FRIDAY, February 15th, 2008

James 2:19-26

Pastor Lee:
What a short, POWERFUL, punch of a passage. I love the story of Abraham and Isaac. God gave Abraham a son named Isaac, after several years, Abraham still said that he loved God, but God wanted to see it in Abrahams actions. So God told Abraham to offer up Issac as a sacrifice on an alter. I would think to myself... WHAT!!!! God, you cant do that!!! You gave Him to me, I cant kill the son that you gave to me. But Abraham TRUSTED GOD so much that his actiones proved it.

The fact is, we can tell God we believe in him all day, but this passage makes it clear, that Satan and his demons also believe in God, and they are not going to Heaven. We must believe in God in such a way that our actions prove our faith.

Faith without works is DEAD! (works = evidence through my actions)
In other words teenagers, If I am not living what I say I believe, then there is a good chance I probably dont really believe it.

Do your actions prove that you believe or not?


19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.