Fake Faith
James 2:14–20 (NIV)
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
Though you are saved by faith alone, the faith that saves is never alone.
1. Fake Faith Is Just Words
James 2:14 (NIV)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?
James 2:14a (ESV)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith...
Saying you have faith is not the same as actually having faith.
James 2:15–16 (NIV)
15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
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James 2:14b (ESV)
If someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
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2. Fake Faith Doesn’t Produce
James 2:17–18 (NIV)
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
If you don’t have the fruit of salvation, you don’t have the root of salvation.
Matthew 7:19–23 (NIV)
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Saving Faith is never the result of works, but works are always the result of saving faith.
3. Fake Faith Doesn’t Transform
James 2:19 (NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
What do demons believe?
1st Demons believe God exists
2nd Demons believe in one God
1 Corinthians 10:20 (NIV)
the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God
3rd Demons believe in the deity of Jesus Christ
Mark 3:11 (NIV)
Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”
4th Demons believe in hell
Luke 8:30–31 (NIV)
30 “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.
31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
5th Demons believe Jesus will be the Final Judge
Matthew 8:29 (NIV)
“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
James 2:19 (NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
James 2:20 (NIV)
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
