August 26, 2014
STAYING ALIVE
James 2:14–26
Monica Foote
Central Truth
Our faith in Jesus Christ is meant to be more than intellectual knowledge and is instead a personal relationship that produces true change in our lives because of the change in our hearts.
Key Verse | James 2:26
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:26)
James 2:14–26
Faith Without Works Is Dead
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 1 2:16 Or benefit is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
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! 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.
Dive Deeper | James 2:14–26
Sometimes, I can look at God as a powerful, all-knowing God who rules from afar. Passages like James 2, however, remind me that God wants to have an intimate relationship with me and cares deeply about my heart. God desires the kind of relationship that transforms my values and behaviors so much that my life starts to reveal His nature and grace to the people around me. We begin to live by faith not to just receive eternal life, but as our very lifeline to make it through each and every moment of our lives. This is the difference between a "religious experience" and a daily, personal, intimate relationship with God. God wants us to not just know ABOUT him, but to EXPERIENCE HIM, LEAN ON HIM, and TALK TO HIM throughout our day and throughout our lives.
In James 2:15-16, James describes believers who are not living by their faith, and their behavior is inconsistent with a heart that has been touched by God. In other words, real saving faith will be reflected by the evidence of good works. A Christian who has stopped living by faith day-by-day is similar to a person was has a non-functioning organ in his body. As the organ is dead, so the faith of such a Christian is dead and ineffective. It shows us as believers that it is important to challenge and examine the depth and core of our faith in God and be "doers" of the Word and not just "readers or listeners" (James 1:22).
To clarify, the basis of our salvation is the grace from God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (John 1:12, 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). The presence of good works in our lives testifies to others that we have exercised our saving faith, but is not our justification to get into heaven. What a sweet God we have who allows for a personal relationship with Him so that we can experience His grace, mercy, and love firsthand!
Discussion Questions
1. What would someone assume about your faith from observing your life for a day?
2. What aspect or part of your life do you still need to surrender to God and submit in obedience?
3. How do you experience your relationship with God? How do you feel close to Him? Is it through nature, time in prayer, meditating on the Word, being still, or hobbies like painting, etc.?
4. Take time today to look back at your life and thank God for the victories and experiences that He has blessed you with.