25 min
Sermon Series: Dead Faith is Useless [April 28, 2024] FPC Bellingham
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- Cristianesimo
Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live April 28, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by our 3rd graders!
Dead Faith is Useless
Faith is not belief, faith is living in trust that God will really come through.
How is James distinguishing a life of faith from a life of work?
How might James show his faith by his works?
What does he mean that even the demons believe?
In verse 24,James says we are justified by works and faith, how do we square this with Paul saying we are saved by grace through faith and not by works?
What might a dead faith look like? What might a living faith look like?
DEAD FAITH IS USELESS Faith and Works
14 What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live April 28, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by our 3rd graders!
Dead Faith is Useless
Faith is not belief, faith is living in trust that God will really come through.
How is James distinguishing a life of faith from a life of work?
How might James show his faith by his works?
What does he mean that even the demons believe?
In verse 24,James says we are justified by works and faith, how do we square this with Paul saying we are saved by grace through faith and not by works?
What might a dead faith look like? What might a living faith look like?
DEAD FAITH IS USELESS Faith and Works
14 What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
25 min