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Smyrna Christian Church -- Lee Delbridge, Minister
910 Concord Road SE -- Smyrna, Georgia 30080 -- 770.435.1723
www.SmyrnaChristianChurch.org

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The Faith That Makes A Difference
Part V

The primary meaning of saving faith is trust in Jesus and in what He has done for you. Trusting in Jesus is what saves you. You are depending on His sacrifice to atone for your sins. There is another side to faith. Real faith not only trusts -- real faith also obeys. You should trust and obey. There is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

1. THE MAIN EMPHASIS OF THE BOOK OF JAMES IS THAT TRUE FAITH WORKS
   • The principle stated
     • James 2:14 - What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
     • James 2:24 - You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
     • James 2:26 - For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
   • The principle illustrated
     • James 2:15-16 - If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
     • James 2:21 - Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
     • James 2:25 - In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
   • True faith works
   
   
2. THE BOOKS OF ROMANS AND GALATIANS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TRUE FAITH WORKS
   • Romans 1:5 and Romans 16:26 mentions the “obedience of faith”
   • Romans 6:16-18 - Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
   • Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
   • Galatians 6:9 - Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
   • Even though the books of Romans and Galatians emphasize faith as trusting in Jesus and what He has done, both books acknowledge that true faith not only trusts -- it also works.
   
   
3. THE FAITH CHAPTER DEMONSTRATES THAT TRUE FAITH WORKS - Hebrews 11:1-40
   • Sixteen of the eighteen named “people/incidents” in this chapter is said to have done something “by faith”
     • By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice - v 4
     • By faith Noah prepared an ark - v 7
     • By faith Abraham when he was called obeyed - v 8
     • By faith Abraham when he was tested offered up Isaac - v 17
     • By faith Moses, when he was born was hidden - v 23
     • By faith Moses turned his back on Egypt and choose to be with God’s people - vv 24-26
   • Therefore we see very clearly that true faith works -- it obeys -- it is active

The primary meaning of saving faith is trust in Jesus and in what He has done for you. Trusting in Jesus is what saves you. You are depending on His sacrifice to atone for you sins. There is another side to faith. Real faith not only trusts -- real faith also obeys. You should trust and obey. There is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. Are you trusting in Jesus to save you? Does your faith cause you to obey God’s commands? Do you trust and obey Jesus?

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