Faith that Does Not Save from Hell

“Faith that Does Not Save from Hell”
(James 2:20-26)
Series: Living the Faith

Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD

Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson

•I invite you to take your Bibles and join me in James, chapter 2 (page 812; YouVersion).

We are preaching our way through the Book of James, verse by verse, and we paused our study at verse 19 so we’ll pick up in a moment reading from verse 20 through the end of the chapter.

We are in a section of James’ letter where he is teaching about the relationship of works, things Christians do, good deeds, which demonstrate or show that one’s Christian faith is real.

James has asked the question in verse 14, “What does it profit…if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can [that kind of] faith save him?” And the answer is, “No. No, that kind of faith doesn’t save.” It is merely confessional. A person may profess or confess that he or she is a Christian, but mere confession does not save. Saving faith is nor merely confessional.

We also noted last time that saving faith is neither merely intellectual. One can believe true statements, orthodox statements, about God and about Jesus and still not be saved. James teaches in verse 19 that even the demons believe in God. The demons even believe that there is but one God. Believing true facts does not in and of itself constitute true salvation. You can know the truth, but not love the truth. You can know things about God and His church, but not really love God, nor even really love the people of God. You can know Bible facts but have no patient endurance through trials and hardships.

True saving faith is not merely confessional, nor intellectual, nor even merely emotional. Many people are emotional about God, the Bible, worship music, and so on. James says in verse 19 that the demons believe God “and tremble.” There is an emotional reaction to the truth, but that does not mean one’s faith is any more real than the faith of demons.

True faith is found genuine by the doing of good deeds. In the example James provides in verses 15 and following, a Christian with true saving faith will take care of another person who is in need of food and clothing. So, James concludes in verse 17, “Thus faith also by itself if it does not have works, is dead.” Useless.

Faith is inseparable from the doing of good deeds, good works. James adds in verse 18 that the two are not to be separated as though one might say, “Well, I have works and you have faith. We can stress one or the other.” James says again, “No, the two are inseparable. No one works his way into heaven, and, no one simply believes without having the accompanying good works. The two go together.”

This teaching has caused some anxiety among students of the Bible because when we read Paul’s writings, such as in Romans and Ephesians, it is very clear that Paul is teaching that no one is saved by works. The whole point of the Book of Romans is that one is justified, declared not guilty of sin, by grace through faith in Christ alone. Paul teaches that no one is saved by works and stresses the primacy of faith itself.

Then we read James and James says stresses the importance of works in the Christian life. James says in verse 17, Faith by itself if it does not have works, is dead.”

We noted last time that there is no contradiction between James and Paul. The two are friends. James and Paul are speaking about two different points in the Christian life. Paul is talking about the way into the Christian life, the beginning of Christian experience. He teaches that no one can enter into Christian salvation by doing good works as though he could earn God’s forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is not earned; it is received.

James is talking about a point after one becomes a Christian. He addresses the professing Christian, so his concern is the Christian’s living out of his faith. As we’ve noted before: James does not write this letter to teach how to become a Christian, but how to behave as a Christian.

So salvation is not a “faith plus works,” nor a “faith without works,” but a “faith that works.” Or, if you like, “Faith alone saves,” but “the faith that saves is never alone.” True saving faith is not merely confessional, it is proved genuine by accompanying works which give evidence to the genuineness of one’s faith.

Then James gives two examples from the Old Testament to demonstrate further that true saving faith is proved genuine by the doing of good deeds which naturally follow and flow from a truly converted heart. These two Old Testament examples are the examples of Abraham and Rahab. Listen for those two as I read the passage this morning.

•Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.

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.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

•Pray.

Introduction:

The message this morning is entitled, “Faith that Does Not Save from Hell.” It’s a sobering fact in the Bible that there is a kind of faith that may seem genuine, but it is a faith that is useless, powerless, dead. It is a faith that does not save from hell. The word, “Save” is a good word. It is a Bible word.

I recall many years ago hearing a Christian speak with joy about his salvation. He used that word, “Salvation.” And I remember thinking, “What is that?—salvation?” It sounded so foreign to me. Of course, I didn’t fully understand the doctrine of salvation at that point and was not in the habit of referring to my Christian faith as that which had saved me.

When we speak of “saving faith,” we are talking about a kind of faith that saves. If we ask, “Saves from what?” The answer is, “Saves from hell.” Because saving faith saves a person from the consequences of his or her sin. Apart from God’s grace, every person deserves death and hell. Eternal separation from God. To be “saved” is to be rescued from that awful predicament, rescued and made right with God that one may enjoy eternal life.

So James is teaching about this matter of salvation and his stress is on the fact that one is saved by grace through faith in Christ but—and this is James’ primary point—if one is genuinely saved by grace through faith in Christ then that person’s faith will be shown to be genuine by the living out one’s faith. A true Christian will do good works—not in order to earn God’s favor; this is impossible—but a true Christian will do good works as a demonstration of the fact that his or her heart has been changed. The good works necessary follow. That is why James can say, “Faith without works is a dead faith.”

So let’s look now at these two examples. The first one is found in Abraham. So we first consider:

I. Consider a Patriarch’s Faith (20-24)

Abraham is the patriarch of believing Jews and Christians alike. He is the primary “Father figure” of the faith. So James argues now in verse 20 and following:

James cites this patriarch of the faith, Father Abraham, as the first illustration of how one’s faith is proved genuine by the doing of good works.

If we had time we would turn to two places in Genesis and I give them to you now that you may write them down and study later. Genesis 15 and then Genesis 22. Genesis chapter 15 and Genesis chapter 22.

To simplify: In Genesis chapter 15 we read of Abraham’s faith. In Genesis chapter 22 we read how Abraham’s faith was proved genuine by the doing of good works. Genesis 15: Abraham’s faith; Genesis 22: Abraham’s faith proved genuine.

So when you turn later to read Genesis 15 you read about that wonderful occasion where God promises Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky. And the Bible says, “And Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6).”

And it’s the same text James cites here now in verse 23:

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.

And Paul cites this very text in Romans 4, teaching that one is declared righteous solely by faith (Romans 4:3). “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Abraham believed God. When a person genuinely surrenders in belief and trust in the One True God, then He is credited righteous. Abraham took God at His word. He was saved by grace through faith.

This is as good a place as any to remember that men and women throughout biblical history are saved the same way. In our day we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, looking back in time to the event of the cross, looking back to the Christ who has come. In Abraham’s day, believers also were saved by grace through faith, as they looked forward in time to the Christ who would come. Whether on one side of the cross or the other, persons are saved based upon their faith in God.

So Abraham believed God in Genesis 15 and Abraham’s faith was proved genuine by what he did in Genesis 22. And what did Abraham do in Genesis 22? This is that marvelous passage where Abraham gives visible evidence of his faith in God. He shows his faith is genuine by obeying God’s command to offer up his son Isaac upon the altar.

Remember this passage? God says, “Abraham, take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and…offer him as a burnt offering…” And the Bible says in Genesis 22 that Abraham obeyed God and proceeded to do precisely what God had asked. He obeys the command of God. You can read the rest later, but most of you know that God stopped Abraham before he sacrificed his son because God was merely testing Abraham’s faith, testing to see whether Abraham would obey. And Abraham passed the test and that’s why James can say that Abraham was called last part of verse 23, “the friend of God.”

God was looking for evidence that Abraham’s faith was genuine. He tested Abraham and Abraham passed the test by demonstrating that his faith was not merely confessional, nor merely intellectual, nor merely emotional, but that his faith was real; his faith was genuine. And that’s why James can say that Abraham’s faith “was working together with his works, and by works his faith was made perfect, or complete (22).”

So James reasons in verse 24:

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

That is, one way we can be reasonably certain that a person is saved is by seeing the evidence of their genuine faith. If a person is born again, he or she will live a different life than they were living before.

Now, none of us can know for sure about the salvation of another. None of us can see into the heart the way God can see. But we can be reasonably certain that a person is saved if their confession of faith matches their living out the faith. There is a pattern of godliness. There is evidence of saving faith. The once barren tree bears fruit. Life.

So you attend a funeral and listen to a preacher try to put a positive spin on the deceased person’s life. Here is a man everyone said was a Christian. Perhaps even years earlier this person himself was like the guy in James chapter 2. He says he is a Christian, but there is no evidence, no pattern of godliness. No love for God and His truth. Here is a man who had a faith, but it is a faith James describes as useless, powerless, and dead. It is a faith that does not save from hell.

Abraham’s faith saved from hell. And so did Rahab’s faith save from hell. We’ve considered a patriarch’s faith. Next we consider:

II. Consider a Prostitute’s Faith (25)

James could not have provided two greater contrasts than Abraham and Rahab; from a patriarch to a prostitute, from Jew, to Gentile; from man to woman; from privileged to poor; from good reputation to bad reputation.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

If you made a note to read later Genesis 15 and Genesis 22, you may also wish to read later Joshua chapter 2. Joshua 2 tells about Rahab the prostitute who hid the spies, the messengers God had sent to do reconnaissance work in Jericho, spying out the land. And the Bible says that Rahab came to know the One True God.

She had heard how God had divided the Red Sea so that God’s people could cross as they escaped the Egyptians. What revelation she had about God at that time she believed. She trusted in the One True God. So when God, in His providence, guided the spies to Rahab, she hid them so they would not be discovered by the unbelieving rulers of Jericho. Rahab risked her life to cover for the spies and helped them escape later.

So Rahab also serves as an example of one whose faith in God was proved genuine by the doing of good deeds. Her works, namely her saving of the spies, served to demonstrate that her faith was real.

Again, James provides such striking contrast between patriarch and prostitute; between the spiritually privileged and the spiritually poor. It’s as if he wants to stress that whether one is “really good” or “really bad,” both are saved the same way—by grace through faith; a faith that will prove to be genuine by the doing of good works. A “really good” person like Abraham is no “more” saved than a “really bad” person like Rahab. And a “really bad” person like Rahab is no “less” saved than a “really good” person like Abraham.

Whether you identify more with Abraham the patriarch or Rahab the prostitute, every person is saved the same way and—because of the Gospel—every Christian is on equal footing in the eyes of God. Every Christian—whether patriarch or prostitute—every believer is loved equally in God because every believer is equally “in Christ.”

If we are saved, God loves us equally in Christ. No one is more loved or less loved because of their background or experience. And, as Christians, no Christian is “more loved” by God when he does good deeds and no Christian is “less loved” by God when he stumbles and falls as a Christian.

To quote our friend Jerry Bridges: “Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace and your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.”—The Discipline of Grace.

We’ve considered a patriarch’s faith, a prostitute’s faith, thirdly and finally:

III. Consider a Powerless Faith (26)

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The works James speaks about with reference to Abraham and Rahab and not the kind of works most of us imagine. James doesn’t say, “The reason Abraham and Rahab’s faith is the genuine article is because the works they did that were evident were works like reading the Bible and going to church.”

No, the works, the “justification by works” evidenced in Abraham and Rahab are the “works” of putting their hopes and even lives on the line for God. Abraham is willing to see his son die; Rahab risks her life in hiding the spies. Do you see that? These two illustrations are so powerful in that the “works” about which James writes are life-denying and risk-taking works.

When you love someone, you will risk everything to be with that person. It’s not what you can get out of the relationship, but the pure pleasure and joy of being in the relationship.

I love this statement about Abraham at the end of verse 23, “And he was called the friend of God.” When a person is genuinely saved, he or she is a friend of God. We once were enemies of God, but by the grace of the Gospel, we are not friends of God. What a wonderful relationship! As we sing in that praise chorus: “I am a friend of God. He calls me, ‘Friend.’”

See a friend is not a friend for what you can get out of the relationship. A person is not your friend if they are using you to get what they want, taking advantage of your position or the stuff you have, or your job. They manipulate you to get what they want. Friendship is just being with someone because you love that person. You just want to be with that person. It’s the pure pleasure and joy of being in that relationship.

Not long after Michele and I met, and this goes back like 30 years now, she had this cool little MG convertible. It was a blue MG and it was cool. I actually learned to drive a straight shift on that car. And so we had just started dating and I took that car one day and cleaned it up and detailed it—man it shined a beautiful shiny blue; just looked so nice—and I drove it to her place of work and admired that car as I left it there at her workplace. And that evening she went out with one of her girlfriends and totaled the car.

I was so disappointed to learn that that cool little blue MG convertible had been totaled—because, you know, we were dating and…the car came with the girl, you know?! So when I learned the car had been totaled, oh! How tragic! I went through the “5 Stages of Grief,” and then, when I had accepted what had happened, it occurred to me at some point in my reflection—that I loved the girl more than I loved the car. I loved being with Michele. I didn’t love her for what I could get out of here. It was the pure pleasure and joy of being in that relationship.

That’s what being a Christian is like. We are friends with God and friends of God. We are His friends not because of what we can get out of the relationship, but merely because we enjoy being in His presence. And let me say that that is the greatest evidence of genuine salvation. A desire just to be with our Lord.

Conclusion:

“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

Whatever side of the cross, we become God’s friend when we look to Him and believe.

When Abraham believed, when Abraham passed the test of faith, God said to him in Genesis 22:12, “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (NIV)

And we become a friend of God when we look to the cross and we can say to Him, “Now I know that you love me, because You have not withheld from me Your Son, Your only Son.”

And we believe in His Son. We place our faith in Him. We believe Him and we live for Him. “Faith alone saves,” but “the faith that saves is never alone.” As God’s friends, we live out our friendship out of love for Him.

•Stand for prayer.

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