DIGGING DEEP NO. 874 – MARCH 16, 2021 Three Kinds Of Faith James 2:14-26

It is in Paul’s epistles that the meaning of Faith is most clearly and fully set forth. Faith is trust in the person of Jesus, the truth of his teaching, and the redemptive work He achieved at Calvary, and, as a result, a total submission to Him and His message, which are accepted as from God. Faith in Jesus is faith in Him as the eternal Son of God, the God-man, the second man Adam, who died in man’s stead, making possible justification with God, adoption into His family, sanctification and ultimately, glorification. Faith in Jesus includes a radical and total commitment to Him as the Lord of one’s life. Faith is certainly an essential element in the Christian life: Without faith, it is impossible to please God  Hebrews 11:6 The Christian is saved by Grace through faith Ephesians 2:8 The Christian is to walk  or rather live by faith  2Corinthians 5:7 Whatever we do apart from faith is described as sin Romans 14:23

It is important to realize, however, that there are different kinds of faith, but only one that is truly “saving faith” In James 2:14-26, we find James discussing the different kinds of faith, with an emphasis upon that faith which works to the saving of the soul. Beginning with verses 14-17, we notice the first kind of faith.  We might call this kind of faith

DEAD FAITH (14-17) This kind of faith substitutes words for deeds – Let us consider James’ example. People with this kind of faith know the correct vocabulary for prayer and sound doctrine, they can even quote the right verses from the Bible

but their walk does not measure up to their talk. Such people just have an intellectual faith. He or she knows the doctrine of salvation but they have never really submitted themselves to God and trusted in Jesus for salvation. They know the right words, but they do not back up their words with their works. This kind of faith cannot save. Three times in this passage, James emphasizes that faith without works is dead James 2:17,20,26 Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration, It is a DEAD FAITH! Dead faith is counterfeit faith and lulls the person into a false confidence of eternal life. We have this kind of faith if our WALK does not measure up to our TALK. We do if our WORKS do not measure up to our WORDS.

The next kind of faith is found discussed in verses 18-19 DEMONIC FAITH

Perhaps to shock any complacent readers, James reminds us that even Demons have a kind of faith. They believe in God. They even believe in the deity of Christ Mark 3:11-12 They also believe in the existence of a place of condemnation Luke 8:31 and they believe Jesus will be the Judge Matthew 8:28-29 What kind of faith do Demons have? We saw that the man with dead faith was touched only in his intellect. The demons are touched also in their emotions because they believe and tremble. This is one step above a dead faith – it involves both INTELLECT and EMOTIONS. This kind of faith also will not save. A person can be enlightened in his mind and even stirred in his heart and still be lost forever. True saving faith involves something more, something that can be seen and recognized:  a changed life James 2:18 Being a Christian involves trusting Christ and living for Christ. You first RECEIVE the life, then you REVEAL the life. A Christian has this kind of faith if his or her service to God does not go beyond intellectually adhering to the right doctrines and are only emotional while attending services.

James closes this section by describing in verses 20-26 the only kind of faith that can save. DYNAMIC FAITH (20-26)

We know from other passages that such faith is based upon the Word of God Romans 10:17 Dynamic faith involves the whole man. Dead faith touches only the intellect. Demonic faith involves both the mind and the emotions. Dynamic faith involves the intellect, the emotions, and the will. What is involved? The mind understands the truth, the heart desires and rejoices in the truth and the will acts upon the truth. True, saving faith, then, leads to action. It is not intellectual contemplation. It is not emotionalism. It is that which leads to obedience in doing good works.

To illustrate, James refers to two well-know persons in the bible:  Abraham & Rahab – You could not find two more different persons!Abraham was the father of the Jews; Rahab was a Gentile.Abraham was a godly man; Rahab had been a sinful woman, aharlot.Abraham was the friend of God; Rahab had belonged to the enemies of God.What did they have in common? Both exercised saving faith in God.Abraham demonstrated his saving faith by his works 20-24 Rahab demonstrated her saving faith by her works 25-26 We learn from this passage that:Faith without works is a DEAD faith 20,26 That faith only without works cannot justify one V24. That perfect faith necessitates works V22

CONCLUSION – It is important that each professing Christian examine his or her own heart and life, and make sure that they possess true saving faith, which is a dynamic faith.  Satan is the great deceiver; one of his devices is imitation. If he can convince a person that counterfeit faith is true faith, then he has that person in his power. A spiritual inventory can assist a person in determining his or her true standing before God concerning his or her faith.

May our prayer be similar to that of the Psalmist: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; “And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24