Bible Study Notes (01/26/20221) James 2:14-26 Part 1 "Faith Without Works?"

James – Gospel Motivated Love
Faith Without Works? Part 1
Passage: James 2:14-26

QUESTION: What is the primary purpose of our good works?

LBCF Chapter 16 - Good Works

1. Good works are only those works that God has commanded in his holy Word.1 Works that do not have this warrant are invented by people out of blind zeal or on a pretense of good intentions and are not truly good.2
1Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:21. 2Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13.

2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruit and evidence of a true and living faith.3 Through good works believers express their thankfulness,4 strengthen their assurance,5 build up their brothers and sisters, adorn the profession of the gospel,6 stop the mouths of opponents, and glorify God.7 Believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,8 so that they bear fruit leading to holiness and have the outcome, eternal life.9
3James 2:18, 22. 4Psalms 116:12, 13. 51 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5–11. 6Matthew 5:16. 71 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11. 8Ephesians 2:10. 9Romans 6:22.

QUESTION: What has motivated you in the past vs. today to do good works?

Phil. 2:1 ¶ So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
Phil. 2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord, and of one mind.
Phil. 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Phil. 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Phil. 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

QUESTION: What motivation did Paul use for good works? What other passages can we look to as motivation for our good works?

QUESTION: What should we do when we fail to do good works?

2Pet. 1:9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Heb. 10:19 ¶ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
Heb. 10:20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
Heb. 10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
Heb. 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb. 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Heb. 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Heb. 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

PRAISE, PRAYER, AND CONFESSION:
•What can you offer to the Father in praise?
•What is a sin you need to confess?
•What is a burden we can carry?
•What can we take to our Father in prayer?