Thursday, July 5, 2007

Faith and Works

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

  • How would you answer the questions that James brings up here?
15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
  • When have you been in a position where you needed to do something to help someone, not just wish them well?
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Why must faith be accompanied by action?

  • How does this compare to the teaching of Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.?
18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
  • How do your actions demonstrate what you believe?
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
  • Why does James use demons as an example?
20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
  • How did Abraham’s actions demonstrate his faith?
  • What does it mean for his faith to be credited to him as righteousness?
24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
  • What does it mean to be justified? Why does James say we are justified by what we do?
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
  • How does Rahab demonstrate faith, action, and God’s mercy?
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
  • What value is dead faith? What do you conclude from this passage?

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