makes them
  shudder.

28
Imaginary Objector

• SO
• Faith and works are separable!

29
Imaginary Objector

• James Response (v. 20)
• Faith is dead and useless apart from works!

30
James 214-26

• I. Faith Without Works Cannot Save Life (14-17).
• II. Faith and Works Belong Together (18-20).
• III. Works Bring Faith to Maturity (21-26).

31
A Mature Faith

• - Abraham believes in God (Gen 156).
• - Abraham sacrifices Isaac (Gen 22).

32
A Mature Faith

• If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he
  had something to boast aboutbut not before God.
  For what does the Scripture say? Abraham
  believed God, and it was credited to him as
  righteousness.
• Romans 42-3

33
A Mature Faith

• By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she
  welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who
  were disobedient.
• Hebrews 1131

34
James 214-26

• I. Faith Without Works Cannot Save Life (14-17).
• II. Faith and Works Belong Together (18-20).
• III. Works Bring Faith to Maturity (21-26).

35
Application

• - What areas of your life require obedience to
  Christ?
• - Where is your own faith immature and
  incomplete?

36
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