PAST MESSAGES:

BELIEVERS ARE TO LIVE IN LOVE

GOD'S WORD

BELIEF IS NOT ENOUGH

HOW I VIEW MY CHURCH

PSALM 92:1-4

FOUR GREAT VISIONS

COMPLETE SURRENDER

"A FAITH THAT'S ALIVE"
James 2:14

A faithful church member once said, "brethren whatever the good Lord tells me to do, that I'm going to do." If the Lord tells me that I must jump through a stone wall, I'm going to jump at it. Going through it belongs to God, jumping at it belongs to me. Doing something of that nature demands a lot of faith. It is this kind of faith that is alive and it is a faith that results in obedience to God's commands and to God's will.

James and Paul talks about a faith that changes lives. It was faith that caused Paul to do things that he could not otherwise have done.

For many, faith is only a word. Notice in verse 14, that James does not imply that a man can have faith and no works. Instead, James raises a question: What is the profit if a person says he had faith but has no works?

James illustrates his own case in pointing to the tradition of alms giving. One was expected to give to the poor in those days. Simply giving lip service to the poor...left them just as poor.

So it is true today. If one sees a brother starving, do the hunger pains go away on well wishing? Do nice remarks warm the body and shield the homeless from the bitter cold? NO! Real sympathy is felt and shown when it brings one to action. So it is with faith, I John 3:18 tells us, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongues; but in deed and in truth." The Bible is clear that if you do not come to God through Christ, you have not come to Him at all. Knowing about God will get you nowhere. James makes that clear. He points out that even the Devil believes in God; surely he is not going to heaven.

John Calvin said, "knowledge about God can no more connect man with God than sight of the son can carry you into the heavens."

People may believe in great doctrines, but their doctrines are meaningless until they come to a living faith in Jesus. This is a faith that surpasses words and deeds. It is a faith that surpasses importance with obedience.

James invites you and me to learn about a living faith. Anyone who puts his trust in the words of faith and knowledge of faith alone is not wise.

An authentic faith is one that works. Faith and deeds are not opposites; they are inseparable. What kind of faith is yours? Look at the evidence. Evaluate yourself by James' princibles by answering this question...If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

There will be enough only IF yours is a living faith.

Pastor  D.U. Cooper