Message Title: Real Faith Works
Message Truth: Faith in God is more than believing the right things, its living the right way because you believe the right things.
Message Text: James 2:14-26
What is Biblical Faith? Well informed reason that leads to trust and action.
Three Kinds of Faith in James
1.Dead Faith (2:14-17) – Intellectual Faith
“Not everyone that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).
People with dead faith substitute words for actions. They know the correct vocabulary for prayer and testimony and can even quote the right verses from the Bible, but their walk does not measure up to their talk. They think that their words are as good as works, and they are wrong.
2.Demonic Faith (2:18-19) – Emotional Faith
You can be enlightened in your mind, stirred in your heart…..but be lost forever.
James wanted to shock his complacent readers, so he used demons as his illustration. What do they believe? For one thing, they believe in the existence of God; they are neither atheists nor agnostics. They also believe in the deity of Christ. Whenever they met Christ when He was on earth, they bore witness to His sonship (Mark 3:11–12). They believe in the existence of a place of punishment (Luke 8:31), and they also recognize Jesus Christ as the Judge (Mark 5:1–13).
The Greek word translated “dead” in James 2:20 carries the meaning of “barren or idle,” like money drawing no interest. James has introduced us to two kinds of faith that can never save the sinner: dead faith (the intellect alone), and demonic faith (the intellect and the emotions).
3.Dynamic Faith- Volitional (2:20–26) Dynamic faith is faith that is real, faith that has power, faith that results in a changed life. James described this true saving faith.
Three examples in Hebrews 11 that describes this faith:
1.Faith redirects and recaptures the worship of your heart (Abel)
2. Faith produces in you a heart of obedience (Enoch)
3.Faith causes you to submit to the calling God has for you. (Noah)
Summary:
- God becomes the object of your worship
- God’s laws become your moral boundaries
- God’s Kingdom Work becomes your joyful calling.
