Key Verses

John 15:5 NLT—“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

Matthew 7:18–20 NLT—“18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT—“5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.”

Text: James 2

Four proofs that your faith is living!

Living faith is proven through love.

Love is the tangible evidence of a genuine faith. #Talk2meJames

• Love is the greatest fruit expected from a Christian.
  • “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT).
  • “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you” (John 15:12 NLT).
  • We should have love for Jesus, love for Christians, and love for the world.
• Love is seen in how we treat people.
  • We must love without partiality or prejudice.
  • Partiality is preferring one group of people over another.
  • Prejudice is having a preconceived opinion or bias about a person.
• Love is the law.
  • James 2:12–13 NIV84—“12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

Living faith is proven through good works.

• Good works is the by-product of a genuine faith.
• Good works is something you must intentionally pursue.
• James 2:14 NIV84, emphasis added—“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?”
• Hebrews 10:24 NLT, emphasis added—“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”
  Matthew 5:15–16 NLT, emphasis added—“15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Living faith is proven through obedience.

James 2:21–22 NLT, emphasis added—“21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.”

Quick and total obedience is the evidence of genuine faith. #Talk2meJames

Living faith is proven through action.

James 2:25–26 NLT—“25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”