Faith Is Manifested in A Life of Works

"Faith Is Manifested in A Life of Works" - Matthew 5:16 No one turns on a lamp to put it under a bushel (thick drawer), reason, will go out, it will not have oxygen. Instead, they put it on the candlestick (holding a candle) so that it will shine a light on everyone in the house. It is not His intention that we should hold up the light of His teaching for ourselves, but that we should teach it to others.

I. We should make it "shine" "our light."

A. So that when others "see our good works," they will "glorify" (exalt, enhance, magnify, honor) our Father who is in heaven.

1. The ministry of Christian character.

2. Your beauty is a life, what Christ lives in you, it is not how much is said about religion, it is not our words.

3. (1 Timothy 6:18) You are steward of what you have, what you possess.

4. Today we can see a need and sympathize "to give glory to God" and to be eyes of compassion for a miracle, a need, by carrying good works.

5. Wesley: Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, on every occasion you can, to as many people as you can, and as long as you can.

6. Let God point you in.

7. (Titus 2:7) Paul also has advice to give to Titus himself.

8. As a person in charge of a public ministry in the churches.

9. That he would be a model of good works.

10. A close parallel had to be drawn between his "doctrine" and his conduct.

11. His teaching would have to be characterized by integrity, seriousness.

12. Integrity means that teaching should correspond with faith given to the holy once and for all.

13. By seriousness (formality, responsibility, dignity, gravity, is gravely serious), Paul means that teaching should be worthy and well-founded.

14. It sincerely shows that "it cannot be corrupted and turned away from the path of truth."

15. (Hebrews 10:34) Be able (do certain things) to encourage brothers to manifest "love" and to devote themselves to good works.

16. "Love" is not an emotion, but an act of will. (faculty to decide and order one's own conduct faculty = capacity).

17. We are "commanded" to act with "love", therefore, it is something that "we can" and "must do".

18. "Love" is the root; "Good works" are the fruit.

19. Your example is your experience, teach others (children, spouse), we should "stimulate" (drive) others: children, friends to this kind of life.

20. (James 2:17, 18) So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.

21. A "faith" without "works" is not true faith at all.

22. It's just a matter of words.

23. James is emphasizing here that we are not saved by a faith of words alone, but by that kind of faith that "results in a life of good works."

24. In other words, works are not the root of salvation, but the fruit.

25. Calvin put it very simply: "We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that stands alone, (needs works) (showing that your faith has worked great miracles).

26. (18) True faith and good works are inseparable.

27. James shows us this by giving us a fragment of a debate between two men.

28. The first, who is genuinely saved, is the one who speaks.

29. The second professed to have faith but does not demonstrate his faith by good works.

30. The first is heard launching an irrefutable (indisputable) challenge to the other.

31. The first man rightly says, "You say that" you have faith, but you have no works to prove it.

32. I say that faith is to be manifested in a life of works.

33. Show me that "you" "have" faith without a life of good works.

34. He can't do it.

35. Faith is invisible.

36. The only way others can know that you have faith is by a life that demonstrates it.

37. "I will show you my faith by my works."

38. The key to this verse lies in the word show me.... It is impossible to "show" faith except by works.

39. (1 Peter 2:12) The day of visitation is any time that God... it approaches, either grace or in judgment.

40. They will have no excuse, because not only had they heard the gospel, but they had seen it in the lives of Christian relatives, friends, and neighbors.

41. God will then be vindicated (defense of whom they have been slandered) through the blameless conduct of "His children." Amen.