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A Sermon by Br. Jim Garbutt, Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
There are two sorts of “faith” in mankind today (everyone has one or the other)
1 – Faith that is in a relationship with the Father and does His will
2 – Faith that is not in a relationship with the Father and does good works
Mt 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”
James calls this “saving faith” that has good works or common “dead faith” that has good works but not from a new nature regenerated by God.
FOCUS ON REPENTANCE & FORM A RELATIONSHIP
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
EXAMPLE OF A FAITH THAT “DOES” PROVE ITSELF BY WORKS
James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 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? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
ERROR OF WORKS WITHOUT FAITH FIRST
Jas 2:18 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.
ARGUMENT OF SIMPLE, NON-SAVING FAITH
Jas 2:19-20 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
ILLUSTRATION OF ABRAHAM (rich, famous, male, religious)
Jas 2:21-24 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 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. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
ILLUSTRATION OF RAHAB (poor, infamous, female, pagan)
Jas 2:25 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?
CONCLUSION
Jas 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.