Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share James 2:21-26 - Dead Faith and True Faith
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
James 2:21-26 - Dead Faith and True Faith
James has introduced us to two kinds of faith that can never save the sinner: dead faith (the intellect alone), and demonic faith (the intellect and the emotions). He closes this section by describing the only kind of faith that can save the sinner—dynamic faith. Dynamic faith is faith that is real, faith that has power, faith that results in a changed life.
In the context of James’s letter faith must not be allowed to boast in self-sufficiency (cf. 2:7; 3:14). For James mere faith was an empty boast that masked great evil. Faith is trust in God alone, but it must be whole-hearted and produce good deeds based on the mercy of God. Faith without deeds is a hoax of the double-minded. It can and surely must be discussed because it is not honest about what it is actually doing, such as playing favorites and withholding mercy. Faith is always active, either producing good deeds in agreement with God or in producing evil deeds in deceptive contradiction of him.
James described this true saving faith. To begin with, dynamic saving faith is based on the Word of God. We receive our spiritual rebirth through God’s Word (James 1:18). We receive the Word and this saves us (James 1:21). “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17, ESV). James used Abraham and Rahab as illustrations of dynamic saving faith since both of them heard and received the message of God through His Word.
Faith is only as good as its object. No matter how much faith a person may generate, if it is not directed at the right object, it will not accomplish anything. “I believe” may be the testimony of many sincere people, but the main question is, “In whom do you believe? What do you believe?” We are not saved by faith in faith; we are saved by faith in Christ as revealed in His Word.
Dynamic faith is based on God’s Word, and it involves the whole person. Dead faith touches only the intellect; demonic faith involves both the mind and the emotions (v. 19); but dynamic faith involves the will. The whole person plays a part in true saving faith. The mind understands the truth; the heart desires the truth; and the will acts upon the truth. The men and women of faith named in Hebrews 11 were people of action: God spoke and they obeyed. Again, “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; faith is obeying in spite of consequence.”
View all episodes
By Matthew TaylorJames has introduced us to two kinds of faith that can never save the sinner: dead faith (the intellect alone), and demonic faith (the intellect and the emotions). He closes this section by describing the only kind of faith that can save the sinner—dynamic faith. Dynamic faith is faith that is real, faith that has power, faith that results in a changed life.
In the context of James’s letter faith must not be allowed to boast in self-sufficiency (cf. 2:7; 3:14). For James mere faith was an empty boast that masked great evil. Faith is trust in God alone, but it must be whole-hearted and produce good deeds based on the mercy of God. Faith without deeds is a hoax of the double-minded. It can and surely must be discussed because it is not honest about what it is actually doing, such as playing favorites and withholding mercy. Faith is always active, either producing good deeds in agreement with God or in producing evil deeds in deceptive contradiction of him.
James described this true saving faith. To begin with, dynamic saving faith is based on the Word of God. We receive our spiritual rebirth through God’s Word (James 1:18). We receive the Word and this saves us (James 1:21). “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17, ESV). James used Abraham and Rahab as illustrations of dynamic saving faith since both of them heard and received the message of God through His Word.
Faith is only as good as its object. No matter how much faith a person may generate, if it is not directed at the right object, it will not accomplish anything. “I believe” may be the testimony of many sincere people, but the main question is, “In whom do you believe? What do you believe?” We are not saved by faith in faith; we are saved by faith in Christ as revealed in His Word.
Dynamic faith is based on God’s Word, and it involves the whole person. Dead faith touches only the intellect; demonic faith involves both the mind and the emotions (v. 19); but dynamic faith involves the will. The whole person plays a part in true saving faith. The mind understands the truth; the heart desires the truth; and the will acts upon the truth. The men and women of faith named in Hebrews 11 were people of action: God spoke and they obeyed. Again, “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; faith is obeying in spite of consequence.”