James 2b

James 2b

Shawn Bumpers / General

James

Introduction

James 2:17 NKJV

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Ephesians 1:13 NKJV

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Romans 8:9 NKJV

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

There are many reasons why someone might believe themselves to be Christians today when they are not.

Matthew 7:23 NKJV

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

James 2:26 NKJV

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

1 John 1:8 NKJV

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 NKJV

Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Thessalonians 4:12 NKJV

that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Repent: “to change one’s mind.”

Romans 8:7 NASB95

because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

Romans 6:22 NKJV

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

v14-17

πίστις pistis: faith

Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

James 2:19 NKJV

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

We must personally and fully rely on the death of Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

“sit in the chair” 

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Faith is a key doctrine in the Christian life.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Romans 14:23 NKJV

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

faith and works

James 2:17 NKJV

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

DEAD FAITH

Matthew 7:21 NKJV

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Galatians 6:10 NKJV

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Matthew 25:40 NKJV

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Galatians 5:6 NKJV

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

1 John 3:17–18 NKJV

But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

νεκρός nekros: dead

“It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.”

1 John 5:12 NKJV

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

v18-19

demonic faith

δαιμόνιον daimonion: evil spirit.

Luke 8:28 NKJV

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”

Mark 3:11 NKJV

And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.”

Deuteronomy 6:4 NKJV

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!

James 2:19 NKJV

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

They believe and tremble.

James 2:18 NKJV

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Philippians 2:12–13 NKJV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

He closes this section by describing the only kind of faith that can save the sinner—dynamic faith.

v20-26

Dynamic faith

James 1:18 NKJV

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

James 1:21 NKJV

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

action

Genesis 15:5 NKJV

Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

Genesis 15:6 NKJV

And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Justification

James 2:22 NKJV

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

Rahab.

Joshua 2; Joshua 6.   

Luke 12:48 NKJV

But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.