Faith Must Express Itself in Works

Monday, February 2, 2015
James 2:14-26 KJV 

14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does James ask us concerning our faith and our works? (v.14)
2) What example does James provide of a professing believer who is not operating in faith? (v.15-17)
3) According to the James, what proves our faith? (v.18)
4) What else does the apostle write concerning believing and doing the works of God? (v.19-20)
5) What human examples of works of righteousness, wrought through faith, does James provide? (v.21,23,25)
6) How else does James explain faith and works to his readers? (v.22, 24, 26)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) How is your faith in God manifested through your works?
7) Have you ever failed to do anything for the Lord because of a lack of faith? If so, please describe one such time.

LIFE LESSONS
8) We do not do good works simply because we believe in God, but we do good works by having faith to believe that God is able to work through us.
9) It is impossible to have faith in God and not allow God to use that faith to produce His work through us.
10) Genuine faith produces genuine and divinely orchestrated works of God.