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Living Faith
Speaker: Kyle Kraeft
Text: James 2:14-26
Big Idea: The only true and saving faith is a living and working faith, so don’t settle for anything less.
I. The Counterfeits of True Faith (v. 14-19) - “Can that faith save?”
1. True faith is more than words
“Faith grows hands and feet. Faith climbs stairs, ties ropes, bends knees. Faith sweats, sends emails, cooks meals, plants churches, builds hospitals, flies to the other side of the world, and spends itself in servant form. That’s what saving faith in the Lord Jesus means.” - David Gibson
2. True faith is more than knowledge
II. The Character of True Faith (v. 20-26) “You see now…”
- Abraham: "Do you really trust me?"
- Rahab: "We have heard about the God of Israel..."
- Grace is entirely FREE, and yet immensely COSTLY.
What about justification?
- Do James and Paul contradict? (NO!)
- James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
- Rom. 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
- For Paul, justification is about our status and standing before God.
- For James, it is a proof of the validity and vitality of our faith.
III. The Contours of True Faith (Therefore...)
- What true faith is: Not just what you say or know but WHO you TRUST.
- Where it's from: True faith is a Spirit-wrought gift of life (James 1:17-19).
- How it works: True faith always works - through love.
- Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
So how do I know if I have true faith? (Is it breathing?...)
1. Are you trusting in Christ as the basis of your standing with God?
2. Do you have a love and desire for God’s word, people, and his presence?
3. Are you moved by love, toward people, in action?
- (This is about direction, not perfection)
4. Where do you run when you fall short?
View all episodes
By Four Oaks EastSpeaker: Kyle Kraeft
Text: James 2:14-26
Big Idea: The only true and saving faith is a living and working faith, so don’t settle for anything less.
I. The Counterfeits of True Faith (v. 14-19) - “Can that faith save?”
1. True faith is more than words
“Faith grows hands and feet. Faith climbs stairs, ties ropes, bends knees. Faith sweats, sends emails, cooks meals, plants churches, builds hospitals, flies to the other side of the world, and spends itself in servant form. That’s what saving faith in the Lord Jesus means.” - David Gibson
2. True faith is more than knowledge
II. The Character of True Faith (v. 20-26) “You see now…”
- Abraham: "Do you really trust me?"
- Rahab: "We have heard about the God of Israel..."
- Grace is entirely FREE, and yet immensely COSTLY.
What about justification?
- Do James and Paul contradict? (NO!)
- James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
- Rom. 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
- For Paul, justification is about our status and standing before God.
- For James, it is a proof of the validity and vitality of our faith.
III. The Contours of True Faith (Therefore...)
- What true faith is: Not just what you say or know but WHO you TRUST.
- Where it's from: True faith is a Spirit-wrought gift of life (James 1:17-19).
- How it works: True faith always works - through love.
- Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
So how do I know if I have true faith? (Is it breathing?...)
1. Are you trusting in Christ as the basis of your standing with God?
2. Do you have a love and desire for God’s word, people, and his presence?
3. Are you moved by love, toward people, in action?
- (This is about direction, not perfection)
4. Where do you run when you fall short?