Pastures Community Church 9 th June 2013 Is My Faith Alive or Dead?

James 2 v 14-26

Five questions to look at 1. Who was James speaking to ? 2. What is faith ? 3. What does “dead faith” look like ? 4. What does living faith look like ? 5. Is your faith alive or dead ?

1. Who was James speaking to ?

Many believers were from a Jewish background They were being told that they were free from the written law Perhaps they were using this as an excuse to refrain from “good works”

2. What is faith ?

Hebrews 11 v 1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11 v 6 Without faith it is impossible to please God

1 Peter 1 v 8-9 Though you have not seen him (Jesus), you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

3. What does “dead faith” look like ?

It does not come from God It does not change the person from within It will quickly fail if put to the test

Acts 8 v 9-24

Matthew 13 v The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

4. What does living faith look like ?

Ephesians 2 v 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

Romans 10 v 17 Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

John 14 v 1 Jesus said “You believe in God; believe also in me”.

Matthew 25 v 34-40

1 Peter 1 v 6-7 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.

5. Is your faith alive or dead ?

James 2 v 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Not all “faith” is alive Real faith will change our actions, it leads to obedience to God’s word It will give us a love for Jesus that cannot be shaken by the world

Have you got this kind of faith ? If not, ask God to give living faith to you tonight