Our text is James 2: 14-26

1)  THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH
     A.  Habakkuk 2:4 - Principle announced , sustained in NT Romans 1:17; Gal 3:11
     B.  Man justified by faith - Rom 3: 24-28, 5:1-2,  BUT IS AN OBEDIENT FAITH   Acts 6:7, Heb 2:8-9, Gal 5:4
     C.  A Christian walks by faith - 2 Cor 5:7  lives by faith - Heb 10: 38,  is kept by faith - 1 Pet 1:5
     D.  That obedient faith must continue to the end of life - Col 1: 21-23
     E.  Faith acting, at work, is the theme of James,  it must bear fruit - vs 14-17, John 15: 1-8, Luke 3:8,
          Paul - Rom 6: 1-11

2)  FAITH - AS A MERE PROFESSION HAS NO VALUE
     A.  It is a mockery (faith without works) vs 15-16
     B.  Is deceptive - says but doesn't do - Jas 1: 23-26
     C.  Identifies with the Pharisees  Matt 23: 1-3
     D.  That righteousness must be exceeded  Mt 5: 20
     E.  Is dead - vs 17, like a corpse vs 26
     F.  demon-related and damns, v. 19-20,  demons believe and shudder but do nothing  Mk 1:24, Lk 4:41
     G.  barren, as a fig tree  Mt 21: 18-19, Js 2:20

3)  AS A PRACTICAL PRINCIPLE WORKS
     A.  Faith is demonstrated by works, works are proof of faith, it is something on can see vs. 18
     B.  it is something one can see v 18.  Attending classes, worship, evangelism, teaching, helping others
     C.  Gal 6: 9-10
     D.  Obedient faith justifies - it is practical righteousness
          1.  Abraham, who offered Isaac, had a faith one can see v 21-22
          2.  Received son back from the dead - Heb 11: 17-19
          3.  Rahab, the opposite type from Abraham.  A Gentile who knew little about God, but acted on the faith she had, v 26, Heb 11:31;  named in the genealogy of Jesus, Matt 1:5
     E.  Obedient faith perfects -
          1.  by works faith was made perfect v 22
          2.  Here is a test of faith - tested by works, through which test the perfection is reached.

CONCLUSION - Faith must find perfection in works, otherwise it is dead, demon related, and barren as a body with no spirit.