Show Me Your Faith James 2:14-26
John 13:34, 35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
I. The Assumptions of Many (v.14) A. People can be saved through faith in Christ. B. James' question needs an answer. Can faith save him?
Ephesians 2:1-10 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
C. People are saved through faith in Christ. D. People need to be sure about their faith: that it is real? - There is the possibility of confession without possession. - The importance of evaluation concerning our profession.
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you are disqualified." E. This passage (vv. 14-26) - First, James spoke of a faith that is without works. - Can that kind of faith save him? - James views the situation from the earthly or human - In other words; saving faith produces godly works.
II. Saving Faith is More Than Confessing a Creed. v.17 A. The Truth about Salvation. - John 6:44, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will rise him up at the last day." 2 Cor. 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. B. Salvation is a free gift from God and not earned. - Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Romans 8:14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Galatians 5:22-25, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
C. When a person is truly saved, they receive assurance. 1 John 3:14, We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Romans 8:9b, Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he in not His.
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 10:8b-10 the word of faith which we preach: 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John 3:5-7 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.