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Not By Faith Only

TEXTJames 2:24

INTRODUCTION:

A.      MANY BELIEVE IN FAITH ONLY SALVATION.

B.      MANY BELIEVE NO CONNECTION BETWEEN WORKS AND SALVATION.

C.      GREAT CONTROVERSY - NEEDS STUDY.

I.      THE EXACT ISSUE ADDRESSED( James 2:14-26 ).

A.      vs. 15-16.  RIGHT ATTITUDE ALONE NOT ENOUGH.

B.      vs. 18.  WORKS NECESSARY MANIFESTATION OF REAL FAITH.

C.      vs. 19.  FAITH IN & OF ITSELF DOESN'T MAKE ONE JUST.

D.      vs. 21-23. ABRAHAM'S FAITH RECKONED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS WHEN?

          1.       His faith demonstrated visibly in his works( vs. 22 ).

          2.       Faith brought to culmination in offering of Isaac( vs. 22 ).

          3.       Offering of Isaac was a result of faith( Heb. 11:17-19 ).

          4.       What does God regard in us?( Gal. 5:6 ).

E.      vs. 25.  RAHAB THE HARLOT.

F.      WHAT IS JAMES' CONCLUSION?( vs. 17, 20, 24, 26 ).

G.      OTHER RELATED PASSAGES( Mat. 7:21;  Heb. 5:8-9;  Gal. 5:6 ).

II.     BY WHAT WORKS IS A MAN JUSTIFIED?

A.      NOT BY WORKS OF MAN WHICH HE DEVISES FOR HIMSELF.

          1.       What does human wisdom lead us to look for?( 1 Cor. 1:22-24 ).

          2.       Works of man make our worship useless( Mat. 15:7-9 ).

          3.       They wrestle against Christ( Col. 2:8 ).

          4.       They lead to perdition( Mat. 7:21-23;  Prov. 14:12 ).

B.      NOT BY WORKS OF THE OLD LAW( Gal. 2:16;  Heb. 10:1-4 ).

C.      NOT BY WORKS OF MERIT( Eph. 2:8-9;  Titus 3:3-7;  Luke 17:10 ).

D.      NOT BY WORKS THAT DO NOT DEVELOP OR IN WHICH HE HAS

          BECOME COMPLACENT.

          1.       Admonished to stedfastness( 1 Cor. 15:58 ). Abounding!

          2.       James deals with complacent Christians( James 1:22 ).

          3.       So does Jesus( Rev. 3:15-19 ).

E.      JUSTIFIED BY WORKS OF THE GOSPEL( Gal. 5:6 ).

          1.       A man must have faith - what is it?( Heb. 11:6 ).

                   How does it work?  Demonstrated thruout Heb. 11.

          2.       What is God's desire for us today.

                   a.       Believe on his Son( John 3:16 ).

                   b.       Repent of our sins( Acts 17:30-31 ).

                   c.       All will confess( Phil. 2:9;  Rom. 10:10 ).

                   d.       Baptism( Acts 2:38 ).

                   e.       Rom. 6:3-4;  2 Cor. 5:14-15.

CONCLUSION:

A.      DO YOU BELIEVE?

B.      HAVE YOU OBEYED?

C.      WHO DO YOU LIVE FOR?