James 2.14-26 - Carpenter Flock teaching notes - 130421

1.      Teaching outline:

A.       Introduction

1.       Segway:  What does it mean to “believe in God?”

--Ill. “Parable of the Wheat and Tares” - Matthew 13:24-50

--Three parts of salvation diagram:

·        conversion (profession) / John 1.12-13; Acts 11.19-21; 16.30-34;

·        sanctification (progress) / Romans 6; Colossians 3; James 2

·        glorification (perfection) / 1 Cor. 15.52-53; 1 John 3.2; Jude 24

2.       Brief word studies

on faith   

·         worthless v.16c

·         dead v.17

·         demon v.20

·         perfect v.22

and works

·          Matthew 7.21-23 - Religious miracles (prophecied, cast out demons, etc.)

·         Romans 3.27-28 - “deeds of the law”

·         Ephesians 2.8-9 Things done to earn or merit salvation

·         Ephesians 2.10  good works the believer is designed for

·         Galatians 6.10; James 1.27 - doing good to others

3.       Context of Passage 

·         Before 1.25, (26-27) 

·         After 3.1-12controlled tongue

B.       Thesis: A “Workless Faith” Cannot Save.

1.       Example of how we interact with the poor brother

2.       Statement that “faith” without works is useless, dead, and demonic.

C.       Three Case Studies

1.       Demons  (dead “faith”)  Good theology; emotional response Matthew 25:41

2.       Abraham  (working faith) 

Abraham did the what without understanding the how or why

(comp. w/ Hebrews 11.17-19; Genesis 17.1-19; 21.1-7; 22.1-19)

3.       Rahab  (working faith)

(Comp. w/ Hebrews 11.31; Joshua 2; 6:25)

2.      How does this text relate to the Gospel?  

• This passage illustrates the threefold aspect of salvation:  conversion, sanctification, glorification (Heaven). 
• How do you expect to have only the first and last parts of salvation?
• The saving faith that takes you to glorification in Heaven, will also take you through the works of progressive sanctification.

3.      Theme and thought questions.

• Flat line “faith” without works. - The faith that saves is a faith that works.
• How do we distinguish between the works produced by faith
• from works of the flesh (Matthew 7.21-23; Galatians 2.6),
• from common decency toward others (empathy, selfish interest)
• from adherence to cultural norms (peer pressure), and
• from emotional maturity (self-control that comes with age, people skills)
• How do you know if your children are saved? 
• Do you ever take the time to point out to your children how and why what you do and tell them to do relates to the Gospel?  (or that it doesn’t relate for some things)