James 2 verse 14-26

James 2:14-26

There are three divisions to this chapter.

Verse 1-7.

Verse 8-13.

Verse 14-26.

This is the third division of James chapter 2 (verse 14-26).

It is absolutely necessary to remember that this lesson is directly tied with the two previous lessons!

Matt. 12:34,35, O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. {35} A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

I think it could be rightly said, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

How can you know what a person is really like? The way they act is what they are thinking. The way they act is the way they really are.

I. This scripture is not talking about the means of salvation, but about the marks of salvation. A surface or shallow reading of this scripture leads that person to believe in works for salvation.

A. The Bible teaches salvation by grace without works on the part of man.

1. This is what the Bible teaches from Genesis to Revelation.

2. There is no contradiction in the Bible.

B. A salvation that doesn't produce works is no salvation at all. Note the following comparisons:

Rom. 4:2,5,6 James 2:14-26

1.	Justification before God.	Justification before men.
2.	"Root" faith - below ground, not seen of man.	"Fruit" faith - above ground, seen of men.
3.	Inward.	Outward.
4.	Provision.	Proof.
5.	Means.	Marks.
6.	Know so faith.	Show so faith

C. Those that so preach the gospel so as to exclude the law and those that so preach the law so as to exclude the gospel are in error.

Verse 14 - "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?"

II. The major question of all these scriptures: Can faith alone save?

A. Remember, not talking about what God sees, but what men see.

1. Note context of scripture.

2. V. 1-4 - We don't need to see as men sees, but as God sees.

B. Note the word "say".

1. Implies a person is defending his lack of works by claiming faith covers all.

2. For a man to have faith and to say he has faith is two different things.

3. Many people deceive themselves by claiming to have something they don't have.

4. It's a shame we must say we have faith.

5. Men should see our good works and glorify God. (Matt. 5:16)

Verse 15-18. "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."

III. The first example of Dead faith (Lack of Compassion).

A. A recognition of somebody's very serious problem.

1. A brother or sister, a saved person.

2. Luke 10:29-37 - A closer relation than a stranger.

B. The deceiving heart.

1. The person thinks they've done all they should do when they talk to the person about the problem.

2. They count the desire to do good as the same as doing good.

3. God sees the desire of the heart is to deceive itself.

4. Men see the fruit of this desire is nothing.

5. There is desire which God sees as good, even if that desire isn't accomplished.

a. I Tim. 3:1 - If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. He may not be qualified, but God sees the desire is good.

b. A saved person will have a desire to live a perfect life, but this is impossible. God sees that desire and will reward that person accordingly.

c. We desire to see people saved, and might not see them saved. God sees that desire and will reward us accordingly. But we must remember that only God can save a sinner.

C. There are things needful to the body.

1. A living faith produces fruit for others to see.

2. A living faith produces fruit which helps others grow, and produce fruit themselves.

D. If there is no help for others, we have dead faith (no faith).

1. Living faith is not selfish.

2. It reaches out to others - continually.

E. Doctrinal soundness is no substitute for living faith.

1. This is like enjoying a dead body.

2. The living body brings much delight of communication.

F. Verse 18. A "Show Me" faith.

1. The only way we can see faith is by works.

2. If there are no works, we (as humans) must conclude there is no faith.

Verse 19,20. "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" The second example of dead faith (no communion)."

IV. The devil's belief is dead because there is no worship (adoration) of God.

A. Matt. 8:29.

1. The devils know Jesus is the Son of God.

2. The devils know they are facing the judgment of God.

B. Mark 1:24

1. The devils know Jesus is of Nazareth.

2. The devils know they will be destroyed by Jesus.

3. The devils know Jesus is the Holy One of God.

C. Luke 4:41 - The devils confess that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God.

D. They tremble. They are so frightened that the hair stands up on edge.

1. Acts 24:25, Felix trembled at the power of God, but didn't repent.

2. Daniel 5:6, Belshazzar saw the power of God in the hand which wrote on the wall, but didn't repent.

E. Verse 20. If we only have a faith like the devil's, certainly it is a dead faith.

Verse 21-24. "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

V. The first example of justification by works. Abraham justified before men.

A. Compare (Note the word when in verse 21 and 25).

1. Rom. 4:2,3 - Abraham was justified by faith upon belief.

a. This refers to Gen. 15:6.

b. Isaac was not yet born.

c. Abraham was between 75 and 86 years old.

2. Gen. 22:2. Abraham was justified by works by obeying God's command to offer Isaac.

a. This occurs at least 30 years after Gen. 15:6.

b. Abraham is probably 110 to 120 years old.

B. Verse 22. Abraham proved he believed by his outward acts.

1. Living faith produces living works.

2. Dead faith produces no works.

3. Works do not produce any kind of faith.

4. The word "perfect" means "complete", not without sin or fault.

C. Verse 23.

1. Scripture fulfilled (finished or accomplished)

2. Impute - counted. Abraham is given the righteousness of God and acts upon that righteousness because of belief in the promises of God.

Verse 25, "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?"

VI. A second example of justification by works. Rahab the Harlot justified before men.

A. James compares a very righteous, morally right man to a harlot.

1. Both are justified the same way - by faith.

2. This places justification by works on a foundation of faith, not of supposed moral righteousness.

B. Joshua 2:9. Rahab believed while others were in fear.

1. Rahab acted on her God-given (living) faith, hiding the spies and asking for their protection.

2. Rahab received true faith in God (salvation) when she heard what God had done for Israel.

3. Others acted on their fear and died. They had a dead faith.

C. Rahab received the reward of faith and works acting together.

1. Joshua 6:25 - Rahab remained in Israel all the remainder of her life.

2. Matt. 1:5 - Rachab is Rahab. She married Salmon and was one of the five women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ.

3. She was always called Rahab the harlot except in Matt. 1:5. This shows that a saved person must "live down" the reputation he gained as a lost person. This is sometimes a lengthily process.

Verse 26. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

VII. Conclusion to the entire argument. The third example of a dead faith (No Real Conversion).

A. A living spirit produces evidence in the body. When that spirit leaves, we know the body is dead because of the absence of the internal, invisible, living spirit.

B. Apply the physical truth to spiritual truth. The evidence of an internal, invisible, living Holy Spirit is evidenced only by the outward acts of Holiness.

C. Eph. 2:8-10. Three propositions.

1. by

2. through

3. unto