Lesson Text: James 2:14-26 Sunday, February 4, 2018 King James Version(KJV) I. A QUESTION ABOUT FAITH (James 2:14-16) 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? II. COMPARISONS WITH FAITH (James 2:17-20) 17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the
devils also believe, and tremble. 20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? III. ILLUSTRATIONS OF FAITH (James 2:21-26) 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
New International Version (NIV) I. A QUESTION ABOUT FAITH (James 2:14-16) 14. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15. Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16. If one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? II. COMPARISONS WITH FAITH (James 2:17-20) 17. In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18. But someone will say, You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder. 20. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith
without deeds is useless? III. ILLUSTRATIONS OF FAITH (James 2:21-26) 21. Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22. You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God s friend. 24. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
PRACTICAL POINTS FOR DISCUSSION: 1. True faith in the Lord will have works of love and mercy as evidence that it is genuine faith (James 2:14-17). 2. Faith without works is just knowledge; we are to believe, or trust in a way that includes good works (James 2:18-20). 3. Abraham demonstrated that he had faith when he offered his son Isaac on the altar (James 2:21-22). 4. God called faithful Abraham his friend (James 2:23-24). 5. Rahab had such faith in the Lord that she risked her life (James 2:25). 6. As a person s spirit gives life to his or her body, their works show their living faith (James 2:26). ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***