BOOK OF JAMES
STUDY PART 11 - FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD
James 2: 14-20 “(14) What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? (15) Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. (16) If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, “ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (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 what I do. (19) You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder. (20) You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
INTRO: The Bible declares that true living faith produces good works in the lives of those who have truly surrendered their hearts to Jesus Christ. Few people realize the seriousness of the lack of works in connection with their Faith. The Bible clearly condemns a faith which produces no works. James in this section of his epistle warns those who rest soley upon an historical faith. Many today are resting on a mere dead orthodoxy for eternal life. These people ignore the need of the inner change which our Savior describes as the new birth in John 3:3.
I. A Profitless Faith (V. 14) “(14) What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? –What good is it or some versions of this passage say “what doth it profit”. James here condemns a so-called faith that is unproductive. A man may say, “Yes, I believe, but does nothing for the cause of Christ: He has no family prayer; He doesn’t read the Word; He doesn’t serve or witness for Christ; He doesn’t instruct his family in the way of the Lord. In other words, his actions say “My life is not at all Christ-like”.. Here, the scripture states that this faith is useless and is no faith at all. It’s just the same as a clock that never tells time or an apple tree which never bears the fruit of an apple. Only a faith that produces works is of any profit (Gal. 5; 22,23). Look at vs. 14 again, If a man claims to have faith or though a man say he hath faith in another version, the key word here is claims or say. Is it possible for a person to say “Lord, Lord and not truly trust in Him? What does scripture say about this. Look at Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone that sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven.” James here does not belittle faith. He states however, if its real it will produce something for God the Father. The only place in scripture where Faith appears more times than in James 2, is in the Faith chapter of Hebrews 11. Last part of vs. 14, but he has no deeds or no works. Paul states, “If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains and have not love, I am nothing- I Corith. 13:2. I Corith 13 is a chapter full of the works of love. James, like Paul, shows a professed faith which shows no love is empty. If this is true, we have the right to ask with James the question, “Can Such Faith Save Him?” Notice the answer. James doesn’t say “can faith save?” but rather “can faith save HIM who is destitute of good works. The answer of course is “no”, faith cannot save him who is destitute of showing good works (Titus 3:5). As we have stated before, we are not saved by good works only through accepting Christ through Faith are we saved. But, then there must be an outward action to follow after Christ.
II. An illustration of one who talks without accompanying action in vs. 15, 16 (15) Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. (16) If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, “ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? – A brother or sister in need- James sets before them one in need. The term “naked” doesn’t mean without any cloths, but refers to one without benefit of outer garments. “and one of you say” in vs. 14 a professed faith and in vs. 16 a professed sympathy. Nice words have little food value or warmth. “Depart in peace; be ye warmed and filled.” These words did not stop the chilling winds from striking his back. They don’t take away the hunger form the stomach-(Gal. 6:10). This man is sent away with nothing but words. There was no effort made to help this man’s condition (I John 3: 17,18). Words not backed by deeds are sheer mockery-(Titus 1:16).. Vs. 16, “what good is it or what doth it profit” in another version. What good are sweet words with no action? Who do they help? No one. “The Lord loveth a cheerful giver” and as Christians scripture state we are exhorted to “bear one anothers burdens”(Gal 6:1 ). Examine yourself right now. If you are satisfied with a faith which produces no works, take a second look at yourself and your faith. This is not a true and living faith.
III. Faith without works is dead (Vs. 17,18) (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 what I do- Again, a real living Faith will produce works. No service can be safely concluded the result of no genuine Faith. A good way to illustrate this is a circle. The source of justification is Grace in Eph. 2:8. The grounds of or for justification is “The Atonement” (Eph. 1:17). This means Faith –Rom 10:17 and Eph 2: 8,9. The evidence is works Eph. 2:10. Titus 3:8 is a faithful saying for believers.
IV. An impossibility (vs. 18) (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 what I do.- 2 parts of this verse. Part 1, “Show me thy faith without deeds or works”- How else does one show forth his faith if not by visible works? It makes sense. A faith which produces no works cannot prove itself. Thus, does this faith exist? Part 2, and “I will show my faith by my works or by what I do”- by this phrase, James makes it clear he is not thinking about salvation being produced by works. Works here are the visible proof of one’s salvation.
V. The Demons believe and tremble (Vs. 19) (19) You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder. First part of vs. 19- “You believe that there is one God”- Remember, who is this book addressed to? Believers. James readers were not atheists. God calls an atheist a fool Ps. 14:1. Neither were his readers idolators. The readers believed in one God- Deut. 6:4. Some poles in the past showed that 94% of people in our land profess to believe in one God. Yet, what a small percent are truly saved. Vs. 19- “Even the demons believe that and tremble or shudder”- Devils should be translated to demons. One devil many demons. Have you ever thought about this passage and the fact that even demons are not atheists? They believe in one God and tremble at the thought of Him. Yet, they remain demons. A head faith and head knowledge that affects neither mouth, nor hands, nor feet, is profitless and dead….
VI. James final pronouncement upon a Faith which produces no works. (Vs. 20) (20) You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? – Want to read to you this verse from the Amplified NT version “Are you willing to be shown (proof) you foolish unproductive , spiritual-deficient fellow, that faith apart from good works is inactive and inefficient and worthless?”- Most people are unwilling to be shown proof (Rev 3:17) And when shown there are unproductive, and spiritual deficient, they get mad or upset. Saving Faith finds the whole man resting completely on Christ for Salvation. Salvation comes by a direct act of the will and committal of ourselves to Christ by Faith (Rom 10:9,10). Any faith that falls short of this is dead. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. Believe means with your whole body, soul, and mind, Lord-who is master, Jesus-who is savior, and Christ who is the anointed one. Believe that He is the Son Of God who died and was buried and was resurrected the 3rd day and paid the price for all our sins.
CONCLUSION: Is your faith alive and productive? Do you display your faith by your works? Are the fruits of the Spirit produced in your life by God? Or is your faith dead? Each person must answer this for themselves. If your faith is dead, receive Christ into your heart and life by Faith receive a Faith that is alive and produces.