IF A MAN "SAY" HE HAS FAITH

James 2:14-26

INTRODUCTION
A. These verses of Scripture are very familiar to us. They are the verses that teach us that faith without works is unprofitable; James calls this type of faith, dead faith.

B. A good summation of these verses could be:
1. As God’s people we are to show our faith by our works—we are to do more than just “say” we have faith: works should accompany our faith if we are going to be profitable in the work of the Lord. If we do not have works that accompany our faith the brother or sister isn’t clothed and warmed, the sacrifice of service is not made, and we are not a help to God’s people and His purpose (Rahab).

C. Everything in this summation is true and scriptural, but in the context, is James concerned with the lack of works that are accompanying the saved or is he speaking concerning the absence of saving faith altogether?
1. What is the author saying?
a. As we will discover, these verses do not refer to the saved person who has no works—These verses teach that saving faith WILL produce or result in good works.

D. We like to believe that we cannot tell if a person is saved or unsaved. While we cannot know the heart of man as God knows, the Bible does teach that God’s people, His children who are saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, will stand out from the lost.

E. The Bible reveals evidences that prove one’s faith.

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” 14
profit: advantage

A. To what advantage is it for a man to “say” he has faith?
say: to speak or profess
1. James did not say “What doth it profit……though a man have faith?” but what advantage is it though a man “say he hath faith”
2. A mere profession of faith does not mean a possession of faith, or the natural accompaniments of faith.

“and have not works”
A. How important are works of faith?
1. According to the Bible those who possess faith will have works of faith, thus becoming profitable to and for the Lord.
2. Works of faith are a natural accompaniment of faith; now the man who says he has faith yet no works:

“can faith save him?”
A. There are two kinds of faith here.
faith: A firm relying confidence in the savior Jesus Christ, such a confidence that brings us to repentance and give our lives to him.
faith: An intellectual belief in God and His existence

B. The second faith, “can faith save him?” refers to the intellectual belief in God and His existence.
1. This type of faith cannot save, neither can it or will it produce works of faith.
2. If this type of faith saved, the devils, demons would be saved. 19

C. The Bible teaches that man is saved by grace through faith and not of works (Ephesians 2:8-10). This faith is the first faith, that firm relying confidence in Christ as savoir.
1. When a person has that firm persuasion and conviction, based on God’s Word, that the blood of Jesus saves, and he accepts Christ, he is immediately indwelt with the Holy Spirit.
2. God creates in him a new creature ( 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). He has a new heart, new desires, one that wants to be profitable for his Savoir.
a. It is this faith only that can produce works of faith—it is this kind of faith that is profitable.

Read 15-17*
A. Faith alone is dead, useless in that it is no faith at all.

B. In verses 17, 20, 26 James refers to faith without works being dead, a dead faith.

Application: This is not teaching that some saved people do not have works of faith therefore their faith is dead, as meaning useless to others. This is teaching that faith without works is dead in that it is no faith at all.
1. It is a faith that is dead in trespasses and sins
2. You can be saved and still sin, but you cannot be saved and nothing change.

C. James gives three examples of works of faith.
1. Each work of faith justifies inward faith to man.
2. Abraham was justified before God by his faith, but his works justified him before man—was profitable
3. Rahab also, her faith justified before men by her works

I. WORKS OF BENEVOLENCE 15, 16

A. The second greatest commandment Matthew 22:37-40
1. Love thy neighbor
Application: How many have no heart when it comes to the suffering of others?

II. WORKS OF SACRIFICE 21-24

A. The greatest commandment Matthew 22:37-40
1. Love God with all our heart, soul and mind
B. Committing ourselves a living sacrifice unto God
Romans 12:1, 2

III. WORKS OF SERVICE 25
1. Service to God’s people
2. Love for our brothers and sisters in Christ

A. Who did Rahab help? God’s people
1. She showed her love for God’s people through her service unto them.
2. She sacrificed her own self, her own safety to help the messengers.
Application: We are called to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
1. This love is the evidence of our salvation, 1 John 3:11, 14
2. We are commanded to sacrifice ourselves for our brothers and sisters in Christ 1 John 3:16
3. The absences of this kind of love shows an absence of love for God and is indicative of dead faith 1 John 4:20

CONCLUSION
A. We show our saving faith by our works.
B. The Bible teaches that works accompany saving faith.
C. Read 2:26*--Dead, no life
D. James wants people to know that intellectual faith is the same as demon faith, and cannot save.
E. Saving faith does not just believe the things concerning Jesus, saving faith produces repentance, and true repentance unto salvation produces good works.