Saving Faith

James 2:14-26

John Calvin, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies–can never be alone.”

 I. Saving faith is a matter of WORKS as well as WORDS. “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can faith save him?”

 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled.’  But you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

 Thus also, faith by itself–if it does not have works is dead.

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

 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.  Not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

 II. Saving faith is a matter of the HEART as well as the HEAD.  “You believe that there is one God.  You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble.”

 III. Saving faith is a matter of the PUBLIC as well as the PRIVATE. 

 (1) Abraham the Patriarch. “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’

 “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?”

 “Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?”

 (2) Rahab the Prostitute. “Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?”

 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Are you willing to get in the wheelbarrow?