James 2:17-24, Faith that Acts

# Faith that Acts
## James 2:15-24

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# What does it **mean**
# to **believe** in God?

>>>
+ **acknowledge** higher power?
  + ⇒ **doctrine**?
+ **feel** oneness and constant companionship?
  + ⇒ **comfort**?
+ **do** good to fellow man?
  + ⇒ **works**?

---

## James: **Keep the Faith** [###](#/outline "secret")
+ Stands the **Test** (1:2-12)
+ Demands a **Change** of Heart (1:19-25)
+ Loves **Impartially** (2:5-9)
+ **Acts** (2:15-24)

>>>
1. **Joy** in Trials
1. **Wisdom** Given Generously
1. **Boasting** in Our Weakness
<hr/>
1. Shun **Anger**
1. **Accept** the Word
1. **Act**, Don't Just Listen
1. **Abide** and Obey
<hr/>
1. **Faith** of the Poor
1. **Pride** of the Rich
1. **Law** of the King

---
[15](# "ref")
Suppose a brother or a sister is 
without **clothes** and daily **food**.

[16](# "ref")
If one of you says to them, 
“Go in **peace**; keep **warm** and **well fed**,” 
but does **nothing** about their physical needs, 
what **good** is it?

[17](# "ref")
In the same way, **faith** by itself, 
if it is not accompanied by **action**, is **dead**.

[James 2:15-17 (NIV) (p. 1/5)](# "ref")

---
[18](# "ref")
But someone will say, 
“**You** have faith; **I** have deeds.”

Show me your faith **without** deeds, 
and I will show you my faith **by** my deeds.

[19](# "ref")
You believe that there is **one God**. Good! 
Even the **demons** believe that — and shudder.

[James 2:18-19 (NIV) (p. 2/5)](# "ref")

---
[20](# "ref")
You foolish person, do you want **evidence** 
that faith without deeds is **useless**?

[21](# "ref")
Was not our father **Abraham** 
considered **righteous** for what he did 
when he **offered** his son Isaac on the altar?

[James 2:20-21 (NIV) (p. 3/5)](# "ref")

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[22](# "ref")
You see that his **faith** and his **actions** 
were working **together**, 
and his faith was made **complete** 
by what he **did**.

[23](# "ref")
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**.

[James 2:22-23 (NIV) (p. 4/5)](# "ref")

---
[24](# "ref")
You see that a person is considered **righteous** 
by what they **do** and not by faith **alone**.

[James 2:24 (NIV) (p. 5/5)](# "ref")

---

## Faith that Acts [(Jam2b)](# "ref")
1. More than **Intentions** [15-17](# "ref")
2. **Integral** Life [18-19](# "ref")
3. **Impacts** the Heart [20-24](# "ref")

---

Suppose a brother or a sister is 
without **clothes** and daily **food**.

[James 2:15 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **sister**: explicit mention unusual
+ **brother**: within own church
  + Diaspora: as church **spreads**
  + all **walks** of life
  + not saving world, **start** close
+ **naked**, lack **food** of day

---

If one of you says to them, 
“Go in **peace**; keep **warm** and **well fed**,”

but does **nothing** about their physical needs, 
what **good** is it?

[James 2:16 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ be **warmed** / warm **self**: m/p
  + be **filled** / satisfied
  + good **intentions**
+ **necessities** of the **body**
+ What is the **benefit**?
  + to brother / to self
+ e.g., hubby worries about global warming, international trade, Trump
  + wife worried about dinner tonight

---

In the same way, **faith** by itself, 
if it is not accompanied by **action**, is **dead**.

[James 2:16 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ even "thoughts + prayers" not enough
  + prayer of **faith** ⇒ **obey**
+ not just help **poor**
+ anything God **asks** of us
  + or we **commit** to God
+ better to **not promise** but **do**
  + than **promise** and **not do**
+ **parable** of Jesus: **Read**

---

There was a man who had **two sons**.

He went to the **first** and said, 
"Son, go and **work** today in the vineyard."

[29](# "ref")
"I will **not**," he answered, 
but later he **changed** his mind and **went**.

[Matthew 21:28-29 (NIV) (p. 1/2)](# "ref")

---

[30](# "ref")
Then the father went to the **other** son 
and said the **same** thing.

He answered, "I **will**, sir," but he did **not** go.

[31](# "ref")
**Which** of the two did what his father wanted?

[Matthew 21:30-31 (NIV) (p. 2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ to **chief priests** in Jeru *(23)*
  + lots of **promises** to God
+ **tax coll** + prostitutes *(32)*
  + **believed** John the Baptist

---

# What **promises** have I made to God without **action**?

>>>
+ tangible **aid** to needy brethren
+ **obedience** to God's command
+ good **intentions** not enough!

---

## Faith that Acts [(Jam2b)](# "ref")
1. More than Intentions [15-17](# "ref")
2. **Integral Life** [18-19](# "ref")
3. Impacts the Heart [20-24](# "ref")

>>>
+ **integrity**: one whole person
+ on **bus** / w/**parents** / **classmate**
  + **same** person as
  + at **church**: sing / pray
+ faith is **incomplete** if
  + only at **church**
+ having both **doctrine** + **action**

---

But someone will say, 
“**You** have faith; **I** have deeds.”

[James 2:18 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ division of labour, specialisation
  + not all "**doers**"
  + be manager, CEO
+ e.g., directing wife how to cook

---

You believe that there is **one God**. Good! 
Even the **demons** believe that — and shudder.

[James 2:19 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ not just intellectual **assent**
  + or correct **doctrine**
  + e.g. **proving** God exists
+ ⇒ need **obedience**
  + **integrate** faith + works
+ **child-like** faith + obey: >
  + **memorise** entire Bible

---

“A new **command** I give you: 
**Love** one another. 
As **I** have loved you, 
so **you** must love one another.

[35](# "ref")
By this everyone will **know** 
that you are my **disciples**, 
if you love one another.”

[John 13:34-35 (NIV)](# "ref")

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# Have I focused on **doctrine** and
# neglected **action**?

>>>
+ need **both**
+ be person of **integrity**
+ have **integral**, whole faith

---

## Faith that Acts [(Jam2b)](# "ref")
1. More than Intentions [15-17](# "ref")
2. Integral Life [18-19](# "ref")
3. **Impacts the Heart** [20-24](# "ref")

>>>
+ to the point of **sacrifice**
+ willing to **relinquish**
  + God's **blessings**
  + **back** to Him

---

Was not our father **Abraham** 
considered **righteous** for what he did 
when he **offered** his son Isaac on the altar?

[James 2:21 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ What was Abraham's **faith**?
+ bg on **Abram** *(exalted father)*
  + before renamed **Abraham** *(father of many)*
+ Abram+Sarai were **childless**
+ **Read** Gen 15:

---

After this, the word of the Lord 
came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram. 
I am your **shield**, your very great **reward**.”

[Genesis 15:1 (NIV) (p. 1/4)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **promise**:
  + **Protection** (shield)
  + **Providence** (reward)
+ fulfilled in **God** Himself
  + not just **gifts** from Him
+ but Abram not **satisfied** yet:

---

[2](# "ref")
But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, 
what can you **give** me since I remain **childless** 
and the one who will **inherit** my estate 
is Eliezer of Damascus?”

[4](# "ref")
Then the word of the Lord came to him: 
“This man will not be your heir, 
but a **son** who is your own flesh and blood 
will be your **heir**.”

[Genesis 15:2,4 (NIV) (p. 2/4)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Eliezer was his **servant**

---

He took him outside and said, 
“Look up at the **sky** and count the **stars** 
-- if indeed you can **count** them.”

Then he said to him, 
“So shall your **offspring** be.”

[Genesis 15:5 (NIV) (p. 3/4)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *(15-16)* God has **more** in store:
  + **suffering** in Egypt
  + **judgment** on oppressors
+ not just Abram's **personal** life
  + entire **nation** of Israel
  + blessing to **all nations**

---

Abram **believed** the Lord, 
and he **credited** it to him as **righteousness**.

[Genesis 15:6 (NIV) (p. 4/4)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *Gal* highlights this as
  + **defn** of righteousness:
+ Not just **lip service**
  + or **intellectual** assent
+ Take God **at His Word**
  + to the point of **action**
+ Reflected back in *James 2:24*:

---

You see that a person is considered **righteous** 
by what they **do** and not by faith **alone**.

[James 2:24 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Trust** + **Obey**
+ But Abram's **faith** not **complete** yet!

---
# Abram's Sojourn of Faith
+ God's **Promise** [(ch15)](# "ref")
+ Abram's **Impatience**  [(ch16)](# "ref")
+ God's **Covenant**  [(ch17)](# "ref")
+ God's **Faithfulness**  [(ch21)](# "ref")
+ Abraham's **Faith** Completed  [(ch22)](# "ref")

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+ **journey** of faith
  + including **failure**
  + Hagar + Ishmael (ch16)
+ God's **faithfulness** (ch18,21)
+ faith not **complete** until ch22:

---

Then God said, 
“Take your **son**, your **only** son, 
whom you **love** -- **Isaac** -- 
and go to the region of Moriah.

**Sacrifice** him there as a **burnt offering** 
on a mountain I will show you.”

[Genesis 22:2 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *only*: of **promise** (not *Ishmael*)
+ **pagan** child sacrifice
  + not God's **character**?
+ **gives** / takes **away** *(Job 1:21)*
  + **authority** to do so
+ LORD **provided** on Mt Moriah
  + ram as **substitute**

---

You see that his **faith** and his **actions** 
were working **together**,

and his faith was made **complete** 
by what he **did**.

[James 2:22 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *Gen15:6*: **believed** → **righteous**
  + "ok God, I believe you"
+ not **complete** until *Gen 22*
  + willing to **relinquish**
+ Heb11: figured God could **raise** from dead
+ this **kind** of belief: to **action**
+ Gen 15 also quoted in **Gal 3**:

---

Scripture foresaw that God 
would **justify** the Gentiles **by faith**, 
and announced the **gospel** 
in advance to Abraham:

“**All nations** will be **blessed** through you.”

[9](# "ref")
So those who **rely on faith** 
are **blessed** along with Abraham, 
the **man of faith**.

[Galatians 3:8-9 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ We **follow** in his footsteps
+ justified not by **works** of law
  + nor by mental **assertion**
+ but **trust** in God's **promises**
  + via **obedience** to His **commands**

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# What must I **relinquish** to God
# in obedient **faith**?

>>>
+ **impacts** my heart
+ even **good** things, promised by God
+ focus not on **blessings**
+ but on person of God

---

His **faith** and his **actions** 
were working **together**,

and his faith was made **complete** 
by what he **did**.

[James 2:22 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
**read** together

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