DEFINING FAITH

In order to trust Jesus, I need a clear understanding of faith.

(James 2:14-25) What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

1. Real Faith is Faith That SAVES

(John 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(John 20:28) Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

A. Am I saved because I believe Jesus is the living God?

(James 2:19) You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.

B. Am I saved because I acknowledge that Jesus is Lord?

(Matthew 7:21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

(James 2:14) What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

C. I am saved only by a serious faith that commits my life to Jesus!

(Mark 8:34) Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it.”

2. Real Faith is Faith That LIVES

(James 2:17) Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

A. Faith that lives is faith that doesn’t just believe things – it DOES things.

B. Actions and deeds give life to my faith.

(James 2:26) As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

(James 2:20) Faith without deeds is useless.

3. Real Faith is Faith That GROWS

A. Real faith grows me!

B. Real faith changes me!

C. Real faith lifts me!

(21-23) Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.