Faith Turns Profession into Proof
Scripture: James 2:14-26
Faith is powerless when it professes alone
“faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead” (v17)
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.” (Luke 10:30-31)
Faith is useless when it believes alone
“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe- and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?” (v19-20)
“So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side” (Luke 10:32)
Faith is proven when it works . . . it is never alone
“and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’ – and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. . . . For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (v23-26)
“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.” (Luke 10:33-34)
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What must I do to inherit eternal life? – Profess and Believe
“if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
How do I know my faith is real? – It works
“I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18)