March 18, 2007
Rev. Terry D. Campbell

Faith That Works
Ephesians 2:8-10

“ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
James 2:26-“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

Did you ever hear children playing, and they start boasting about things, and one of them says to the other, “Prove it!” That’s what James is saying to disciples in the text. He is not saying that our good works can save us. He is not disagreeing with the apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9-“ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Paul was fighting legalism—being saved by doing certain things while James was fighting laxity. Paul was talking about how to know you’re a Christian while James was talking about how to show you are a Christian. What disciples must strive for is faith that works!

I. Faith that works is true faith.
The nature of faith is our belief put into practice. Notice Eph. 2:8-10—Salvation is by grace . . . through faith . . . for doing good works! Only faith that works is true, real Christian faith. That is affirmed in James 2:26-“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

James 2:15-17 says it this way-“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” One of the tests of the reality of our faith is what difference it makes in our living.

Watch this video and you’ll see what I mean. (8:30-Video of someone acting out—hungry being told to “Go and be warm”.)

“Show me your faith without deeds” A better translation would be ‘Prove your faith without action.’ This demand is impossible to meet. Like a horse that cannot be seen, smelled, touched, or ridden, that eats invisible grass and leaves no mark on the ground, such faith is indemonstrable and suspect. Faith is seen in lifestyle, or as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13:2, “If I had all . . . faith but had not love, I am nothing.” Faith that works is true faith. How is your faith making Jesus real in your world?

II. Faith that works is helpful faith.
There are levels of faith describing how helpful our faith is in living our relationship with God. How much do I trust and serve God? Someone once said, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” God wants for us both of these!

• Level 1: Little faith is a wrestling faith
  Story in Mark 9—A man asks Jesus to heal his son. The disciples had tried but couldn’t. The man’s faith was shaken and tells Jesus, “If you can, heal my son.” Jesus responds that through faith all things are possible. The father replied to Jesus, “I believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” When the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t do it, even after they had been given the gift to cast out demons, Jesus said that faith power is tied up with one’s intimacy with God—“This kind only comes out by prayer.” Get to know God more and you will have a more powerful faith.

  Little faith is not completely sure, wavering, worrying relationship with God. God can take care of me, but will He? Does God care?

  It doesn’t mean that God won’t answer this kind of faith, but God wants more for our relationship with Him. More understanding, more trust. We don’t have to be filled with fear, no peace or assurance, nervous. The more worry and fear, the less we will attempt or accomplish in God.

• Level 2: Great faith is a reaching faith

  Looks at one’s circumstances and at God, and moves on based on who God is. In other words, it is God-oriented.

  Luke 7- A Roman Centurion asked for Jesus to heal his servant. Not to come to his house—but just to say the word and because of Jesus’ authority, it would be done. Jesus said that he had not seen such great faith in Israel.
  Matthew 15—The Caananite woman and her daughter. “But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.” Matthew 15:28-“Then Jesus answered, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’” Great faith doesn’t give up. In spite of testing, it goes by God’s word, not by sight. Great faith grows out of increasing knowledge of God and Scripture, and applying the living God’s written word. Is this where your faith is now?

• Level 3: Perfect faith is a resting faith.

  “God said it, I believe it, that settles it. I’m resting in God’s hands.” Perfect faith lives, depending on God to act or all is lost. Not just attempting what we can do by ourselves, but also what God must complete or disaster.

  Not only can God, but perfect faith says, it’s a done deal with God. Then I wait for it to become a reality.

  Abraham willing to sacrifice Isaac—we will go and we will return. James 2:20-22-“You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”

  Phil. 4:19—God will supply all our needs PERIOD. I’ll have the job that you choose when you choose it. I’ll have the house that you choose when you choose it. I’ll have the family that you choose when you choose when you choose it.

  If you’re living in sin and disobedience—you can’t expect God perfect plan to happen. God will show you your wrong and you change. We can only expect if we are praying in will of God.

  This doesn’t mean we will have no problems—God stretches us. But the struggle and labor of worry cease. Perfect faith says, “Father, thank you for taking care of me with perfect wisdom, power and grace.”

  Faith that works is helpful faith, help you to be a true disciple of Jesus.

III. Faith that works is Jesus’ faith.

Faith enables me to live my heavenly relationship with God on earth. Life in the Holy Spirit is a life of the faith-connection to God and its productivity.

1 John 5:4-“for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

John 14:12-15-“’I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
15’If you love me, you will obey what I command.’”

• Expect things from God.
  Hebrews 11:6 (NCV)-“Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.”

  New Creation; peace of mind (Is. 26:3); strength for new and right challenges (Phil 4:13); Gal. 5:22-23 fruit of Spirit; eternal life.

• Expect things of yourself.
  Galatians 5:6-“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

  Take up your cross and follow Christ; live by faith in Christ (Gal 2:20); put sin to death in your life; exhibit Jesus’ love.

What will you do now?
Do you have a faith that works? Is it based in a living relationship with Jesus Christ as your Forgiver and Life Leader? Is your faith transforming how you live each day so that you are doing the good works of God more and more? Are you deepening your understanding of God so your trust in Him will grow? Are you doing things that challenge and stretch your faith to grow and accomplish for God? I hope every disciple has a faith that works! Amen.

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