James 2:14-26 Faith that Works
Good morning everyone! Well today we continue our study through the book of James looking at an aligned life. When what we say believe and what we do align. Today we approach the pinnacle passage on this idea in James 2 about Faith & works. Let’s read
James 2:14-26
A number of years ago when I was a university student at Texas A&M, I was walking on campus and I saw some people at a booth with a big sign that said, “Did you know Muslims believe in Jesus?” I was taken aback and asked them, what do you mean?
“Yes, we absolutely believe Jesus was real person and a great prophet!” This is obviously completely different than what we as Christians mean when we say we “Believe in Jesus” isn’t it?
In today’s passage we see James deeply wants us to understand what is real faith? What does real belief in Jesus look like? James does this by contrasting true faith with 2 kinds of false faith.
1 - Dead Faith
2 - Demon Faith
3 - Living Faith
雅各书 2:14-26 行为之信
大家早上好！今天我们继续学习《雅各书》，探讨一个协调一致的生活。当我们所说的信仰和我们的行为一致时，生活就会更加协调。今天我们来看雅各书第二章关于信心与行为的关键段落。让我们一起阅读：
雅各书 2:14-26
几年前，当我还是德克萨斯农工大学的学生时，我在校园里走着，看到一些人在一个展位上挂着一个大牌子，上面写着：“你知道穆斯林也信仰耶稣吗？”我很吃惊，便问他们，这是什么意思？
他们回答说：“是的，我们完全相信耶稣是一个真实存在的人，也是一个伟大的先知！”显然，这与我们基督徒所说的“相信耶稣”有很大的不同，不是吗？
在今天的经文中，我们看到雅各非常希望我们理解什么是真正的信心？真正的相信耶稣是什么样子的？雅各通过对比真实的信心和两种虚假的信心来阐明这一点。
1 - 死的信心
2 - 恶魔的信心
3 - 活的信心
Now remember James’ readers are mostly Jewish Christians who have discovered this amazing thing called Grace. And many of them seemed to have gone too far, “whew, freedom baby!” Saved by Grace I don’t have to worry about the law and all those good works anymore. So James tackles this head on, “look if that’s what you think Faith in Jesus is you don’t get it.” That kind of faith is dead faith.
2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Now before we dive deeper some of you likely immediately feel tension between James’ teaching and Paul’s teaching on faith & works. James says in 2:24 that someone is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. Paul says in
Ephesians 2 and Romans 3 that we’re saved by faith not works. So which is it?
Well, James in no way is contradicting the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. In 1:18 James said we are born again through the word of truth, that’s an act of God. Nor does Paul teach faith is without works Ephesians 2:10
请记住，雅各的读者大多是犹太基督徒，他们发现了这个叫做恩典的奇妙事物。许多人似乎走得太远了，认为“哇，自由了！”因着恩典得救，我不必再担心律法和那些善行了。所以雅各直接面对这个问题：“看，如果你认为信耶稣就是这样，那你就错了。”这种信心是死的信心。
雅各书 2:17 同样地，信心若没有行为就是死的。
在我们深入探讨之前，你们中的一些人可能会立刻感到雅各的教导与保罗关于信心与行为的教导之间存在矛盾。雅各在 2:24 说，人是因行为称义，而不仅仅是因信心。
保罗在《以弗所书》第二章和《罗马书》第三章中说，我们是因信心得救，而不是因行为。那么，到底是哪一种呢？
其实，雅各并没有否定因信称义的教义。在雅各书 1:18 中，雅各说我们是通过真理的道重生的，那是神的作为。保罗也没有教导信心是没有行为的，《以弗所书》2:10 说到。
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk In them.
So both James and Paul assert a Christian is saved and born again by faith in God, and this results in a changed life. John Calvin summarizes it well:
“faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone” -John Calvin
So James is not really contrasting faith vs works, he’s actually comparing false faith with real faith.
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
James is calling out a deedless faith, or as he calls it a dead faith.
James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
I remember at a funeral several years ago looking at the body of a friend named Luise. And it was very surreal because it’s very obvious that Luis was not there, it’s just a body, there is no life.
And James says if you “claim to have faith” but there are no signs of life, is that really saving faith? So though we can’t “see” faith per se, just like you can’t see someone’s spirit, James argues you can see the signs of life or fruit in someone by their changed life. The first example he gives is compassion.
以弗所书 2:10 因为我们是神的工作，在基督耶稣里造成的，为要叫我们行善，就是神所预备叫我们行的。
所以，雅各和保罗都断言基督徒是因对神的信心得救和重生的，这会导致一个改变的生活。约翰·加尔文很好地总结了这一点：“唯有信心得救，但得救的信心不是孤立的。”——约翰·加尔文
因此，雅各并不是在对比信心和行为，他实际上是在对比虚假的信心和真实的信心。
雅各书 2:14 我的弟兄们，若有人说自己有信心，却没有行为，有什么益处呢？这信心能救他吗？
雅各指出的是一种没有行为的信心，或者说是一种死的信心。
雅各书 2:26 身体没有灵魂是死的，信心没有行为也是死的。
我记得几年前在一次葬礼上，看着我朋友路易斯的遗体。这感觉非常不真实，因为很明显路易斯不在那里，只剩下一个身体，没有生命。
雅各说，如果你“声称有信心”，但没有生命的迹象，那真的是得救的信心吗？虽然我们不能“看见”信心，就像你不能看见某人的灵魂一样，雅各认为你可以通过一个人改变的生活看到生命的迹象或果实。他举的第一个例子是怜悯。
James 2:15 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?
A born again Christian has been radically touched by the compassion of Jesus Christ. We know that Christ loved us and provided for us when we were weak, needy and full of sin. Because this there is a switch in place in our hearts that when we see those who are in need, the switch is flipped.
It’s like those circuit boards Where if you connect the circuit the bulb lights up. James is saying a Christian has those circuits laid down in their hearts, and part of them lights up and desires to help those in need.
Now the words, “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed.” are interesting. Some commentators see this as a sort of prayer or verbal blessing. In other words, if you say, “Hey God bless you, I’m praying for you.” but you aren’t stirred do anything to actually help them, something is not right!
雅各书 2:15-16 若是弟兄或姐妹赤身露体，又缺了日用的饮食，16 你们中间有人对他们说：“平平安安地去吧，愿你们穿得暖，吃得饱。”却不给他们身体所需用的，这有什么益处呢？
重生的基督徒已经被耶稣基督的怜悯深深地触动了。我们知道，当我们软弱、贫乏且充满罪恶时，基督爱我们并供养我们。因为这一点，我们心中有一个开关，当我们看到那些有需要的人时，这个开关就被打开了。
这就像那些电路板一样，如果你连接了电路，灯泡就会亮起来。雅各说，一个基督徒心中已经有了这些电路，其中的一部分会亮起来，渴望帮助那些有需要的人。
现在，“平平安安地去吧，愿你们穿得暖，吃得饱”这句话很有趣。一些评论家认为这是某种祈祷或口头祝福。换句话说，如果你说：“嘿，愿神祝福你，我会为你祈祷。”但你却没有任何实际的行动来帮助他们，那就不对劲了！
Now the bulb might light up in your heart but you’re not sure what action to take! What do I do! When that happens I recommend praying and asking God right away, “Lord how can I serve or bless this person?” and take a simple concrete step. Mary Takaoka who many of you know was often talking to the homeless and buying them food and praying with them. My prayer is that we are a church that overflows with compassionate action toward others in the city, because Jesus said,
Matthew 25:40”Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
So the first false faith we must watch out for is dead faith. It’s a belief that works don’t really matter, a “works-less salvation” and this is contrary to Jesus’ heart and the gospel message. Next kind of false faith is:
2 - Demon Faith
So James continues his argument by posing a debate with an imaginary person.
James 2:18 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. James says, look you can’t separate faith and your actions. They are connected, and I’ll show you how they are connected. He does this by giving a surprising example about demons.
现在，也许你的心灯亮了，但你不确定该采取什么行动！我该怎么办？当这种情况发生时，我建议立即祷告并问神：“主啊，我该如何服侍或祝福这个人？”并采取一个简单具体的步骤。许多人认识的玛丽·高冈常常与无家可归的人交谈，为他们买食物，并与他们一起祷告。我的祷告是我们成为一个充满怜悯行动的教会，因耶稣说：
马太福音 25:40 “我实在告诉你们，这些事你们既作在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是作在我身上了。”
所以我们必须提防的第一种虚假信心是死的信心。这是一种认为行为并不重要的信仰，一种“无行为的救恩”，这与耶稣的心意和福音信息相悖。接下来要注意的另一种虚假信心是：
2 - 恶魔的信心
雅各继续他的论证，通过与一个假想的人辩论来展开。
雅各书 2:18 必有人说：“你有信心，我有行为。”你将你没有行为的信心指给我看，我便藉着我的行为，将我的信心指给你看。雅各说，看，你不能将信心和你的行为分开。它们是相互关联的，我会向你展示它们是如何关联的。他通过一个关于恶魔的惊人例子来说明这一点。
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
James is saying, look factual agreement to biblical truths is not real faith. Because 100% believe that God is real. But this belief doesn’t lead to trusting faith and a God-honoring life, rather they shudder with fear and hatred of God.
Jonathan Edwards, perhaps one of the greatest American theologians who lived in the 1700s makes some profound observations on this passage, hle says
James 2:19 shows that the demons really, truly, believe the truth.
He goes on to say demons have had the greatest seminary education imaginable, they were in the Heaven places with God before they fell. They know more about God than any seminary could ever teach you in this life, but instead of loving him they hate him and reject him utterly.
And notice their belief about God is tied to their actions, they shudder. You can have all the best theology in the world and not be saved. Now Theology, and knowing the Bible is absolutely a great thing and we should pursue it!
But what James is warning against a false faith that simply has corl’ect beliefs, but an unchanged heart. You know the right stuff, but your actions and moral deeds are all just shiidderlng. It’s a works-based salvation.
雅各书 2:19 你信神只有一位，你信的不错。鬼魔也信，却是战惊。
雅各说，事实同意圣经的真理并不是真正的信心。因为鬼魔百分之百相信神的存在。但是这种信念并没有导致信任的信心和荣耀神的生活，反而是带来了恐惧和对神的憎恨。
乔纳森·爱德华兹，也许是1700年代最伟大的美国神学家之一，对这段经文有一些深刻的见解，他说：
雅各书 2:19 表明鬼魔确实相信真理。
他接着说，鬼魔有着最好的神学院教育，他们在堕落之前曾在天上与神同在。他们对神的了解比任何神学院在此生中能教导你的都多，但他们不是爱神，而是恨他并彻底拒绝他。
并且注意到，他们对神的信念与他们的行为是相连的，他们战惊。你可以拥有世界上最好的神学知识，但并不意味着你得救。神学和了解圣经当然是很好的事情，我们应该追求它！
但是，雅各警告我们要提防一种仅仅拥有正确信念却没有改变心灵的虚假信心。你知道正确的东西，但你的行为和道德行为都只是战惊。这是一种以行为为基础的救恩。
One false faith extreme is no good works(works-less), the other extreme is I’ve got to have works or God won’t accept me (works-based).
Maybe if I had been more generous or sinned less, or served more God would have heard my prayer.
It’s just shuddering. It’s living in fear of God, and it often comes with self-hatred, condemnation. because instead of looking to the cross of Jesus you look to self for salvation. That is not the gospel.
And so James says,
James 2:20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds Is useless?
And now he is going to show us 2 positive examples of Genuine faith, Abraham and Rahab. A faith that is alive bears fruit that you can see.
3 - Living Faith
James 2:21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete what he did.
James says, look you can see that Abraham’s faith was real because he actually obeyed God and trusted him by offering up the most precious thing in his life to God.
一种虚假的信心极端是没有好行为（无行为），另一种极端是我必须有行为，否则神不会接受我（以行为为基础）。也许如果我更慷慨，罪孽更少，或服务更多，神就会听我的祷告。这只是战栗。这是活在对神的恐惧中，并且通常伴随着自我憎恨和谴责，因为你不是仰望耶稣的十字架，而是依靠自己来得救。这不是福音。
所以雅各说：
雅各书 2:20 虚浮的人哪，你愿意知道没有行为的信心是死的吗？
现在他要给我们展示两个真正信心的正面例子，亚伯拉罕和喇合。活的信心会结出你能看见的果实。
3 - 活的信心
雅各书 2:21 我们的祖宗亚伯拉罕把他儿子以撒献在坛上，岂不是因行为称义吗？22 可见信心是与他的行为并行，而且信心因着行为才得成全。
雅各说，看，你可以看到亚伯拉罕的信心是真实的，因为他实际上服从了神，并通过将他生命中最珍贵的东西献给神来信靠他。
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and It was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
Brothers and sisters, has God called you to step out in faith but you are afraid? Is there something you need to give up to God today? Then like Abraham demonstrate your faith by stepping out in prayerful surrender.
In this verse 23 we see the whole purpose and heart of genuine faith. Friendship with God. Abraham i was called God’s friend. A great friend is one who acts in love toward you and trusts you even when things are confusing. Friendship with God is a Living Faith. And friendship is all about love.
So what’s the difference then between false faith and true faith? Pastor Tim Keller talks about this and say the difference is having your heart enraptured by the beauty of God. Demons see God, see his holiness his power, but not his goodness.
They reject God and hate him because his holiness reminds them that everything about them is twisted, sinful, weak, and evil. Many people reject God for this same reason. They don’t want to believe God is real because then it means you have to change. It means acknowledging your own selfishness and surrendering to God as King of your life.
雅各书 2:23 这就应验经上所说：“亚伯拉罕信神，这就算为他的义。”他又得称为神的朋友。
弟兄姊妹们，神有没有呼召你踏上信心的旅程，但你却害怕？今天有没有什么事情是你需要放手交给神的？那么，像亚伯拉罕一样，通过祷告和顺服来展示你的信心。
在这节经文23中，我们看到了真正信心的全部目的和核心——与神的友谊。亚伯拉罕被称为神的朋友。一个伟大的朋友是在爱中行动并在困惑时信任你的人。与神的友谊是一种活的信心，而友谊的核心是爱。
那么，虚假信心和真实信心之间的区别是什么呢？牧师提姆·凯勒谈到了这一点，并说区别在于你的心被神的美所吸引。鬼魔看见神，看见他的圣洁和他的力量，但没有看见他的良善。
他们拒绝神并憎恨他，因为他的圣洁提醒他们，他们的一切都是扭曲的、罪恶的、软弱的和邪恶的。许多人也因同样的原因拒绝神。他们不愿意相信神的存在，因为这意味着你必须改变。这意味着要承认自己的自私，并降服于神作为你生命的王。
But living faith sees God’s goodness and power and has a completely different response. Living faith is enraptured by God’s beauty that he would lavish is kindness upon us weak, sinful, messed up human beings. And instead of running from God it longs for friendship with God!
Nobody want fake religion or faith, as humanity we are crying out deeply for something real, and God desires that real relationship with us. And he shows us that passion through his son Jesus Christ. You see Jesus was called the friend of sinners. What wonderful news.
Jesus said
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this. that someone lay down his life for his friends. And that’s exactly what Jesus did. He showed us he is the best friend we could ever have by laying down his life down on the cross to pay for our sin, our shame. Christ died that we might made alive. Do you need a friend? Turn to Jesus, pray and talk to him.
Seeing God’s beauty and goodness in the face of Christ makes it abundantly clear that we could never possibly do enough good works to match what he has done for us.
但活的信心看到神的良善和大能，并有完全不同的回应。活的信心被神的美所吸引，因为他愿意将恩慈倾注在我们这些软弱、罪恶、混乱的人身上。活的信心不再逃避神，而是渴望与神的友谊！
没有人愿意要虚假的宗教或信仰，作为人类我们深深渴望真实的东西，而神渴望与我们建立这种真实的关系。他通过他的儿子耶稣基督向我们展示了这种热情。你看，耶稣被称为罪人的朋友。这是多么美好的消息。
耶稣说：
约翰福音 15:13 “人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这个大的。”这正是耶稣所做的。他通过在十字架上舍命为我们的罪和羞耻赎罪，向我们展示了他是我们能拥有的最好的朋友。基督死了，使我们可以复活。你需要朋友吗？转向耶稣，祷告并与他交谈。
在基督的面容中看到神的美和良善，让我们清楚地知道，我们永远不可能做出足够的善行来匹配他为我们所做的一切。
At the same times it activates a desire to respond to his friendship and loving action with good works. His beauty and his goodness kills a workless faith and a work-based faith. Looking to Jesus is what sparks life-transforming faith.
There’s a great song in a movie called Tangled, called “I see the light.” The guy Flynn Ryder has been a thief, a liar, and cared more about money than the girl Rapunzel. But her love, kindness and trust in him changes him. He couldn’t see the world properly, but now in one moment everything becomes clear and he realizes that what he had been living for was wrong and what he really wanted and desperately needed was loving friendship. It transforms him. He sings
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new
And it’s warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you
Look upon the beauty of Jesus and the cross and your faith will be stirred to live a life of compassion and boldness in response to him. Because Christ died, we can have a Living Faith.
Let’s Pray.
同时，这也激发了回应他友谊和爱的行动的愿望，通过善行来回应他。他的美和良善会消除无行为的信心和以行为为基础的信心。仰望耶稣才是点燃生命转变信心的火花。
在电影《魔发奇缘》中，有一首歌叫做“我看见光”。男主角弗林·赖德曾是个小偷、骗子，并且比起女孩乐佩更在乎金钱。但是她的爱、善良和对他的信任改变了他。他之前看不清楚世界，但在一瞬间，一切都变得清晰，他意识到他一直以来追求的东西是错的，而他真正想要和急需的是有爱的友谊。这一切改变了他。他唱道：
“终于我看见了光，
就像雾气散去一样，
终于我看见了光，
就像天空焕然一新，
温暖、真实、明亮，
世界仿佛发生了变化，
一下子一切看起来都不同，
现在我看见了你。”
仰望耶稣和十字架的美，你的信心将被激发，过上一个充满怜悯和大胆的生活来回应他。因为基督的死，我们可以拥有活的信心。
让我们来祷告。