1. I once heard someone say that salvation is like the measles. If you have it, it will pop out on you. If I may put it this way, in the verses before us James speaks of salvation popping out on the believer. We find that James describes a salvation that is manifested in our life through works.

2. As we look at the text we see that James speaks of a real faith and a revealed faith. He speaks of a false faith and a fruitless faith. He speaks of the difference between a profession and a possession. He speaks of one that says he has faith and one that shows he has faith.

3. The subject of verses 14-26 is faith and works. In these 13 verses James speaks of faith and works 13 times. As we look at the text we see what the absence of works indicates and what the presence of works illustrates.

4. This is a section of scripture that has often been misunderstood. Because of the section we are considering, Martin Luther rejected the book of James calling it a “right strawy epistle.” Luther, the great promoter of salvation by faith and by faith alone, felt the section before us taught that man was saved by faith and works. I do not consider myself to be in a class with Martin Luther and feel very inadequate to criticize him in any way, but Luther simply misunderstood what James was saying. In fact, Luther believed and taught the very thing that James is saying.

5. I quote Luther: “Yea, it is impossible to separate works from faith, as impossible to separate burning and shining from fire.” Luther did not believe that works could save a man, but he did believe that there would be works in the life of a saved person. That is exactly what James is saying. James is not saying that works is the path and prerequisite to salvation, but rather the proof and product of salvation. To put it another way, if a person is saved, like the measles, it will pop out on them.

6. Let’s examine this section and consider what James had to say about faith and works. First notice with me:

1. A Faith That Is Professed Without Works!

1. In verse 14 we find a key word to this section. It is the little word “say.” We read, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” James is describing someone that says they have faith. We have someone professing to be saved. We have a faith that is professed.

2. Now I want you to understand that there is a big difference in someone saying they are saved and actually being saved. Just because someone says they are saved does not mean they really are saved. In FAITH we learn to ask a person the question, “In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to go to heaven.” Many times, if not most of the time, we get what we call a works answer. By that we mean, the person indicates that they are depending on what they do or how they live to get them to heaven. A works answer reveals that they are depending on works of some kind to save them. As we know, a person is not saved because of what they do, but because of what Jesus has done. But, if we had asked them if they were saved they would have replied yes.

3. George Barna found that most Americans believe that salvation is an outcome to be earned through their good character or behavior. Six out of ten people (57 %) believe that “if a person is generally good, or does enough good things for others during their lives, they will earn a place in heaven." ("The Index of Leading Spiritual Indicators," Word Publishing, pg. 71)

4. However, the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” If you were to ask the 57% of Americans that believe that being good and doing good will earn them a place in heaven if they are saved, they would no doubt answer yes. Yet, the Bible says otherwise. Again, just saying or professing to be saved does not actually mean that a person is saved. You can sleep in a garage but that does not make you a car.

5. That is the case before us in verse 14. This person says they are saved, yet James declares they are not. As you look at the verse you see that he says he has faith, yet he has no works. There is an absence of works on the part of the one who professes to have faith. As you look at the verse you see that James declares that the absence of works is very revealing. What does the absence of works reveal? First we see that it reveals:

A. The Truth Of Ones Profession

1. In verse 14 we see two questions being asked. First, What does it profit a person who says they have faith but no works, and secondly, can faith save him? The great Greek scholar A.T. Robertson says that in the case of both questions, the expected answer is a negative one. The grammatical form of the questions calls for a negative answer.

2. Is there any profit to a faith without works? The word “profit” speaks of that which is beneficial or is gained. In other words, James is asking what use is it if a person says he has faith and not works. The answer would be nothing.

3. Can faith save him? In the Greek there is the definite article “that” which means that James is asking, “Can that kind of faith save him?” What kind of faith? It is the kind of faith that has no works. Can that kind of faith save a person? The answer is absolutely not.

4. James is not telling us that works save a person, but rather that the absence of works reveals that a person is not saved. Works reveals the truth of ones profession. As John Calvin said, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies is never alone.” There will be works in the life of a person that is saved. The absence of works only reveals that a person is not saved.

5. In verses 15-16 we are given an example of works. We read, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”

6. James describes a needy brother who approaches another professing Christian. The story suggests this person has the ability to help the needy one that asks for help. He is cold and needs a coat. He is hungry and needs food. The words “Depart or go in peace” are the same as saying, “Let God take care of you.” The words “be ye warmed and filled” describe an even more indifferent attitude. They are the same as saying, “Take care of yourself.” He claims to be a Christian but does not act or react as a Christian. It is an illustration of a person that sits on a Church pew smiling on Sunday, claiming to be saved, who has the ability and means of helping someone, yet does not and cares not about their condition.

7. The story reminds us of what I John 3:17-18 says, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” John says that the lack of compassion and the refusal to help is a good indication that the love of God does not dwell in a person. In other words, it reveals that a person is not saved.

8. James echoes the conclusion of John in verse 17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” This kind of faith is dead. It is useless. It is a case of faith being alone. Faith alone will save a person, but faith that is alone reveals the truth of ones profession.

9. Secondly notice that the absence of works not only reveals the truth of ones profession but it also reveals the:

B. The Type Of Ones Profession

1. Notice verse 19, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” The Bible makes the matter of believing a requisite of salvation. For example, the Bible says in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

2. I think of the question that was asked by the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:30, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The answer he was given was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31). Believing is God’s requirement for salvation.

3. However, the Bible speaks of different kinds of believing. James gives us one such example. He tells us the devils (demons) believe there is one God. You will not find an atheist among Satan’s demons. They all believe in God. I think of the time when Jesus was confronted with man of Gadara that was possessed with demons. The demons in him cried out when they saw Jesus, “And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God?” (Mark 5:7).

4. The demons do not doubt the deity of the Lord Jesus. They know there is one God. In fact, James says they even believe and tremble. The word “tremble” speaks of a high degree of terror. The Greeks used the word to describe ones hair standing on end. They believe and are terrified of the Lord.

5. Yet, even though they believe, they are not saved. Why? Their belief is nothing more than an intellectual belief. They give mental assent to the fact there is one God, but they do not and have not accepted Him as Lord and Saviour.

6. One can believe there is one God and still be lost. One can believe all the Bible says about Jesus and still be lost. It is not enough to believe in Him or about Him. To be saved, one must believe on Him. That is, they must trust Him and accept Him as their Saviour.

7. George Barna found in his surveys that nine out of ten adults (93 per cent) believe that God exists. He also found that nine out ten adults believe that Jesus is a real person and 85 per cent believe he was born of a virgin." ("The Index of Leading Spiritual Indicators," Word Publishing, pg. 18,19) 

8. As James said, if you believe in God, you do well, but even the demons believe in God. There must be more than intellectual faith or mental assent. There must a personal acceptance of Jesus Christ and a trust in Him an in Him alone for salvation.

9. Again, James states that this kind of faith, one that is merely a mental assent and has no works is useless. He says in verse 20, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” The word “vain” speaks of “foolish or defective.” A person is foolish to think that this kind of faith is a saving faith. It is a defective kind of faith.

10. What is James saying? He is saying that the absence of works reveals the kind of faith a person has. It reveals whether or not it is just a belief in God or a matter of believing on Christ. A faith that is professed without works is a tattletale of the heart. The absence of works shows the absence of salvation.

10. Secondly, notice not only a faith that is professed without works, but also:

2. A Faith That Is Proven By Works!

1. We have seen what one says, now notice with me in verse 18 what ones shows. We read, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” We saw that in verse 14 that the key is the word “saying.” In verse 18, the key word is “show.” In verse 18 we see what a person says verses what a person shows.

2. Notice with me that:

A. Works Is The Evidence Of Our Faith

1. James imagines someone saying, “You say you have faith and I say that I have works with my faith. Alright, then you shew me your faith without works, and I will shew you my faith by my works.” To put it another way, he says, “You show me the evidence of your faith and I will shew you the evidence of my faith.”

2. The point that he is driving home is that works are the evidence of our faith. Again, works cannot save us, but works are the evidence that we have been saved. Jesus said in Matthew 7:16-21, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

3. It doesn’t get any plainer than that. Jesus said that you can know a true believer by their fruits. A corrupt tree brings forth bad fruit, but a good tree brings forth good fruit. Not everybody that says they are saved are saved or shall enter into the kingdom of God. There will be the evidence that a person is really saved. By their fruits you can know them.

4. Listen carefully. If a person is saved there is going to be something in their life that reflects what they have and who they know. One of the great effects of salvation is a changed life. When a person gets saved it changes how they live, how they think, and how they feel. A Christian lives differently, thinks differently, and feels differently. It is impossible for the Lord Jesus to live in a person’s heart and it not affect that person.

5. Someone has said, "A fly's a fly because he flies, a flea's a flea because he fleas, a bee's a bee because he bees.” A Christian is a Christian. His works prove his faith is real. His works stand as evidence that he is saved.

6. Secondly notice that:

B. Works Is The Exhibition Of Our Faith

1. Notice carefully in verse 18 that James is not speaking of the matter of showing God our faith but showing others. It is “show me your faith” and “I will show you my faith.” If I were to summarize all that James is saying in our text in a single statement it would be that a man is justified before God by faith and he is justified before man by works.

2. I don’t have to prove my faith to God. He knows whether or not my faith is real. However, I do have to show my faith to those around me. How do we know that someone is saved? Is it just because they say so or because of what we see in their life? The answer is obvious. The reason we believe someone is saved is because of what we see in their life.

3. I think of a pious Church member I read about that was teaching a Sunday school class of young boys and he asked them the question, “Do you know why people call me a Christian?” One little fellow spoke up and said, “Because they don’t know who you are?”

4. May I say that people know that we are Christian because of our works. How we live speaks to the reality of our faith.

5. I read about two country fellows that met on a back road one afternoon. One had a possum-hunting dog with him. The other said, “How much will you take for that dog?” The owner said he would take $100 for it. The other fellow pulled out his checkbook and wrote him a check. The owner shook his head and said he would not take a check. The fellow said, “The checks good. I’m a trustee in the Methodist Church.” The owner took the check and handed him the dog. A little later he was talking to a friend and asked him what a trustee in a Methodist Church was.” The friend said, “I’m not sure, but I think it is something like being a deacon in a Baptist Church.” The fellow said, “Ah, shucks, there goes my dog.”

6. Unfortunately, many Christians hurt the name of Christ by a poor testimony. If I understand what James is saying, many a poor testimonies are due to an empty heart and a dead faith. If a person is saved there will be the evidence and that evidence gives validity to our faith to those around us.

7. Thirdly and finally we see:

3. A Faith That Is Perfected Through Works!

1. In verse 22 he states that works perfect our faith. We read, “ Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” What did he mean by faith being made perfect by faith? The word “perfect” speaks of that which is being completed. Works is not only the outcome of our faith but also the outgrowth. Through our works our faith reaches its intended goal and purpose. The ultimate goal of saving faith is a righteous life. Through the works of our life that goal is realized and reached in our life.

2. In the closing verses of chapter two, James gives two illustrations of this truth. First we see:

A. Abraham The Patriarch

1. Two incidents in the life of Abraham are given. Let’s look at them in the reverse order in which James gives them. First we read in verse 23, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

2. In this illustration James takes us back to Genesis chapter 15 and the moment when Abraham believed God and was declared righteous. In this example he is justified before God. It was his faith and his faith alone that was imputed unto him for righteousness.

3. The second incident James refers to is found in verse 21: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” The offering of Isaac was not the means or moment but the mark of his justification. His obedience to God only revealed what happened in Genesis 15. In Genesis 15 he was justified before God and in Genesis 22 he was justified before man.

4. In Genesis 15 he was saved and God began a work in his life. The fruit of that work is seen in Genesis 22. We see a man that had been brought to the place where he would obey God no matter what God asked. We see a faith wrought with work and perfected through works.

5. The second example we have is that of:

B. Rahab The Prostitute

1. In one we see a man and in the other a woman. In one we see a Jew and in the other a Gentile. In both we see that their faith was made evident in their works. We read in verse 25, “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?”

2. In the case of Rahab the reception of the messengers and believing their message was an act of saving faith. Her actions to save them and help them were the evidence of her faith. Through her actions her faith was wrought with works and was made perfect. Her actions were but the outcome and outgrowth of her faith.

3. James is telling us in verses 14-26, “Don’t tell me about your faith. Show me!” What kind of faith do you have?