[James 2, Proverbs 25]

H – 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?”

E – Real Faith – Real Works

I’m currently preaching through 1 Thessalonians. The current sermon series is “Real.”  Last week I preached on ‘Real Christianity’ from 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3. In James 2 you also see a picture of real Christianity. Matter of fact, all we have to do is open up the Bible and we will see example after example of what real faith, real belief, looks like. 

James probably wrote the most simple example of what real faith actually is. Real Faith, Real Christianity is active in works. I can almost hear and see it. You may have already squinted your face or shuck your head, saying “but, in Ephesians 2:8-9 it says……!” Hear me out. I think we get hung up on the word “WORKS.” I do too. I have made the statement time and time again that God did not create you and I to be human doings, but human beings. Doing speaks of working for something, being speaks of being in something else. But, my doing does not save me. Well then, why “works”?

What if works is not what you and I think it is? What if I’m equating works to an 8-5 job? What if I’m thinking works is what I earn to accomplish a means (like money, a house, vehicles, etc.)? What if I’m thinking like a job that I work at until I can’t or I’m good to retire and live off what I’ve already done? But, what if works was simply “active obedience”? What if works is not working for something, but from somethings? Ah, that changes things. 

You see, a verbal testimony alone is not adequate evidence that true saving faith is present. Only works of obedience can prove the presence of genuine faith. If someone says they have faith but lacks the resulting evidential works, one must doubt that he has been saved. I can claim all I want to, but if there is not active obedience to the saving faith of Jesus in my life, my life and faith is actually dead. Unchanged lives do not have faith in Jesus. Being faith in Jesus is active (1:22), you can’t help but to live a changed life (notice I did not say perfect). A faith that doesn’t use you for Jesus is not faith in Jesus. My obedience to Jesus compliments my intellectual verbal faith in Jesus. 

(I don’t know any other ways to put it!)

Don’t be foolish, my verbal confession of faith in Christ apart from active obedient in Christ is useless and dead (1:20).

A – Seek The Lord. Allow Jesus to change me anew. Be active in my obedience. 

[I can start with the Great Commandment and Great Commission].

R – Lord God, thank you for saving faith. I know my faith in you is real because only you could change, are changing, and will change a person like me. Lord, I need you like flowers need rain. I need you to pour your spirit out in my life. God I desire to remain in you and you in me. Help me. Convict me of the moments that I’m working for my salvation and not through my salvation. I pray my faith would be genuine to others and all they would see is Jesus. God, I pray for others that think they are saved by something they did but have never allowed you to change their life. Lord, would you reveal yourself to them and would we see a great surrender. 

In Jesus Name!