Do The Deeds.
December 6, 2020
Just Do It, Part 10
It's one thing to say you believe something on an intellectual or emotional level. It's another to let your beliefs actually change you. As people we can make a great profession about what we believe, even about Jesus, without it making much practical difference in the way we live.
“A saving faith is a working faith.”
Scripture:
James 2:14-19, 26
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.
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.
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Highlights:
• We can make a great profession about our beliefs without it making much practical difference in how we live.
• We stand in right relationship with God and are saved, not because of something that we have done, but because of something that has been done for us.
• False faith: Belief “about” Jesus Christ. (Intellectual)
• False faith: Belief “in” Jesus Christ. (Emotional)
• True faith: Belief “on” Jesus Christ. (Intentional)
• False faith is often heavy on right beliefs, and light on the good works.
• True faith combines right beliefs and good works.
• Saving faith is right belief, coupled with right action.
• Questions to consider:
What changes took place in my life when I trusted Christ to save me?
What is going on in my life today that could not be happening if I didn’t have a personal relationship with God?
What can I do to relieve the burden of another?
• A saving faith is a working faith.
