Faith, Without Works, is Dead
Introduction:
1. Paul v. James.
2. Paul makes a
faith-works distinction that identifies excluded works.
3. James makes a
faith-works distinction that identifies included works.
I.
Faith
Without Works
a. What advantage does a man have if he has
faith and no works?
i.
Faith
is not minimized anywhere in the Bible
1.
Rom
5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. 1 John 5:1 - Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every
one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
3. John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
4. Salvation that comes by faith is clearly
taught in the Bible.
5. Even during the Old Testament faith was
necessary for salvation.
a. Look at Heb 11 and read of the Heroes of
Faith.
b. These men were praised because of their
faith.
c.
Heb
11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
ii.
James'
question concerns a faith that has no works.
1. However, the Bible never teaches that
salvation comes by faith only.
a. Rom 3:28 - Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the
deeds of the law.
b. The man who taught that this should read
faith only or alone knows he is adding to the word of God.
c. "It would have been pointless to tell me
that the word 'alone' is not found in the Latin or Greek texts here, for I was
well aware of it... But the word has to be added if the sense of the passage is
to be expressed clearly..." - Whale, J.S., The
Protestant Tradition, University Press: Cambridge, pg. 73 (1962).
2. James seeks to prove that a faith that
expresses itself through obedience to the commandments of the Lord is a faith
that is blessed and is the only faith that is blessed.
a. The consequence is that there is not
advantage to a faith that has no works.
b. Because there is no advantage there is no
blessing or good associated with a faith only life.
b. Can that faith save him?
i.
The
rhetorical question is answered, NO!
1. The question and answer then could have
been written; That faith cannot save.
a. The faith under question is "THAT FAITH"
b. What is "That Faith?"
c. "That Faith" is a faith without works.
2. The logical continuation of the thought
is to ask what works.
a. James is concerned with works that are
associated with salvation.
b. This means that faith in the absence of
the commandments of the Lord cannot save anyone.
ii.
Faith
without works of obedience is dead.
1. Surely no one would deny.
a. However, the majority of the religious
world takes the concept of faith only into this very realm.
b. It is their contention that man can do
nothing to affect his salvation.
c. Yet these same individuals demand that
people come to church, believe God, give in the offering plate, and make
spiritual feigning.
i.
FOR
WHAT? If faith only is all that is
required.
ii.
It is
hypocritical to suppose that man is saved by faith alone and then require that
man does something.
2. The doctrine of faith only means that the
plan of salvation is grace.
a. They teach that repentance, confession,
baptism and faithful living are not a part of man's salvation.
b. Yet they desire to rely upon grace to
make them whole.
c. Faith only means that God's grace has to
work but the man does nothing.
3. It is easy to see then why faith without
works is dead.
a. It is barren, empty, profitless, and
dead.
b. All because it is outside of the
commandments of God.
II. Living By Faith Without Works
a. The doctrine of Faith only is a mere
profession without obedience.
i.
Example
of brother and sister.
1. The brother and sister are not Christians
but fellow Jews.
2. These are naked and destitute
a. Naked means - without sufficient clothes
i.
Not
necessarily without clothes but lacked the ones needed for the weather.
ii.
i.e.
no coat in winter, nothing clean to wear and nothing to clean it with.
iii.
They
look like beggars when in fact they are not.
b. "Lack of Daily Food" indicates the person
is in the greatest possible destitution.
i.
Had
no way of getting food.
ii.
Had
not eaten in several days.
iii.
Emaciated
like the pictures you see of holocaust victims.
ii.
Example
of Faith only
1. James uses the word you here to denote a
specific attack towards the faith only purveyors.
a. James shows them that they want to deal
with the matter of these naked and destitute souls as quickly as possible.
b. "Go in peace" implies the wish for them
to be prosperous and happy inwardly and outwardly.
i.
It
is a common farewell showing the response to their troubles is Christians
running from them.
ii.
We
must recognize how empty these words truly are.
c. "Be ye warmed and filled" implies that
these people get themselves warm and full of food.
i.
I
believe it correlates to the idea that God will provide and we don't have to do
anything.
ii.
A
statement about relying upon God to give them warmth and food without man
having to help these naked and destitute.
iii.
A
wave of the hand and dismissal of all responsibility toward these poor souls.
2. James condemns them because they did not
supply anything to help them physically.
a. Empty words - they merely acknowledged
their sad condition.
i.
This
acknowledgement resulted in a rejection of one's duty and responsibility.
ii.
An
meaningless gesture to acknowledge someone's ailments and continue on without
answer.
b. There is no profit, blessing or advantage
here.
i.
One
is not warmed by good wishes.
ii.
One
cannot fill an empty stomach with good greetings and farewells.
b. Living by Faith Only is Death
i.
"Even
So" records the conclusion of James' argument.
1. As there is no benefit to good gestures
that have no good deeds, faith that has no works is without profit.
2. Since there is no profit it is dead.
ii.
"In
Itself" is an interesting phrase
1. Teaches us that faith only has an
inherent flaw.
2. The flaw is that it lacks anything that
produces life.
a. It is imperfect, partial, fragmented.
b. It is dead because there is nothing to
give it life.
3. God teaches us that obedience is the
mainstay of life.
a. Rev 22:14 - Blessed are they that
do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may
enter in through the gates into the city.
b. Mark 10:17-21 - And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and
kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit
eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none
good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit
adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not,
Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all
these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and
said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast,
and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up
the cross, and follow me.
c. We must do to have eternal life.
III. Faith Only In the Church
a.