Speaker: Pastor Steve Byrens

James 2:18 (NLT), “Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

LIFEPOINT: To know information about Jesus, but not be changed by Jesus, is not saving faith!

I recently read about a pastor who was asked to be part of a suicide prevention team that was designed to assist Army reservists who were returning from Iraq. There had been a large spike in the number of soldiers taking their own lives, so the local authorities were looking for ways to help. The pastor agreed to join a team of four types of specialists dealing with physical, mental, spiritual, and social skills. One of the first team members the pastor met was an army medical doctor from Washington DC. Everyone found the doctor to be a very engaging and enjoyable person, and a true expert on resiliency and suicide prevention. But sadly, shortly after the prevention program was launched, this doctor tragically took his own life. It came as a complete shock to those who knew him. It was a devastating example of the difference between having information, and applying it to your life.
Today as we study our passage in James chapter 2, we find a warning about this very issue concerning our faith in Jesus Christ. James wants us to make sure our faith is saving faith. This is important for us to consider, because true biblical faith is more than just knowing something is true. It also includes a radical change of heart that leads to good works in obedience to God’s commands. James wants his readers to understand a powerful truth: To know information about Jesus, but not be changed by Jesus, is not saving faith!

In His Service
Pastor Steve

James 2:14-26 (NLT), “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”

Romans 1:16-17 (NLT), “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Ephesians 2:8 (NLT) “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

Saving faith is life-changing faith! True faith in Jesus Christ will lead a believer to do good works as they grow in their obedience to God and His Word! 

LIFEPOINT: To know information about Jesus, but not be changed by Jesus, is not saving faith!

Three different kinds of faith:

1. Dead or Useless Faith (14-17)

Do I have this type of faith: I might, if my walk does not line up with my talk. Or if my works don't line up with my words.

"No man can come to Christ by faith and remain the same, anymore than he came into contact with a 220-volt wire and remain the same." - Pastor Warren Wiersbe

1 John 5:12 (NLT), “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.”


2. Demonic and Deceptive Faith (Vs 18-19 )

James 2:18-19 (NLT), “Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds. 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”

Do I have this type of faith: I might, if I only believe the right things and feel the right things, but am not changed through a personal relationship to Jesus Christ.

3. Dynamic and Saving Faith (20-26)

James 2:20-26 (NLT), “How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”

Romans 10:17 (ESV), “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”

Dead and Useless Faith only manages to touch the intellect or mind.  
Demonic and Deceptive Faith manages to engage both the mind and the emotions.
Dynamic and Saving Faith engages the mind, the emotions, and (here’s the key) it also engages the Will!

Do I have dynamic and saving faith:

• Can I point to a time when I genuinely recognized I was a sinner and admitted this to myself and to God
• Have I ever been seriously worked up over my sins?
• Do I truly understand that apart from Christ I stand under the wrath and judgment of a Holy God?
• Do I truly understand the Gospel, that Christ died for MY sins and then rose again? 
• Am I willing to admit and confess that I cannot save myself?
• Do I regularly and sincerely repent of my sins, making the decision to turn from them? 
• Do I now genuinely hate sin and fear God? Or do I secretly love sin and want to enjoy it?
• Have I trusted in Christ alone for my salvation, and responded in obedience to His commands as evidence of my faith?
• Is there any evidence of a change in my life? 
• Do I participate in good works as commanded by God?
• Do I desire to grow in my relationship with the Lord? 
• Do I have a desire to share Christ with those who are lost? Or am I ashamed of Him? 
• Do I look forward to and enjoy the fellowship of God's people? 
• Are times of worship and prayer a delight to me?
• Am I ready for the Lord's return? Or will I be ashamed when He comes for me?