The Relationship Between Faith & Works

I. The Nature of Faith & Works
A. Faith comes by hearing - Rom. 10:13-17
1. Initial faith to receive - Gal. 3:2
2. Continual faith to be supplied - Gal. 3:5
B. Hearing is related to the Word
1. The Word of Christ - Rom. 10:17
2. The Word of truth and hearing - James 1:18-19, 22-25
3. The implanted Word and hearing - James 1:21-25
C. Faith is a gift
1. Faith receives the realm of grace - Eph. 2:8
2. Faith is opposite from works - Eph. 2:9
a) Works of the law - Rom. 9:23; Gal. 2:16; 3:2, 5
b) Works of righteousness which we have done - Titus 3:5
c) The antithesis of grace and works - Rom. 11:6
d) Faith and righteousness apart from works - Rom. 4:2-6
3. Faith produces good works - Eph. 2:10
a) Good works are stored up in Christ - Eph. 2:10
b) Good works are concealed within grace - 1 Cor. 15:10
c) Good works are an extension of the inner light shining - Matt. 5:16
d) Good works are an expression of the genuine grace of God - Titus 2:11-14
4. Justified by grace to maintain good works - Titus 3:5-8
II. The Kind of Faith in James
A. Tested faith - James 1:3 (Using faith to deal with trials)
1. Trials correspond to faith in us - James 1:2-3
2. Temptations correspond to lust in us - James 1:13-15
B. Asking faith - James 1:6 (Using faith to pray)
C. Having faith properly - James 2:1
D. Being rich in faith - James 2:5
E. Mere doctrinal faith - 2:19-20
1. "Dead works" (Heb. 9:14) and "dead faith" (James 2:14-26)
F. Genuine faith has works (an issue, fruit) - James 2:14
1. "The work of faith" - 2 Thess. 1:11
2. The Author & Finisher of faith - Heb. 12:2
3. "Fruit of the Spirit . . . faith" - Gal. 5:22
G. Perfected faith - 2:22
H. The prayer of faith - 5:15
I. Kinds of faith
1. Justifying faith - 2 Pet. 1:1
2. Tested faith issuing in the salvation of the soul - 1 Pet. 1:6, 9
3. Added to faith - 2 Pet. 1:1, 5
4. Living by faith to the possessing of the soul - Heb. 10:38-12:2

III. The Kind of Justification in James
A. Initial justification
1. Abraham justified by faith according to Gen. 15:1-6
a) Paul's confirmation in Rom. 4:1-5; Gal. 3:6
2. Rahab according her own testimony - Josh. 2:9-11
a) She believed upon hearing
3. Works preceding initial faith are of no value, but good works springing out of faith are a proof of genuine faith - Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 2:14; Heb. 10:24; 1 Pet. 2:12
B. Final justification
1. Abraham justified by works in having his faith tested - Gen. 22:1ff;
Heb. 11:17-19; James 2:21-24
2. Rahab's faith in James 2:25 and Heb. 11:31 was a tested faith for here preservation into the land/kingdom
3. Related to our words at the Judgment seat - Matt. 12:35-37