Faith in Action. Lesson 3: Working Your Faith. James 2: Faith without Works is Empty

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1 Faith in Action Lesson 3: Working Your Faith James 2:14 26 Faith without Works is Empty In a nutshell ~ Only God can forgive sin but once we have freely received of His grace and mercy, He commands that we show that same heart attitude in action towards others. If, on the other hand, we withhold mercy, compassion, and kindness, we show that we either don t understand God s mercy or we don t appreciate it for what it is. From the beginning of James epistle, he emphasized the importance of faith in trials and becoming a doer of the Word. Now he ties that teaching to actions on the part of the believer to prove that faith and works go hand in hand. James wants his readers to know they can and must have faith that works. Read James 2: In verses 14 18, James puts forth the argument that the believer s works are not done apart from faith but done because of faith. 1. To begin with, James asks two rhetorical questions about faith and works in verse 14. What does he ask? a. b. If faith without works is useless as James says, then it also is not able to save anyone; it is lifeless and not genuine. God s offer of salvation through the Gospel message must be heard, received, and lived out in action for it to be real. c. What does Jesus say about it in John 14:12? d. What does the Apostle Paul teach about it in Ephesians 2:8 10? 1

2 2. James puts forth a hypothetical but very common situation involving someone in a church fellowship to illustrate his point. vv a. What is the need? b. What is the obvious conclusion? There is a time to pray and there is a time to act, but all too often we use our words to address a need when God wants to use us! To wish someone a blessing when it is within our power and means to meet the need is a missed opportunity. To take it a step further, when a believer senses the conviction or leading of the Holy Spirit to reach out to someone but then refuses to do so, there is reason to question the validity of that faith. 3. What strong term does James use in speaking of this? v. 17 Look up this word and briefly note its meaning in the space below. It perhaps sounds harsh to the casual reader but the serious Bible student will be able to look at it from another direction. Verse 18 presents a dialogue between James and an imaginary person who says to him: You have faith and I have works, meaning that faith can be sliced and diced as separate ways to express belief. But James says, Show me you faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. The strong point James is making is faith that believes the words of Jesus must also exhibit the works of Jesus to be real. 4. Personal: If someone were observing you in order to make a recommendation on whether or not you would be a good candidate to serve in a ministry position, what conclusion would they draw about how much of your faith is responded to in your daily lifestyle? Please explain. 2

3 Key Verse ~ (Memory verse) James 2:18 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. Review this verse often throughout the week. Write it out a couple of times in the space provided to help you commit it to memory. By week s end, try to notice how and where you are able to put it into practice. Note your results. Faith that Works James had warned that faith without works is useless, amounting to no more than an empty assertion. Now he will speak of the dangers of merely giving mental assent to a doctrine or creed. Speaking to an imaginary person in verse 18, James states clearly that faith and works are united you cannot have one without the other. Both must be present and operating for belief to be real! Read James 2:19 26 for review. 1. In addressing the possibility of someone that claims to believe but lacks works, to what group does James point to prove that not everyone professing the existence of God has accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ? What is their response according to their belief? v.19 Here James speaks of intellectual faith believing the truth in the mind but without transformation taking place in the heart. a. According to Matthew 8:29 and Mark 5:7, what did the demons in these encounters with Jesus profess about Him? What does it mean when we say that demons believe what do they believe? They believe in the existence of God and a place of punishment that is in torment (Luke 8:31; and Revelation 14:11). They also believe in the deity of Christ as stated in the previous question, and they recognize Him as the final Judge (Mark 5:1 13). Believing and trembling do not amount to a salvation experience. It s possible to have an enlightened mind but a lost soul. 3

4 The point here is that if the works of faith are not in evidence, then the reality of a person s faith is very much in doubt. The genuine belief that results in salvation responds to Christ with acts of obedience and trust. It involves more than personal belief it results in a transformed life! b. Believing the truth without obeying the truth does not save a person. In fact, what does James emphasize about intellectual belief that is not accompanied by works? v. 20 The word foolish (v. 20) can be translated as empty-handed. While the NKJV translates it as dead, the original Greek text uses the same word found in 2 Peter 1:8, meaning barren or unfruitful. Up close ~ God knows of the certainty of your faith long before you become aware of it. How do you come to know that your faith is genuine? You will begin to possess the assurance of it as you respond to God in acts of obedience. Remember: it is not obedience that saves you; rather it proves that you belong to Him. Share a recent happening that resulted in your obedience and in you sensing the pleasure of God. In contrast to the foolish man whose works are empty, James goes on to cite two contrasting examples of faith that works (vv ): Abraham and Rahab. Abraham, a man of integrity, became know as the friend of God, while Rahab, a prostitute, is mentioned in the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:5). The Old Testament stories of these two individuals serve to give living testimony of genuine faith exhibited through good deeds. Both of them are listed in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith. 2. What do you learn about Abraham s faith from verses 21 24? (Pay particular attention to verse 22.) Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6), approximately thirty years before offering up his son Isaac to God (Genesis 22:1 18). It was his earlier faith that prompted his obedience, resulting in God s promise being fulfilled that he would become the father of many nations. a. What was Abraham thereafter called because of his obedience? v. 23 4

5 b. What similar lesson does Jesus apply to His followers in John 15:14 15? Does this include you? Please share your thoughts. c. What conclusion does James draw from the example of Abraham s life? v. 24 Turning from the example of a man of great character, James turns his attention to a woman of ill repute. 3. Read the account of Rahab in Joshua 2. At the risk of her own life, what did Rahab s faith in Israel s God motivate her to do? vv James concludes his argument by saying that just as a body without a spirit is a dead corpse, so faith without works is dead (v. 26). In other words, a barren belief grounded in the intellect of the mind has no more usefulness than a human body without the breath of life. He makes it crystal clear that faith in action is the only evidence of real faith! Touch point~ James letter is not intended to be used as a tool to judge the faith of others, but rather a test of one s own. You can t produce faith it is the gift of God, but you can prove your faith. When faith is genuine, it will motivate you to respond with the attitude and actions of a grateful heart. Do you pass the test? Take some time to meditate on 1 John 3:16 23, and note what these verses say about the outworking of love in your life as a believer. Put feet to your faith this week by looking for opportunities: to provide a meal to someone in need; babysit for a friend/neighbor; clean house for someone who is sick; run an errand for a shut-in; pull weeds, mow a lawn, or arrange a floral bouquet to lift someone s spirit. Make note below of the opportunities you are presented with and how you respond. 5

6 The wisdom to be discovered in James is likened to beautiful pearls held lovingly in the Father s hand, waiting to be dropped one by one into the reader s mind and heart. The value of each is priceless (Matthew 13:45 46). At the Spirit s leading, select one Pearl of Truth from your lesson and explain why it is precious to you. Pearl of Truth ~ Take the Pearl of Truth you ve selected and pray it back to God. Praying the Word not only blesses His heart, it allows you to make it your own! As you showcase it by putting it on display in your life, others will be drawn to the Lord by its beauty. Write out your prayer in the space provided below. Pray the Truth ~ Janis J. Vance, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. 6

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