Regardless though, the following is the lesson I presented today for the boys who came. The teaching period went really well, with questions asked and most of the kids taking part in the discussion. I pray the Lord will use what I present to lead these kids to a faithful walk.
Well, here is the lesson:
Our Faith & Our Works:
A Study of
James 2:14-19
Our text today is from James 2:14-26, but first I'd like us to look at a very powerful passage found in Matthew 7:21-23. Here we read the following:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’"
Jesus is emphatically saying that there are and will be people who do things in His name, and even appear to believe themselves His followers, who are actually headed straight into everlasting hell. Indeed, He refuses them entry into heaven and they complain about this...His reply? I never knew you! Note the ending of verse 23..."you who practice lawlessness!" The works they did, the wonders of which they speak, it was all lawlessnes!
Ask: Why? (Discuss)
Let us set this passage aside for a moment. We will return to it soon, but let us now look at our main text.
Read James 2:14-17
"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
James appears to be questioning the idea that faith alone can save you, doesn't he? Yet one of the battle cries of the Reformation was Sola Fe! (Faith Alone). This was a clear cry for a return to the biblical concept that your works cannot save you, that only the work of Christ on the cross is able to save anyone. This is one of the principles upon which the Protestant churches (the true ones anyhow) base their teachings. How do we reconcile these words from the pen of James, who was inspired by the Holy Spirit Himself! First of all, remember that there are no contradictions in the Word of God. One of the most important principles of Bible study is that the Scriptures interpret the Scriptures. In other words, we rely upon the whole Bible to help us make sense of any particular passage.
It has often been said that the simplest reading of Scripture is the best. And while there is much truth in that, I say to you that it is the reading of Scripture that aligns correctly with the "whole counsel of God" which is the best! Simplicity is not always best, and such readings often lead to some pretty serious error, including the idea that you can lose your salvation and that Jesus was divine but not God. No, little brothers, when you study any passage of Scripture, seek to understand it in light of other passages. Test it against other portions of Scripture, and then you will find its meaning.
Let us then examine these words of James. You have likely already picked up on it, but one clue is found within this very passage.
The question is asked, what good is it to say you have faith if there is no proof? Encountering people in trouble and saying "I will pray for you" but not doing anything to help them here and now, when you have the ability to do so, is not very helpful. It may give you a pious feeling to say it, but it has not really been helpful! Note that James likens this to a faith without any works. It is as useless to say "I will pray for you" to a naked hungry person as it is to say you have faith but no fruit. You have a faith that is not genuine...it is dead.
Saying "be warmed and filled" does not actually warm or fill a person does it? So saying you have faith but never doing the works that MUST come from a saving faith actually fails to save you. In other words, faith WILL produce works...a lack of works is a pretty good indication that your faith is pretty dead.
Before we proceed, do not misinterpret what I am saying in regards to prayer. I am not saying it is useless to pray. Neither am I saying that if you come to faith but have no works you lose that faith. On the contrary, I want to show you that James is teaching that if your faith produces no works it was never true, genuine, and saving faith. We will see this much more clearly in the next few verses.
Read James 2:18-20
"But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"
Interesting narrative here. Someone may well object to James and he has the rebuttal at hand. He has said in the previous verses that faith must be combined with works in order to truly save. Again, not that the works assist the faith in saving us, but that the two must exist together. He has addressed those who say they have faith, even as they fail to produce any works. Now someone may say "I have works!" Yay. They think this has saved them...that good works aside from trust in God is sufficient. Now comes the classical reply:
"Show me your faith without works"
Ok...you say you have works. Where is your faith? How come you to know what faith is? And don't point to works as proof of your faith!
"and I will show you my faith by my works"
Tit for tat. Try to show me that faith without pointing to any works...I will rest upon my faith because of my works!
Little brothers, it is important that you understand this distinction. It is crucial. You see, on the one hand there is someone who says they are doing works because it might save them. But what are they lacking? Faith! Now James says to them that point to his works and replies that his works are a manifestation of his faith! Just as having faith without works points to a dead faith, so works without faith points to a useless labor!
In fact, he then says:
"You believe that there is one God. You do well."
If you are basing your eternal security upon believing, generally, in God, you are acting foolishly! It is not believing IN God that saves you, it is believing HIM!
"Even the demons believe- and tremble!"
Oh what a relevation is given here to us! What a warning about what our faith must rely upon! The demons know Jesus! Remember that the demon possessed man in Acts 19:15 knew Paul and knew Jesus! But what does it matter if they believe? Are they saved? Of course not! Why not?
Their belief, their faith if you will, is an acknowledgment of their existence but NOT of the authority of God. There is no faith that God is true! There is no rest in His promises!
Let us look again at Matthew 7:21-23
Ask) Can someone address this passage now, in light of what we've learned today?
Ask) Why does Jesus say to these workers of wonders that He does not know them?
(Discuss)
I urge you, little brothers, examine your lives that you might not find yourselves someday wondering why Jesus does not recognize you. Do you claim to have faith? Then make certain that it is a living faith!
Close in prayer
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