Yesterday
We began to LOOK at ‘what use is faith without works’ by considering how faith and works relate to salvation.
Can you explain what the relationship is between faith and works?
Today
We want to focus on v14 regarding someone who ‘says’ he has faith BUT ‘has no works‘.
Do you remember what the Grammar is for ‘says’ and ‘has’?
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It >
Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Let’s Go to the Lord in Prayer
Oh Lord, as you speak Your Words to us today, please open our hearts to receive them and hear with our ears. Oh, may we be quick to hear, slow to speak and anger. May we truly pay attention to what we hear from You: knowing that with the measure we use, it will be measured to us, and still more will be added to us. (Eze 3:10); (Jam 1:19); (Mar 4:24)
LOOK at What God Says
Go to GODcha.
What will you do first?
READ God’s Word
Read James 2:14-20, asking the 5W’s and H.
Focus on James 1:14.
What does James ask?
James wants us to wake up, see what might be wrong with our hearts, and begin to live for what really matters.
Faith that does not create a real change in our lives, is not True Faith.
Let’s take a look.
Let’s scope out a few Cross References regarding those who ‘say’ BUT ‘have no works’.
God Uses Truth to Explain Truth
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
Remember Listen!
1. According to Matthew, who had faith? What was lacking?
Jesus warned the Pharisees and Sadducees, to bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Giving the illustration of Abraham, and that every tree that does NOT bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Mat 3:7-10)
We see: The Pharisees and Sadducees had faith, they believed in God, BUT they had no fruit in keeping with repentance.
What does repentance mean?
It’s just a tap away, don’t take my word for it.
Get these meanings under your belt.
Repentance, metanoéō; a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Turning from unbelief and sin unto God and the gospel of Christ.
Repent means to turn from walking independently of God, to walking dependently upon God. To turn from our sin.
Faith means to turn to God.
STOP! THINK:
According to these verses, how does God evaluate our repentance?
What would fruit in keeping with repentance be? (Luk 3:7-9, 11); (Isa 1:16-17)
LISTEN…
Do I have faith, believe in God, BUT I have no fruit in keeping with repentance?
Or, how does my life demonstrate true repentance?
What are my attitudes, actions and words?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
2. What does Jesus warn about those who ‘say’ BUT ‘have no works’?
a. Jesus warned, not everyone who ‘says’ ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven…BUT he that ‘does’ the will of My Father will enter heaven.
Many will ‘say’ did we not…but Jesus will say, depart from Me, I never knew you who practice lawlessness. (Mat 7:21-23)
b. You might read Mat 7:24-29 to see the illustration of the contrast of 2 men who built houses. One was wise, ‘DOING the Word’ vs. the other who is foolish, who ‘did NOT DO the Word’.
Do you see: how these verses help us understand what we learned in the 1st paragraph of James 2 regarding our judgment that will be according to our deeds; according to what we ‘DO’?
We see: People ‘say’ vs. ‘do’. They substitute words for deeds.
LISTEN…
Do I say, and do the will of the Father?
Or, do I say, substituting words for deeds?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
3. According to Galatians, what would practicing lawlessness in Mat 7 refer to?
a. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
immorality, impurity, sensuality,
idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these,
of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21)
b. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (Eph 5:5-6)
LISTEN…
Do I say, but practice lawlessness?
Would I like to inherit the kingdom of God and not experience the wrath of God?
What will I do?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
4. If we ‘say’, what are we to ‘DO’?
The Lord knows those who are His. Everyone who names the name of the Lord, is to abstain from wickedness [iniquity]. (2Ti 2:19)
Why? To honor the Lord. (2Ti 2:20-21)
LISTEN…
If I name the name of the Lord, am I abstaining from wickedness?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
5. Let’s REASON:
THINK back to Mat 7 regarding those who:
‘DO the Father’s will‘;
Are wise ‘DOING the Word’. . .
From all we have seen in James thus far —
What would ‘DOING the Word’ involve?
THINK: DOING God’s will, DOING His Word would involve:
Enduring through my trials and temptations.
Being quick to hear and receive God’s Word.
Be slow to anger.
Put aside all filthiness and wickedness.
Being an effectual Doer of the Word.
Bridling my tongue.
Helping others in distress.
Keeping myself unstained by the world.
Loving my neighbor, not showing partiality.
Show mercy.
Do you see? James doesn’t want us to be deceived. He wants us to see there is an evidence of our faith.
Understand: That evidence is wrapped up in our actions, our behavior, our conduct!
Understand: Real, genuine faith results in a changed life!
LISTEN…
What is the fruit that is evident in my daily life that is in keeping with repentance?
Or, do I say ‘Lord, Lord,’ but I am not willing to do what the Lord says?
What do I ‘say’? What do I ‘do’? What am I practicing?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
6. What do you see about those who ‘say’; who profess?
They profess to know God, BUT by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (Tit 1:16)
LISTEN…
Do I profess to know God, but I am denying Him by my detestable deeds?
Why do I want a faith and salvation that doesn’t demand anything?
What does this tell me about what is going on in my heart?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
7. What does James say about this kind of faith?
Faith, if it has no works (doesn’t do the Word), is DEAD! (Jam 2:17, 20, 24, 26)
THINK: 4 times James says, ‘faith without works is dead’.
When God REPEATS something, we need to pay attention.
When He repeats something 4 times, then we really need to perk up!
Why is this kind of faith dead and useless?
Because it cannot save. (Jam 2:14, 20)
What Have We LEARNED
Sum It Up!
We LEARN:
The Pharisees and Sadducees believed BUT
- Lacked fruit in keeping with repentance.
- Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be thrown into the fire.
Many ‘say’ vs. ‘do’.
- Those who say Lord, Lord yet practice lawlessness will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
- Those who do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven.
Faith that says, BUT has no works is dead.
It is dead because it is useless, not able to save.
Our Day Has Come to An End
Chew on all God has taught you!
Dear ones, if this is you, do not run from this, receive this Word from a gracious loving Father who loves you and doesn’t want you deceived!
He may be wooing you and drawing you to Himself!
Oh, talk to the the Living God of the Universe!
Record Your Discovery in Your Notes
You can’t remember everything,
So highlight key points and details that might otherwise slip your mind.
Then you can go back and review any time.
Besides, you never know when God will have you share these vital Truths to others!
Get them under your belt!
Turn What We Have LEARNED Into Prayer
Perhaps. . .
OH FATHER, again we thank you that Your Word is ever so clear, revealing to us perhaps what we have not considered about true genuine faith. As we have heard Your Word may we be quick to hear, humbly receiving it, understanding and knowing our behavior, actions and conduct give evidence to our faith. Help us to understand that with true faith there is a changed life that gives evidence to repentance, and a heart that out of love, does Your will – obeys You. Father, please help us understand what kind of faith we have. If there are those who are with us on this journey who are sayers, and not doers, touch and soften their hearts, Lord. If there is anyone who is not bearing fruit of repentance, oh, may he or she repent, turn from their sin and turn to You, so they won’t be cut down, and thrown into the fire, receiving judgment. Father, help us to be wholeheartedly committed to You, to love in deed and truth, manifesting a changed life. We ask these things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Next: We will finish LOOKING at dead faith.
Need the GODcha Bible Guide? Go to www.Godcha.org and subscribe.