FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD
Dr. Ralph “Yankee” Arnold
March 27, 2023
Introduction: Am I guilty of back-loading the gospel with works if I preach the Christian responsibility of service? All believers of all times have only been saved by faith alone. No-one has ever been saved by the inclusion of any works of man. No doubt it is very difficult for some people to believe that a man may go to Heaven without deserving it.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
There should be no doubt that salvation cannot include works, but we must set aside these verses and verses like them that say, “FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD, or that BY WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED, AND NOT BY FAITH ONLY”. These verses indicate a clear contradiction or a different topic all together. It is this distinction that I wish to discuss.
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
These following statements are clearly to the believer on how to serve and does not reference the lost on how to be saved.
NOTICE: James is written to warn believers that living by faith is evidenced by good works. James 1:2 My brethren, James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren, James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 2:1 My brethren, James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? James 3:1 My brethren, James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.
When works are mentioned to many of God’s children, they fail to see that it does not necessarily mean you are backloading the gospel with works and are guilty of teaching legalism by placing the believer under the law for spirituality. A man is not a legalist just because he teaches that we should live according to the scriptures laid down by God.
Some will pride themselves in declaring that they are living by grace or living by faith while shunning responsibility to clear-cut scriptures that demands a commitment to service. They may not understand that living by faith without works in the meaning of James 2:26. (Faith without works is DEAD!!!)
Some will accuse those who labor for the Lord of doing it all in the energy of the flesh for their own glory. Is it faith without works or works without faith? Would it not be correct to say, it is “Faith that produces Works”? Please note: I am not saying that service is guaranteed in the Christian life.
Notice how God describe living by GRACE.
Hebrews 12:28 ….. let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
2Cor. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
1Cor. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Wasn’t Paul teaching that faith without works is dead? Remember: There are many who claim to love the Lord so much that they do nothing for him because they want to give all the honor and praise to the Lord. They sometimes seem to mock and condemn true service to the Lord by accusing those serving of self-glorification. But the truth is, their work and labor of love for the Lord may reveal the slothfulness and hypocrisy of the accusers.”
Notice how God describe living by FAITH.
Those who claim to be living by faith, but do nothing tangible to/for the saved or lost are fulfilling the verse that says in James 2:14, What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Faith without works cannot save a believer from the correcting hand of God. They will be and should be justified in our eyes by their good works.
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back (doesn’t produce works-yankee) , my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
The scriptures in Hebrews 11 teaches us what living by faith REALLY means. Notice the following verses explain how Faith and Works go together. It is their works that prove their faith.
Works are the visible evidence of the invisible faith that cannot be seen.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith can only be seen by works.
Please remember that this message has absolutely nothing to do with getting saved, staying saved, or proving you are saved. Salvation is always totally free without any commitments to works. Service (how we should live once we are saved is another issue totally separate from salvation). When the Lord set us free, it means we are free to choose to be obedient or disobedient. Obedience to the Lord is not burdensome to the believer who loves the Lord. Disobedience is the free choice of every believer who must also accept the consequences of their fleshly or carnal minded choices.
As the world reveals the works of the invisible God, even so, the believer’s works reveals their invisible faith.
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Notice that the great cloud of Old Testament witnesses revealed their faith by their works. Conclusion was, No works=No faith.
To some, the very thought of serving the Lord for rewards would rob God of his glory. They may truly epitomize the saying that, “some are so heavenly minded, they are no earthly good”. They will often come across as being very spiritual in their speech, but that is exactly what the carnal, fleshly, baby-minded believers were doing to the great Apostle Paul in Corinth.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Romans 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: (Your obedience is a rebuke to their slothfulness and hypocrisy.)
They may not attack their fellow-believers who sit in the stands, but they may not hesitate to injure their fellow-soldiers who are fighting in the arena. While they mock those who are sound in doctrine and pursue souls with the clarity of the gospel, they humbly exalt their own hyper-spiritual attitudes by claiming perfect peace by resting in the Lord. James 2:18 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.
Our souls are to rest completely in the Lord’s promises, grace, provisions, open doors, and power of the Holy Spirit while with the body we labor in obedience to his Godly commands. This statement is proven by the following scriptures.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called …obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: This verse explains the reason for this statement found in James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? This proves that James two is referring to service and not salvation.
The rest of Chapter 11 continues to tell the same story about those who lived by faith by what they did. Notice: What was one of the motives of these Old Testament saints to live by faith. THEY BELIEVED THE PROMISES OF GOD. They trusted what the Lord said to be true, whether it was rewards, a city, or a better resurrection.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hebrews chapter 12 tell the story about those who chose not to live by faith and their consequences. It brought the chastening hand of their heavenly father.
Hebrews 12:5 … My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Why would the Father chasten His children if how they live didn’t really matter? Isn’t it evident that not all of God’s children are walking in obedience to their Father?
1Peter 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 1Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Faith without works is a present judicial decision from God on his children that may have consequences in this present life or at the judgement seat of Christ. No consequences of any sin of any believer can ever result in separation from God in Hell.
A warning to the believer
My advice to new believers is obey him until you love him. I would rather have my heavenly Father’s blessings on my life, than to grieve the Holy Spirit by my sins of omission and receive the chastening hand of my Father.
1Cor. 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1Cor. 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 1Cor. 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
1Cor. 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 1Cor. 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
If you don’t believe these verses teach what I claim they do, do not just arbitrarily dismiss them, ask your Heavenly Father what He really meant when He gave them. Are you willing to follow truth regardless of where it may lead? If the Lord desires you to labor for him, do you have a problem with that? You only get one life to live for the Lord, you need to get this right. I love you and want the best for you.
Yankee Arnold
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Ralph 'Yankee' Arnold
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