Faith @ Work

Truth for Tough Times: James Chapter 2

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:17, ESV).

Real Faith Works… if it doesn’t work, it’s not real faith!

DOES YOUR FAITH WORK?

Question One: Is your faith all lip service or is it a lifestyle? 

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 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? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:14–17, ESV).

• What Good is a “lip-service” faith
  
  God doesn’t need your good works, your neighbor does 
  Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone. 
  
• Can a “Lip-service” FAITH actually save you?
  
  If your faith is all talk and no action… is that really a saving faith? 
  Faith works! If it’s not working, it’s not real Fatih
  
• A “lip-service” faith is a dead faith
  God works FOR you, God works IN you, God works THROUGH you

Do you have the faith of a demon or the faith of a disciple? 

18 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. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (James 2:18–19, ESV).

• True faith is not just belief in what is true, but a relationship with truth itself
  

“Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 

• In the Scriptures there is practically no effort made to define faith. Outside of a brief fourteen-word definition in Hebrews 11:1, I know of no Biblical definition, and even there faith is defined functionally, not philosophically; that is, it is a statement of what faith is in operation, not what it is in essence. It assumes the presence of faith and shows what it results in, rather than what it is. We will be wise to go just that far and attempt to go no further. We are told from whence it comes and by what means: “Faith is a gift of God,” and “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” This much is clear, and, to paraphrase Thomas à Kempis, “I had rather exercise faith than know the definition thereof.”  The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

Are you working for your faith or is your faith working for you?

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 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. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 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? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead (James 2:20–26, ESV).

True faith looks like bold, audacious actions that show a true belief that God is who he says he is and trusts him to do what he said he will do.

True faith brings about a life FULL of RIGHTEOUS FRUIT

False faith brings about a life FILLED with ROTTEN fruit