How Real Faith Works
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How Real Faith Works
1. Dead Faith
James teaches that faith without works is dead. Just as a dead battery or dead weight is useless, faith that has no action is lifeless. James 2:17 says, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
He illustrates this by asking what good it is if someone claims to have faith but does nothing to help a brother or sister in need. If we only say, “Go in peace, be warm and filled,” without providing for their needs, it accomplishes nothing. Our faith must go beyond words and intentions. Faith that does not lead to acts of love and service is empty and cannot save.
James wants us to realize that faith is not a mere intellectual agreement or verbal expression. It must produce evidence in our lives. True faith naturally expresses itself in love for others and tangible acts of care and compassion.
2. Head Faith
Some people have a head faith—belief that resides only in the intellect without transforming the heart and actions. James addresses this by saying, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19).
Knowing the right doctrines or theological facts is not enough. Even demons have correct theology, but they do not have saving faith. Mere knowledge cannot bear the weight of our eternal security. True faith moves beyond mental assent and is proven through obedience and works.
Faith is not demonstrated by how well we can talk about God but by how we live. Like passengers who claim to trust a pilot but refuse to get on the plane, mere belief without action is incomplete. Real faith is evidenced by acts of obedience and love, as seen in the examples of biblical heroes celebrated for their actions.
3. Spread Faith
James then highlights examples of spread faith, faith that moves outward and affects others. Abraham’s faith was active when he was willing to offer his son Isaac, showing trust in God that led to obedience (James 2:21-23). Abraham believed God, and his faith was completed by his works.
Rahab, a Gentile woman and former prostitute, demonstrated her faith by hiding the Israelite spies and helping them escape safely. Her actions, despite her past, showed her genuine faith.
True faith spreads—it emanates from the heart, moves to the hands, and reaches into the world. It is not about perfection but about the direction and trajectory of our lives. When we look at our actions, we should see evidence that our faith is alive and active.
James concludes with a strong reminder: “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26). Our faith should lead us to serve, obey, and love, showing the world that Christ is alive in us.
A Call to Examine and Respond
We are called to examine ourselves honestly. Are we holding on to a faith that is only intellectual or verbal? Do we see clear evidence of love, obedience, and service flowing from our lives?
If we realize that our faith lacks action, the solution is not to try harder merely to perform more works. Instead, we must turn to God in repentance and ask Him to transform our hearts. As He changes us from the inside out, genuine works will naturally flow from a life rooted in true faith.
Let our faith not be dead or merely intellectual but alive and spreading, showing the reality of Christ in us to the world around us.
SERMON DETAILS
Speaker: Jeff McNicol
Series: James: Real Faith for Real Life
Sermon Title: How Real Faith Works
Date: Oct 20, 2024
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
James 2:14-26
Romans 3:28
Ephesians 2:10
1 John 3:17
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