James Pt. 5: Faith/Works

Hope Fellowship Church Oct 7 – 13, 2018 ========== James: Faith / Works James is a book of timeless wisdom for practical living. It tackles real issues and struggles, that we will face in life, like temptation, wisdom, self-control, anger, arrogance, suffering, and so much more. James challenges our character and calls us to action directed by our faith. James takes principles and makes them practical. ========== James’ argument: While faith alone saves us, it’s a faith of a certain kind. James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? James is not arguing that works must be added to faith. If he argues that way, the cross of Christ is meaningless. · What faith is? --------------------- Trust and obeys God --------------------- · What is works? 1. Faith without works is useless. James 2:15-16 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? Matthew 25:40-43 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 2. Faith without works cannot save us. James 2:17-25 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? A. Show me your faith without works. B. Intellectual assent to correct doctrine is not salvation. C. Faith alone saves you, but not faith that is alone. 3. Faith without works is ineffective. 4. Faith without works is dead. James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. [Image] Stay up to date on Hope events! https://imageproxy-cdn.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/27448925-1538745271068.jpg Generosity You can give online by clicking the link below. We thank you so much for all of your generosity! http://www.hopeinanderson.com/generosity Thanks for Joining Us! Thanks for being with us this week. To find out more about Hope, check out our website. http://www.hopeinanderson.com