A Christianity That Works

Part VII How To Have Real Faith
The apostle Paul throughout the NT teaches we are saved by faith. By grace, through faith, we are saved. James comes and says, not just faith, but faith and works. Who is right?

Actually both are, because they’re talking about different things. Paul addresses legalism while James deals with carelessness It doesn't matter what you do as long as you believe – group

Paul uses the word "works" referring to Jewish laws.
James is talking about the lifestyle of a Christian.

Paul focuses on the root of salvation, what happens internally. James focuses on the fruit of salvation, what happens on the outside.

Paul is talking about, How to know you're a Christian.
James is talking about, How to show you're a Christian.

Paul is talking about how to become a believer.
James talks about, how to behave like a believer.

I appreciate that James actually shows us five ways to tell if you've got real faith.

REAL FAITH IS NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU SAY v14 What good is it my brother if a man claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such `faith' save him?

It doesn't say he, actually has faith, he just claims to have it.
Jesus said, "Not everybody who says to me `Lord, Lord' is going to enter into heaven."

REAL FAITH IS NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU FEEL more than emotions. You can be emotionally moved and never act. v15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him `Go, I wish you well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? If, after church, you're getting into you car and you happen to slam your fingers in your car door, and as you're standing there in agony, bleeding on your shoes, I walk up and say, "Man, I really feel for you!" Does that help? Real faith is more than just sympathy, or feelings. Real faith takes action.

James is talking about Christians here. When you become a part of God's family you take on some family responsibilities. A true believer cares about other believers. I John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

· Who can count on you in a crisis?
· How many Christians have the freedom to call you up in the middle of the night if they are in an emergency?

I John 3:14 says that one of the proofs of salvation is that we love other Christians.

Real faith James says must lead me to share with others. v17 In the same way, faith by itself if it's not accompanied by actions is dead. If I don't feel like helping other Christians, my faith isn’t sick, its dead.

REAL FAITH IS NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU THINK For some people, faith is all intellectual - a matter to be studied, debated, talked over and discussed.

James says, I will show you my faith by what I do. Because
Real faith is visible. If you’re a Christian, people should be able to see it. James says, Show me.

Faith is like calories. You can't see them but you can sure see the results.

If you claim to be a Christian I’ve a right to ask you to prove it by looking at your lifestyle.
It doesn't matter what I say. What counts are my actions.

II Corinthians 5:17 Any time a person becomes a Christian he becomes a new person inside, the old things have passed away. All things become new. Not overnight.

How can somebody as big as God enter your life and it not change you?

REAL FAITH IS NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that, and shudder (the Greek word is "to bristle" -- their hair stands up on end.”)

There are a lot of people who have strong beliefs in God, the Bible.. they recite creeds and catechisms. James says, "big deal!" just saying you believe in God, won’t get you into heaven. A lot of folks are going to miss heaven by 18 inches. They've got it in their head but not their heart.

REAL FAITH IS SOMETHING YOU DO v20 You foolish men. Do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. His faith and his actions were working together. His faith was made complete by what he did."

You probably know the story. It was the ultimate test where God asked Abraham to give up his own son. He took his son up. He cut the wood, built the altar and was ready to sacrifice his own son. "We will return" that’s faith!

His works proved his faith. Our faith is not determined by what we do, it is demonstrated by what we do.

Our faith is demonstrated by our actions. Actions speak louder than words.

An old boatman in Scotland had the job of taking passengers across a lake in his rowboat. One day, a passenger inquired concerning the oars the boatman was using. One oar had the word FAITH carved on it and the other WORKS. James isn’t saying you work your way to heaven, nor do works bring salvation. He's saying they demonstrate it.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, for a life of good works God has already prepared for us to do.