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Faith on Display in Your Actions
Question 1:
Who’s someone you appreciate for practicing what they preach?
THE POINT
What you believe is seen in what you do.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Belief in God is strong among Americans. One survey found that:
- Fifty-three percent know God exists and have no doubts.
- Eighteen percent believe in God but harbor doubts.
- Four percent believe in God sometimes.
Another poll found that more than 68 percent of Americans identify as Christian.1 You would think that, with such a large majority professing belief in God, and nearly as many claiming faith in Christ, the ethical and moral standards of Americans would be higher. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Some want to blame our ethics and morality problem on the opposing political party, social media, or television, but the responsibility rests on us as individuals. If 68 percent of us claim to be Christian, where is our morality?
The problem isn’t with what people believe; the problem is that too many don’t live what they claim to believe. We display a large disconnect between our system of belief and our conduct. What we do doesn’t match our beliefs. In the book of James, we are pointed to a better way.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
James 2:14-17
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
As he did with the verses we examined in the last session (Jas. 2:1-13), James used the socio-economic diversity of his time to make his point about the importance of active faith. He gave the example of a desperately poor “brother or sister” who doesn’t have anything to wear or eat. If the only thing another believer offered was platitudes, he offered nothing at all. Here was a person needing substantive help, but all he received was encouragement to “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed” (v. 16). To be sure, encouraging words are important in the life of the church (Heb. 10:25), but words alone won’t feed a person and keep him warm. He needs food and clothing!
Perhaps you have stood in a walk-in closet full of clothes and said, “I have nothing to wear.” What that usually means in our modern culture is, “I can’t find anything that’s appropriate for the occasion, or in the right color, or that I feel like wearing.” When James described this fellow Christian as “without clothes,” he wasn’t implying that he was without nice clothes or without the appropriate clothes. He was without clothes—period! This fellow believer was either completely naked or only wearing an undergarment. He was in a dire, desperate situation.
Not only was this person naked, but he was also hungry. Again, in James’s example the hungry person wasn’t merely without good food, healthy food, tasty food, or even food that he favored at that moment. The fellow believer had absolutely nothing to eat.
Question 2:
What does a useless faith look like?
James was writing to Jewish believers (Jas. 1:1-2) who came from a strong tradition of hospitality in their culture. The Jewish people were instructed to never turn away a stranger in need (Lev. 19:34), much less a brother or sister. By social norms, they were expected to help. Yet, in James’s example, no help was offered—only pious and useless words. Yet these words were not merely useless, but they were also demeaning and humiliating.
James connected this to faith. “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (v. 17).
People must see our faith in what we do; otherwise, our belief—our faith—is dead. Inactive faith doesn’t merely fail to do good; it makes the situation worse. In James’s example, the poor brother or sister would leave the church meeting as he did when he entered, still without clothes and lacking food. Instead of the warmth he needed, he felt the cold wind of apathy. As he left, the only thing he was filled with was the strong impression that those he considered his brothers and sisters were devoid of love and devoid of faith. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” (1 John 3:17).
James 2:18-20
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
As believers, we have beliefs, truths, and doctrines that are important to us. But if you want to know what beliefs are truly valuable to a person, consider how those beliefs impact or are seen in how he lives. It’s difficult to give credibility to what someone believes if his actions contradict his words.
Question 3:
How is faith more than just what we say we believe?
Real evidence is seen what we do, not simply in what we say.
- When a pro-life member of Congress found out his mistress might be pregnant, he asked her to consider abortion. When the news broke, he resigned his office.2
- A Stockholm resident complained to police about the speeding cars driving through his neighborhood. The next day they set up a traffic control operation in his neighborhood. Among the people they ticketed for speeding was the very man who filed the complaint.3
Even the world sees that there must be a connection between what we believe and what we do. People must see that connection especially in matters of faith. We can have no greater possession than a relationship with Christ by faith, and that faith relationship should be abundantly obvious in how we live. Genuine faith and true works are inseparable.
Like most Americans in our day, those in James’s original audience believed in God. James didn’t correct their theology; in fact, he praised them for believing in God. For these Jewish believers, believing in the one true God was essential. Just thinking correctly about God, however, is not sufficient. James stressed that “even the demons believe that—and shudder” (v. 19) at the thought, but their belief hasn’t changed them at all. They are still demons—their belief doesn’t save them—and they are fully aware that they will face certain destruction (Matt 8:29).
Genuine faith may begin with good theology, but it will never end there. Some people’s faith consists of agreeing to a set of beliefs, or worse yet, simply saying they agree to certain beliefs. That is radically different from having a vital, life-changing relationship with God. It’s one thing to talk about God and another thing entirely to obey God by putting that faith into practice.
James 2:21-26
21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
At first glance, James’s question—“Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?”—seems to contradict Paul’s teaching that salvation comes from faith. “A person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law” (Rom. 3:28).
Question 4:
What are some obstacles to living out a genuine faith?
It makes sense that James would appeal to Abraham, who the Jewish believers considered to be the father of their faith. However, his argument takes a twist when he illustrated this concept by mentioning the faith of a gentile prostitute. Rahab believed what she heard about the God of the Israelites, and she chose to trust Him and acknowledge Him as God (Josh. 2:8-11).
There’s no disconnect between James’s and Paul’s teachings. Paul wrote that salvation comes because of God’s grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9), but he also wrote that the purpose of our salvation is to do the good works that God has planned for us (2:10). Good works are the natural result of real faith.
James wasn’t teaching that works apart from faith can save. Faith and works are complementary concepts. Faith activates our works, and those works complete our faith. “His faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did” (v. 22).
Works aren’t what we do for salvation; it’s what we do because of salvation. Life demands more than words; it requires action. A faith that boils in your soul and propels you into action not only saves you but enables you to be a part of God’s redemptive mission.
Question 5:
What are some ways our group can model a faith that acts?
Engage
PUTTING FEET TO OUR FAITH
Choose one of the following images that represents someone living out their faith—not just believing but doing. Then answer the question.
Describe how the action you chose grows out of a faith that acts:
“Faith and works are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God trusts God; and he that trusts God obeys God. He that is without faith is without works; and he that is without works is without faith.”
CHARLES H. SPURGEON
LIVE IT OUT
How does your life bear out the truth that what you believe is seen in what you do? Choose one of the following applications:
Read and pray. Read Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Pray, asking God to expose areas in your life where you are not living what you claim to believe. After praying, develop an action plan for life changes to help align your actions with your faith.
Write. Create a “faith-in-action journal” in which you list at least five of your core beliefs. Over the next week, write ways that your actions show (or do not show) that you are applying those beliefs in your life.
Discuss. Ask a trusted friend to speak into your life and tell you how consistent you are at living your faith. Listen. Avoid getting defensive. Prepare to make some life changes based on what you hear.
Lots of people say they believe. But how many back those beliefs up with godly action? Let’s make sure there’s no disconnect in our lives; we must be people of genuine faith. And genuine faith works!
Teacher's Notes:
THE POINT:
What you believe is seen in what you do.
James 2:14-26
The verses from James in this lesson are
perhaps the most controversial and debated verses in the letter
The issue at play is the relationship of faith
and works to one another. Which comes first? Which generates the other?
James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if
someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose
a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to
them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their
physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not
accompanied by action, is dead.
1. Faith without action is useless.
Genuine faith is a commitment of one’s life to
God by submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Faith that is only
profession but includes no action is without value. Saving faith is active
faith that makes a difference in the character of one’s life and the way a
person responds to others in time of need.
What are some reasons people claim to have
faith in today’s world?
James was writing to Jewish believers (Jas.
1:1-2) who came from a strong tradition of hospitality in their culture. The
Jewish people were instructed to never turn away a stranger in need (Lev.
19:34), much less a brother or sister. By social norms, they were expected to
help. Yet, in James’s example, no help was offered—only pious and useless
words. Yet these words were not merely useless, but they were also demeaning
and humiliating.
People must see our faith in what we do;
otherwise, our belief — our faith — is dead. Inactive faith doesn’t merely fail
to do good; it makes the situation worse. In James’s example, the poor brother
or sister would leave the church meeting as he did when he entered, still
without clothes and lacking food. Instead of the warmth he needed, he felt the
cold wind of apathy. As he left, the only thing he was filled with was the
strong impression that those he considered his brothers and sisters were devoid
of love and devoid of faith. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a
brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be
in that person?” (1 John 3:17).
James 2:18-20
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have
deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my
deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe
that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without
deeds is useless?
2. Faith is more than words
and ideas.
Faith and works both are spiritual qualities
present in the life of the true believer. Faith without works that demonstrate
its reality is dead faith. On the other hand, genuine faith will reveal itself
in deeds of faith. To know God’s truth but not act on that truth puts us in
league with the devil.
How is faith more than what we say we believe?
As believers, we have beliefs, truths, and
doctrines that are important to us. But if you want to know what beliefs are
truly valuable to a person, consider how those beliefs impact or are seen in
how he lives. It’s difficult to give credibility to what someone believes if
his actions contradict his words.
Even the world sees that there must be a
connection between what we believe and what we do. People must see that
connection especially in matters of faith. We can have no greater possession
than a relationship with Christ by faith, and that faith relationship should be
abundantly obvious in how we live. Genuine faith and true works are
inseparable.
James 2:21-26
Was not our father Abraham considered righteous
for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his
faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by
what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith
alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous
for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a
different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without
deeds is dead.
3. Faith leads to obedience.
James says, “For as the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Faith without works is a dead
faith because the lack of works reveals an unchanged life or a spiritually dead
heart. How we live reveals what we believe and whether the faith we profess to
have is a living faith.
What are some blessings we receive when we obey
God?
We sit in a Bible study or listen to the sermon
and nod our heads approvingly at the Scriptures we read and the words we hear,
but we never act on them. For instance, we agree with the apostle Paul’s
statement, “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in
glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19), but we’re hesitant to give 10 percent to
the church because it’s money we might need. We give lip service to the idea
that God can do great things through anyone, but we hesitate to put ourselves
out there to teach kids, help a church member in need, or serve in the
community.
People listen to our actions before they ever
listen to our words. You can be quite eloquent in your talk about faith, but
it’s your actions that show what you really believe. If your faith doesn’t move
beyond what you say, that’s a dead faith.
Do most Christians really seem all that
different from non-Christians? If not, then how do we demonstrate or live out
the faith we profess so that others see Christ in us? The first place to begin
is to affirm that we have placed genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Until
that is settled nothing else matters.
True or False
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