Download 2017.04.02.PM A Living Faith!.

A Living Faith!
James 2:14-26
James 2:14-19…
“14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man
say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith
save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and
destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto
them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things
which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and
I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works,
and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou
believest that there is one God; thou doest well:
the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou
know, O vain man, that faith without works is
dead?”
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James 2:21-26
“21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works,
when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works,
and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the
scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham
believed God, and it was imputed unto him for
righteousness: and he was called the Friend of
God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is
justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also
was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when
she had received the messengers, and had sent
them out another way? 26 For as the body without
the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead
also.”
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Faith Defined – Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.” – KJV & NKJV
“Now faith is assurance of things
hoped for, a conviction of things
not seen.” – ASV
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Albert E. Barnes on Hebrews 11:1
“As long as the faith continues, whether it be
well-founded or not, it gives all the force of
reality to that which is believed. We feel and
act just as if it were so, or as if we saw the
object before our eyes. This, I think, is the
clear meaning here. We do not see the things
of eternity. We do not see God, or heaven, or
the angels, or the redeemed in glory, or the
crowns of victory, or the harps of praise; but
we have faith in them, and this leads us to act
as if we saw them. And this is, undoubtedly,
the fact in regard to all who live by faith, and
who are fairly under its influence.”
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“Doubting Thomas”
“24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called
Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him,
We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them,
Except I shall see in his hands the print of the
nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails,
and thrust my hand into his side, I will not
believe. 26 And after eight days again his
disciples were within, and Thomas with them:
then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and
stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy
finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither
thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not
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faithless, but believing. (John 20:24-27)
“Doubting Thomas”
“28 And Thomas answered and said unto
him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith
unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen
me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that
have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And
many other signs truly did Jesus in the
presence of his disciples, which are not
written in this book: 31 But these are written,
that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name.” John 20:28-32
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Introduction
Was the “faith” of Thomas was in doubt?
Who did Jesus say was blessed?
Thomas had the “I won’t believe it unless
I see it” attitude!
Have you seen Abraham Lincoln?
Do you believe he lived?
Use eyewitness testimony
What about Jesus & others in the Bible?
We believe they existed - 1 Jn. 1:1-4; Lk. 1:1-4
Or, do you believe the Bible is a book of myths?
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What is a living faith?
It is a faith that works!
Dead faith is vain, void and useless!
It is alone! – James 2:17-20
A dead faith is the faith of devils! - vs. 19
A living faith that works, saves - vs 18
“saved by grace through faith”
Ephesians 2:8-10
“work of faith” - 1 Thess. 1:2-8
2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
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What is a living faith?
It is a faith that inspires action!
Consider Abraham’s action!
James 2:21-23
Genesis 22:3-21; cf. Hebrews 11:17-19
vs. 12 - “for now I know that thou fearest God,
seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine
only son from me.”
If you are prescribed medication by a
doctor and never take it, can it be said
you believed the doctor?
Hebrews 11:6
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What is a living faith?
It is a faith that endures trials!
James 1:12; Revelation 2:10
Abraham was “tried” – Genesis 22:1
Jesus was “tried” – Matthew 4:1
Jesus and Abraham endured!
James 5:11
Job endured - 1:21-22; 2:7-10; 42:10-17
God blessed Job with two fold more!
2 Timothy 2:10-13
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What is a living faith?
It is a faith that obeys the Lord!
Will not consent to lust which leads to
sin!
It is demonstrated by obedience!
Abraham’s faith resulted in obedience
(believed) God!
James 2:21-23; Romans 4:3; Gal. 3:5, 6
Hebrews 5:8, 9
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What is a living faith?
It is a faith that controls the tongue!
James 3:1-12
Psalms 109:2
Proverbs 6:16-19; 12:18-22
Proverbs 15:1-4
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What is a living faith?
It is a faith that does not doubt!
Peter told not to doubt
Acts 10:17-20
Scriptures condemn doubting
Romans 14:23; 1 Timothy 2:8
Matthew 21:21; 14:25-31
Must be fully assured by faith in Christ
Hebrews 10:22; James 1:6
Eph. 3:3-5, 5:17; John 20:31; Romans 10:17
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What is a living faith?
It is a faith that patiently waits for
the coming of the Lord!
James 5:7-8; 1 Peter 4:7
Are you patiently watching & waiting?
Matthew 25:13
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
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What is a living faith?
It is a faith that:
Works!
Inspires action!
Endures trials!
Obeys the Lord!
Controls the tongue!
Does not doubt!
Patiently waits for the coming of the
Lord!
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A Question to Ponder…
Is your faith living
or dead? Which?
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