18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by ]my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
James 2:18-24
Q & A：
- How does our behavior reflect the transformation that comes with salvation? What insights and practices can guide us in living out our new life in Christ? Discuss the relationship between Jesus’ atoning work and the changes it brings to our daily lives. （Rom 10:9-10; Rom 4: 1-3; Eph 2:8-9;Rom 5:17; Jam 2:18, 22）
- How does the perspective “perfect law of liberty” influence our daily choices and actions? How can we balance what is permissible with what truly benefits our spiritual growth? How does our new identity impact our daily lives and interactions (James 1:25; 1 Corinthians 10:23-24; Romans 6:18,22)
- How does our way of speaking affect our interactions and our impact in places like our job? Understanding the importance of respecting authority, both in our jobs and in our spiritual lives, how can that change the way we see leadership and those in charge? How can we actively apply our faith to flee from temptation and pursue righteousness in our daily lives? (James 1:26; 2 Peter 1:2-4; 2 Timothy 2:22)
Summary：
This week’s sermon focuses on the role of good works as a natural outgrowth of our saving faith. We often mistakenly think that our good deeds can earn us mercy and salvation. However, through Jesus Christ, we learn that true salvation naturally leads to godly actions, all stemming from our faith. God has provided us with everything we need for life and godliness, empowering us to do good works through the Holy Spirit. By doing so, we live out our faith authentically and bring glory to God. The sermon also emphasizes the importance of confessing our beliefs and embracing our new identity in Christ. This new identity frees us from the bondage of sin and enables us to live holy and righteous lives in alignment with God’s law.