HOW DO I KNOW MY FAITH IS REAL?
God Wants To Use You
“Examine yourselves, TO SEE whether you are in the faith. TEST Yourselves…” 2 Corinthians 13:5
James 2:14-20; Ephesians 2:8-10
PAUL JAMES
Emphasis: How to KNOW I am saved Emphasis: How to SHOW I am saved
Focus: The ROOT of my salvation Focus: The FRUIT of my salvation
(Internal & Unseen) (External & Visible)
Works: Keeping Jewish Laws Works: Living like Jesus
1. REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN JUST WORDS I SAY.
“Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of SAYING you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone!” James 2:14
JESUS: “Not everyone who SAYS that I am their Lord is going to enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people who will enter heaven are those who DO what my Father in heaven wants them to DO.” Matthew 7:21
2. REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN AN EMOTION I FEEL.
“Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say to them, ‘I wish you well! I FEEL FOR YOU and I hope you stay warm and eat well!’ but then you DO nothing to meet their needs. What good does your sympathy DO? It’s worth nothing! In the same way, faith, if it is not accompanied by action, doesn’t work. It’s dead and useless!” James 2:15-17
3. REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN AN IDEA I DEBATE.
“Now someone may argue, ‘Isn’t it possible that some people have good faith while other people DO good deeds?’ But I say, ‘No! I can’t see your real faith if you don’t DO any real deeds to SHOW ME!’ In contrast, I CAN SHOW YOU my faith by the good things I DO!” James 2:18
4. REAL FAITH IS MORE THAN A TRUTH I BELIEVE.
“Now, you say, ‘Well, I BELIEVE there is a God,’ and I say, ‘Good for you!’ But even the demons believe THAT and are afraid! It’s foolish to not realize that faith in God is useless if you don’t DO what he wants you to DO.” James 2:19-20
5. REAL FAITH IS SOMETHING I DO!
“Just as a body without a spirit doesn’t breathe and is dead, so faith that doesn’t DO anything is just as dead!” James 2:26
“… STAND firm in your faith. Stay brave, be strong, and do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
TWO EXAMPLES OF REAL (ACTIVE) FAITH
I. (IN FAITH) ABRAHAM FOLLOWED GOD NOT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING.
“Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are ‘works of faith?’” James 2:22 (MSG)
“… God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God. So Abraham was called ‘[the friend of God].’”
James 2:23 (NCV)
II. (IN FAITH) RAHAB RISKED HER LIFE TO SAVE OTHERS (James 2:25-26 & Joshua 2)
“Examine yourselves, TO SEE whether you are in the faith. TEST yourselves…” 2 Corinthians 13:5
“… It is BY grace you have been saved THROUGH faith … FOR a life of good [works], which [God] has already prepared for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (GNT; TEV)