“ SAVING   FAITH”   (James 2:12-26)

July 14th,  2002

 

Int.      The word "Faith" is only found twice in the O. T.

 

            a.        (Deu 32:20)  "And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith."

 

            b.        (Hab 2:4)  "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."

 

            c.        "Any doctrine of justification that denies that faith  alone, sola fide, as a resting upon Christ alone  for  salvation, is the only instrumental means of justification is  contrary to the Bible

 

I.        TRUE   SAVING   FAITH   CONSISTS   OF   A   BELIEF   OF   HIM..(Simply believing what He says)    (James 2:24-26)

 

            A.       JESUS   EXPLAINED   THIS   TO   NICODEMUS.

 

                        1.        (John 3:12)  "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?"

 

                                    Ill.       A man told R. A. Torry, “I just can’t believe”....Mr. Torry’s reply was, “Whom can’t you believe?”  It isn’t what you can’t believe, but rather “Whom ye can’t believe>”

 

                                    a.       Abraham was called, "The Friend of God" and he proved it by his actions in life."  A faith that stands alone does not justify, for it is a dead faith."

 

                                    Ill.       Paul Harvey relates the following story:   I have right here in front of me an ad under FOR SALE in the Marshfield, Wisconsin, newspaper:

                                               FOR SALE: PARACHUTE. ONCE USED. NEVER OPENED. 555-9923.

 

                        2.       Ralph Erskine wrote: ""Faith, without trouble or fighting, is a suspicious faith; for true faith is a fighting, wrestling faith."

 

                        3.       Gray & Adams says: "Faith without works is like a fish without water; it lacks the element it should life in. A building without foundation cannot stand, faith is the foundation, and every good action is as a stone laid."

II.        TRUE   SAVING   FAITH   CONSISTS   OF   A   BELIEF   ABOUT   HIM ALSO. “Thou believest there is one God.”

 

            A.       JAMES   WAS   QUOTING   MOSES   HERE.

 

                        1.       (Deu 6:4)  "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"

 

                                    Ill.       The Pharisees wore this verse on their arms and Foreheads.

                                               

                        2.        (Mat 23:5)  "But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,"

 

                                    Ill.       Reminds us of people with signs on bumper with “Prayer signs” on back of car and yet they never attend “Prayer Meeting.”

 

                        3.        Notice that James did not discredit their belief...”Ye do well.”

 

                        4.        Simon Magis had historical faith, but lacked saving faith.

 

                                    a.        Simon's profession did not lead to repentance, or confession, or true trust.

 

III.     TRUE   SAVING   FAITH   CONSISTS   OF   A   BELIEF   IN   HIM. “The Devil’s believe and tremble”

 

            A.       THERE   ARE   NO   ATHEISTIC   DEMONS   IN   THE   WORLD.

 

                        1.        (Mat 8:29)  "And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

 

                        2.        Many have “Mother’s and Daddy’s Religion”....They join a certain church simply because mother and dad are buried there.

 

                        3.        Saving FAITH is an effect of what  regeneration is to  cause. 

 

                        4.        Saving faith is the first effect of Regeneration.

 

                        5.         Saving faith is the result of our Effectual calling.

 

                        6.        Shedds Dogmatic Theology says: "Faith is that voluntary change in the mind of the sinner when he turns to Christ.."

 

                        7.        Being essentially a change of mind, it involves a change of view, a change of feeling, & a change of purpose.

 

            B.       SAVING   FAITH   WILL   CONTINUE   TO   FOLLOW   JESUS.

 

                        1.        (John 8:31-32)  "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If  ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; {32} And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

 

                        2.        Noah went into the ark BEFORE ONE DROP OF WATER FELL!   If he had waited until the rain commenced, he would have been joined by thousands of false converts.

 

                        3.        True faith believes the promises of God and the warnings of God BEFORE they come to pass.

 

                        4.        A refuge built or entered during the storm is usually forsaken when the sun shines again.

 

                        5.        Be wary of those who seek the Lord when their flesh is pained.

 

IV.     TRUE   SAVING   FAITH   CONSISTS   OF   A   BELIEF   ON   HIM.

 

A.                   NOTICE   THE   MEANING   OF   BELIEVING   ON   CHRIST.

 

                        1.        The Greek for “Believe on” is the same as “Commit Unto”..

 

                                    a.        (John 2:24)  "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,"

 

                                    b.        (Acts 16:31)  "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

 

                                               Illustration:     1 "BELIEVE":  C. H. Spurgeon said: "What, will you not believe until you are perfect? Then you will never believe in Him. You will not trust the precious Jesus till you have no sins to trust Him with? Then you will never trust Him at all."

 

                                                Illustration:    Pulpit Commentary says: "Minds believe doctrines; hearts trust persons."

 

                                    c.        (Rom 10:9)  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

 

                                                Ill.        As Hunter (in his comments on Matthew) said so well, “To put it briefly, the Gospel with which the apostles went forth to ‘turn the whole world upside down’ was not good advice, but good news. It told of a divine act rather than a divine demand.”

 

                        2.        James warns about being a mere “hearer” of the Word of God.

 

                                    a.        (Mat 7:26)  "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:"

 

                                    b.        Pulpit Commentary says: "Minds believe doctrines; hearts trust in Christ." 

 

                                    c.        Vance Havner said: "Jesus Christ demands more complete allegiance than any dictator who ever lived. The difference is, He has a right to it....If I had only one sermon to preach it would be on the Lordship of Christ. When we get right on that point, we are right all down the line. God honors the exaltation of His Son."

 

                        3.        Jesus warned about a spurious faith.

 

                                    a.        (Mat 7:21)  "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

 

                                    b.        There may be BELIEF without FAITH.  A man may credit the  statements made by Jesus Christ,& yet not rest in him for  salvation.

 

                                    c.        "The  devils believe & tremble."    The  natural man may believe   that God  is merciful, but  does not trust in his mercy. 

 

                        4.        Thayer’s Greek New Testament describes one that is a hearer and not a doer as, “faithless or one that falls away”, or one that departs from the truth.

 

                        5.         Ill.       Luther in his preface to Romans, writes: “Faith is a divine work in us which changes us and regenerates us of God, and puts to death the, old Adam, makes us entirely different men in heart, spirit and  mind,......”

 

                        6.        Shedd's Dogmatic .Theology says:    "There is a difference between BELIEF & FAITH. Belief is assent to a testimony; Faith is assent to testimony & also TRUST in the  person who gives the testimony.

 

                        7.        The West Minister Confession states: "The principle acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, & resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification and eternal life.”

 

            B.       THE    FRUIT  OF GENUINE  FAITH IS EVIDENCED IN THE CONVERSION   OF   THE   PHILLIPIAN   JAILOR.

 

                        Note: A. W. Pink says: "(Acts 16:31)   was not addressed to a promiscuous multitude, but to a particular individual, which at once intimates that it is not a message to be indiscriminately sounded forth, but rather a special word, to those whose character correspond to the one to whom it was first spoken. ...

 

Note:    A sevenfold answer is there furnished, which supplies a striking and complete delineation of the character  of those to whom we are warranted in giving this truly evangelistic word.

 

                        1.        The man to whom those words were spoken had just witnessed the miracle-working power of God. (Vr. 26).

 

                        2.        In consequence thereof the man was deeply stirred, even to the point of self-despair: (Vr. 27).

 

                        3.         He felt the need of illumination: (Vr. 29).

 

                        4.        His self-complancency was utterly shattered, for he "came trembling" (Vr. 29).

 

                        5.         He took his proper place (before God)--in the dust.  (Vr. 29).

 

                        6.        He showed respect and consideration for God's servants, for he "brought them out." (Vr. 30).

 

                        7.        Then, with a deep concern for his soul, he asked, "What must I do to be saved?"      

 

            C.       SAVING   FAITH INVOLVES MORE THAN A MERE HISTORICAL   BELIEF.

 

                        1.        (John 2:23-24)  "Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. {24} But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,"

 

                        2.        "It is possible to have a high esteem for Christ, to show reverence for Him, to have respect for His person, and His Word, and still not possess Saving Faith."

 

                        3.        At first, Nicodemus recognized Jesus as "a" prophet of God; but not as "The" Prophet of God.

 

                        4.        Like many today, who believe that Jesus is one of many ways to God instead of the only way. (Jn. 14:6)

 

            D.       NOTICE FOUR THINGS ABOUT SAVING FAITH.

 

                        1.        No one can call upon Christ (worship him) until he believes on Christ. 

 

                        2.         No one can believe on Christ until he hears the gospel. 

 

                        3.         No one can hear the gospel of Christ without a preacher. 

 

                        4.        No one can preach the gospel of Christ; truly preach the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit until he is sent of God.

 

Conclusion:     Apart from Sovereign Grace, one can no more "believe" and exercise "saving faith" than he can keep the law of works.