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Scripture Reading:  James 2:14-26

Part 2

"Works" in the New Testament (#1)

Intro.

1.  Increasingly, Christians are not fully understanding, emphasizing &/or accepting what the NT teaches on “works.”

2.  One recently said, “Works have nothing to do with salvation.”  (Such a statement must be set in a specific context to be true; in another context, it is false.)

3.  Misunderstand NT teaching on the relationship of “works” & salvation  leads to a twisting/denial of the word of God & rejection of salvation!

4.  We must be able to distinguish what “works” are being discussed in given passages – cf. Rom. 4:4-5; 11:6; Jas. 2:24.

I.  DIFFERENT “WORKS” ARE DISCUSSED IN THE NT.

  A.  Other Works in NT…

    1.  Works of God – Jno. 5:17.

      a.  Creative work – Heb. 4:4.

      b.  Redemptive work in Christ – Eph. 1:11, 19-20.

      c.  Perfecting His people – Phil. 2:12-13.

      d.  Works that Christ did – Jno. 4:34; 5:17, 36; 9:3-4; 17:4.

      e.  Works that the Spirit does – 1 Cor. 12:11.

      f.  Works (of God) that man does – Jno. 6:28-29.

    2.  Works of iniquity – Lk. 13:27.

      a.  Works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21).

      b.  Works of darkness (Eph. 5:11; Rom. 13:12).

      c.  Works of evil (2 Tim. 4:18).

      d.  Works of the devil (1 Jno. 3:8).

      e.  Hypocritical works – Matt. 23:3.

    3.  Works of righteousness – Acts 10:34-35.

      a.  Good works – Matt. 5:16; Eph. 2:10; Heb. 13:21.

      b.  Works (fruits) of repentance – Acts 26:20 (Matt. 3:8).

    4.  Works of the law – Gal. 2:16 (Rom. 3:20, 28).

      -Meritorious – Rom. 4:1-4.

  B.  We Must Examine Our Own Works – Gal. 6:4.

    1.  What is their nature?

    2.  What is their motive?

    3.  What is God’s will toward them?

II.  WORKS THAT CANNOT JUSTIFY.

  A.  Works of Law – Acts 13:38-39.

    1.  Law identifies sin – Rom. 3:20 (7:7).

    2.  Law does not justify – Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16.

    3.  Law brings wrath – Rom. 4:15.

    4.  Law brings a curse – Gal. 3:10-12.

  B.  These are the Works of Merit (boasting) by which Nobody is Saved – Eph. 2:8-9.

III.  WORKS THAT DO JUSTIFY.

  A.  Works (actions) of Faith – Jas. 2:14-26.  (Definition of saving faith – Heb. 10:39)

    1.  Faith without works is:

       a.  Unprofitable & cannot save – 2:14.

       b.  Alone & dead – 2:15-17.

       c.  Unseen (incapable of demonstration) – 2:18.

       d.  Demons have this kind of faith – 2:19.

       e.  Barren – 2:20.

    2.  Faith with works is perfected (completed):

       a.  Abraham justified by works of faith – 2:21-24.

       b.  Rahab justified by works of faith – 2:25 (Heb. 11:31).

       c.  Our faith, without works (actions), is dead – 2:26.

  B.  This is Obedience to the Gospel – Rom. 1:5; 16:26.

    1.  Saved when we are obedient to the faith – Acts 6:7 (Rom. 6:17-18).

    2.  Save yourselves – Acts 2:40 (act in faith…obey commands).

Conclusion

1.  Law does not save us (demands sinlessness, Gal. 3:10, 12).

2.  We are saved by faith (demands humble obedience, Lk. 17:10).

3.  Part 2:  The relationship of grace, faith & works & our salvation.