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James 2:14-26
What is Saving Faith?

Intro: How do you know if a person is a Boston Red Sox fan?
You ask them if they are. They state yes.
You ask them if them if they like to watch batting practice. They say they've never seen BP.
You ask them if the "Green Monster" is intimidating. They say, "What's the green monster?"
You ask them if they've seen the Red Sox play lately. They say they've never seen the Red Sox play.
You ask them if they've listened on the radio. They say they've never listened on the radio.
So you ask them again... "Are you sure you're a Red Sox fan?" They say "most definitely".
You ask, "Who's your favorite player?" They respond that they don't know anyone on the team.
You ask them how they would evaluate the job of the manager. They reply that they don't know who he is.
At some point you would say, how can you be a Red Sox fan? You sure don't act like it!
How can someone claim to be a fan and not know anything about the Red Sox?

Let's change the questions...
Are you a Christian? Definitely
What makes you think so? I prayed to accept Jesus when I was a kid.
What church do you attend? I attend Pittsfield EFC when I can.
Christmas, Easter, Weddings, funerals.
Are you a regular supporter? I give if I have anything left over after my expenses and hobbies.
Do you read the Bible? No, a lot of demands upon my time.
Do you pray? Of course whenever I run into trouble, I call God for help.
How do you show God's love to your neighbors? Those turkeys? I try to avoid them at all costs. I hit the button on my garage door remote and slip right into the garage. I don't even have to look at them that way.
Haven't they ever had problems that you could have helped them with?
Beats me. That's not my job. That's why we have government aid. Besides, they can always go to a counselor or a bank or something.
Are you sure you're a Christian? You sure don't act like it!

We need to remember what James is saying here. All justifying faith is operative.
The kind of faith that saves also transforms & that transformation will show up in the lifestyle of the true believer.


I. The declaration of faith
Faith must have deeds
Illus. The Devil meeting with his demons.
Saving faith is alive, professing faith is dead. This kind of faith will not only save us, but will transform our lives.
Quote: J. Vernon McGee - "We are so anxious to get church members that we accept them on the slightest profession. As a result, many churches are filled with professing Christians who are really unbelievers.

II. The debate of faith


A. Dead Faith - Key word - intellect
Mere conversation - profession
Matt 7:21
Gal 6:10
1 Jn 3:17-18
No compassion
Words substituted for works

B. Demonic Faith - Key word - emotions
Other beliefs of demons...
Deity of Christ - Mark 3:11
Place of punishment - Luke 8:31
Christ as Judge - Mark 5:7


C. Dynamic Faith - Key word - will
Dynamic faith results in a changed life
Saving faith can be recognized by & identified by certain spiritual fingerprints.
Saving faith = resting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation
It is not just a matter of faith!
If only belief is important you can try telling that to a man getting on a plane that is piloted by a chimpanzee.
Quote: John Calvin - "Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone."
There must be vocation with that vocabulary!
A living faith produces something that you can identify.
Serving faith - It is not something you only talk about; it is something that motivates your life so that you think of others and serve them.
It is a growing reliance upon the Lord that enables an individual to meet the demands & pressures of daily living. It is not an event or a moment in time, but a life-style.
Illus. First Assembly in Phoenix, AR. In 1980 they had a regular attendance of 250. By 1996 their attendance had grown to over 14,000.
Here is the pastor's philosophy. We try to find a hurt. When we do we jump up and click our heals because when we heal hurts, we've found that we have the attention of God. We try to round up the people nobody else wants and bring them to church.
Our world is broken.
1 million children are being raised by their grandparents.
14 Million Americans are in a 12 step recovery program.
Violent crimes are once again on the increase.
What can we do?
Volunteer our time Help out in areas of need
Be a greeter Get involved in your neighborhood
Remember what got God's attention?
The woman who dropped in her last small coin
The sparrow that falls from the tree
The homeless beggar who reaches for food
The baby who cries out.


III. The debate of faith

A. A righteous revelation
Abraham's faith communicated his relationship with God.
You are a friend of God if you love Him and obey Him.
Called friend of God-test of true salvation & of friendship with God.
Jn 15:14
It took unquestioning trust for Abraham to obey God's command
When he did, his faith was on display for the entire world to see.
His faith was justified = declaration of God that believing sinner is righteous based upon the finished work of Christ.
To "acquit" - to treat as righteous
To "vindicate" - to demonstrate as righteous
James is emphasizing the second meaning.
When he offered up Isaac, he was justified by works in that his faith was vindicated.
Quote: John MacArthur - "Faith is always the sole condition of salvation, but saving faith never stands alone. It is always accompanied by righteous works.
This is the test of true salvation and of friendship with God.
You are a friend of God if you love Him & obey His world He was willing to sacrifice what mattered most - His Son.
B. A righteous response
Rahab's faith expressed in actions - stood for what was right 
True faith willing makes whatever sacrifices God requires.
She was a Gentile, prostitute, and liar and lived in pagan Jericho. -
How could she illustrate true faith?
She openly confessed who the Lord was. Her faith was vindicated when she aided the Hebrew spies. She was willing to sacrifice what mattered most - her life.
Illus. Missionary in India who had tuberculosis.

Serving a broken world must include doing something to help the needy.
Our simple acts of service can preach the love of Christ far more effectively than the most eloquent works.
A justified person has a changed life.
They are no longer self oriented. They no longer justify sin. They no longer rationalize behavior.

Conclusion.
James calls each of us to examine ourselves to be sure we have a living faith. The acid test is if you faith produces obedience. If righteousness does not characterize your life, you faith is dead, not living. Will you touch someone with the love of Christ? What would it take for you to reach out in your neighborhood? The measure of a person's greatness is not the number of servants they employ, but the
number of people they serve.