(Acts 16:30-34; James 2:21-25)
Introduction
I. The Apostle Paul began the body of his letter to Timothy with these sobering words:
(1 Tim 1:3-4 NKJV) As I urged you when I went into Macedonia; remain in Ephesus
that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, {4} nor give heed to
fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification
which is in faith.
A. Timothy was an evangelist, and as an evangelist he was to PROCLAIM the truth and
OPPOSE the error.
II. As servants of Jesus Christ:
A. We are to PROCLAIM the truth; We are justified by faith.
B. We are to OPPOSE the error; We are not justified by faith only.
III. The doctrine of justification by faith alone goes back to Martin Luther, one of the most
influential men of the Reformers.
A. It was the result of his overreaction to the Catholicism he was raised in.
1. Luther's favorite book was Romans.
2. As a priest in the Catholic church he was frustrated by his attempts to be good
enough to be saved.
3. He realized he always fell short of God's holiness.
4. Through his studies, he realized he could not be good enough to earn his
salvation, but instead, he must depend on God's grace.
5. Sadly, from the book of Romans and Galatians, he came to the erroneous
conclusion that we are justified by faith and that no works of any kind are
involved in our salvation.
a. Romans and Galatians teach we are not justified by works of the law
but this does not eliminate the need of obedience.
B. Luther's Catechism teaches, "We are justified and saved by faith alone, without works
... Our own works have nothing to do with our justification."
1. Luther's influence was so great that nearly every denomination that has formed
since his time has followed his teaching of justification by faith alone.
C. Just a few years after Luther began his work in the early 1500's, John Calvin began the
Presbyterian church in 1534.
1. "Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, in which he pardoneth
all their sins... and received by faith alone. " (The Larger Catechism of the
Presbyterian Church).
D. In 1536, King Henry VIII formed the Church of England (Episcopalians)
1. "Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome Doctrine,
and very full of comfort." (Book of Common Prayer).
E. In the early 1600's the Baptist denomination was formed.
1. "We believe the Scriptures teach that the great gospel blessing which secures
to such as believe in Him is justification; that justification includes the pardon
of sin, and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is
bestowed... solely through faith in the Redeemer's blood. " (The Hiscox
Standard Baptist Manual).
F. In the 1700's the Methodists broke away from the Church of England.
1. "Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine,
and very full of comfort." (Discipline of the Methodist Church).
IV. What Does the Bible Say? (Rom 3:24; 5:9; James 2:24; Rom 5:1).
A. If the book of Romans teaches that we are justified by faith, the blood of Christ, and
God's grace, why did Luther teach we are justified by faith alone?
1. Luther made another great error.
2. He misunderstood what the apostle Paul meant when he taught how we are not
justified by the works of the Law in the books of Romans (3:28) and
Galatians.
a. Luther added a word to Paul's writing (Rom 3:28).
B. He realized for anyone to be justified by Law, they would have to be absolutely
perfect so they could earn their salvation.
1. Luther understood this was not possible, but he overreacted and taught we do
not have to do anything but believe to be saved.
C. Because of his misunderstanding of how we must be obedient although we cannot
earn our salvation, Luther rejected the book of James and called it a "straw epistle"
that did not belong in the Bible.
1. He concluded this because James 2:24 says, "Ye see then how that by works
a man is justified, and not by faith only."
2. This contradicted what Luther believed, so instead of changing what he
believed, Luther rejected James, the brother of Jesus! (James 2:21-25).
V. What are we to believe and teach as we go into all the world?
Body
I. FAITH IS ESSENTIAL.
A. Faith can be defined (Heb 11:1).
1. Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T. defines "faith or belief" as "a
conviction, full of joyful truth, that Jesus is the Messiah - the divinely
appointed author of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God, conjoined with
obedience to Christ."
a. In faith there are 3 inherent ideas: conviction, truth, and obedience.
2. "Substance" is a compound word sub means "under" and stance suggests
"foundation."
a. Faith is the foundation that stands under the things for which we hope.
3. "Evidence" is the proof, the conviction of things not seen.
a. Faith is the substance of things hoped for - second coming of Jesus,
the resurrection, immortality, eternal life in heaven.
b. Faith is the evidence of things not seen - creation of the world, the
deluge, Israel's deliverance from Egypt, the life, death, resurrection and
ascension of Jesus.
(1) Faith is seeing the unseen, the invisible.
(a) Hugo McCord- "Now faith makes real the things for
which we hope and is proof of things not seen."
(2) Faith is not an escape from reality - it faces reality.
(3) Faith enables us to know what is real and lasting and what isn't.
(4) Faith is a philosophy of life.
II. FAITH IS REQUIRED TO PLEASE GOD (HEB 11:6; MARK 16:16; JOHN 8:24; ACTS
16:30-33).
A. Faith is not produced in the heart by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit (Rev 21:8).
III. FAITH IS ATTAINABLE.
A. Faith is produced in the heart by the word (seed) sown (Luke 8:1)
B. Faith is produced in the heart by the word spoken by the apostles (Jn 17:20-21).
C. Faith is produced in the heart by reading the word of God (Acts 17:11-12).
D. Faith is produced in the heart by hearing the word of God (Rom 10:17).
E. Faith is produced in the heart through the written word (John 20:30-31).
F. Faith is produced in the heart by the preaching of the word (Rom 10:14).
IV. FAITH IS NECESSARY TO LIVE THE XIAN LIFE.
A. Faith enables us to see the real God.
1. How real is God to us? (10 spies) (Caleb - Hebor).
2. How real is God in your prayer life? (Js. 5:17 - Elijah).
B. Faith expresses our need for God (Acts 22:16).
1. Faith is leaning upon God.
C. Faith enables us to become the children of God (Gal 3:26-27).
D. Faith enables us to live in another world, the unseen (Phil 3:20).
1. Faith looks at what you can't see, not what you see.
2. Faith gives reality to the real things (Heb 11:13).
E. Faith creates faithful people (Heb. 11) [FAITH CAUSES US TO... ]
1. Worship like Abel.
2. Walk like Enoch.
3. Build like Noah.
4. Offer like Abraham.
5. Lead like Moses.
6. Fight like Joshua.
7. Die like Isaiah.
F. Faith enables us to do the will of God.
1. Faith can believe the incredible.
2. Faith can perceive the invisible.
3. Faith can achieve the impossible.
4. Faith can enable us to live victoriously (1 John 5:4-5).
V. FAITH IS IMPORTANT.
A. Faith is that through which we receive the grace of God (Eph 2:8).
B. Faith is the medium through which the Christian life is lived (Gal 2:20).
C. Faith is a necessary part of the Christian's armor (Eph 6:16).
VI. FAITH MUST BE A WAY OF LIFE (2 COR 5:7).
A. There are 4 fundamental principles essential if we want to live by faith.
1. Faith must be personal.
a. I can't believe for my wife or children - no proxy faith.
b. Faith is based upon personal convictions.
2. Faith rests upon testimony.
a. Where there is no testimony there can be no faith.
3. Faith is trusting in God (Prov 3:5).
a. This principle is taught in Habakkuk (Hab 2:2-4; Hab 3:17-19).
4. Faith must be expressed in action, obedience (Rom 1:5).
a. There is no biblical saving faith until action makes it real (James 2:18).
b. The works James teaches are works of the obedience of faith, works
whereby we meet the conditions of divine grace, works of obedience
to the gospel.
(1) Faith Alone Does Not Profit and Will Not Save (James 2:14).
(2) Faith Alone is Dead (James 2:17).
(3) Faith Alone Cannot Be Proved (James 2:18).
(4) Faith Alone Is Possessed by Demons (James 2:19).
(5) Faith Alone Is Incomplete (James 2:22).
(6) Faith Alone Will Not Justify (James 2:24).
Conclusion
I. The Alien Sinner Must Have A Working Faith To Be Saved (Matthew 7:21).
A. The alien must believe in Jesus (John 6:28-29), repent of his sins (Acts 3:19), confess
his faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts
2:38).
II. The Child of God Must Have a Working Faith To Be Saved (Phil 2:12).
A. The child of God must "observe all things" Christ commands (Matthew 28:19-20).
1. When he fails to do so he must repent, confess his sin, and pray for
forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).
III. The doctrine of "salvation by faith alone" may be "very full of comfort," but it is also very full
of death.
A. "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
** If you have any questions or if you would like to become a Christian, please let us know.
Alan C. Cole
26th St. Church of Christ
101-26th Street
Huntington, WV 25703
Phone - (304) 522-0717
E-Mail - Cole8@marshall.edu
Homepage - http://mupfc.marshall.edu/~cole8/
