The Epistle of James

Three Kinds of Faith:

I. Dead faith: Substitutes words for deeds...
a. You know the correct vocabulary for prayer and sound doctrine.
You can quote the right verses from the Bible
b. But their "walk" does not measure up to their "talk"

II. Demonic faith: Perhaps to shock any complacent raders, James reminds us that...
a. Even "demons" have a kind of faith!
1. They believe in God (no athesists or agnostics here!)
2. They even believe in the diety of Christ (Mr 3:11-12)
3. They also believe in the existence of a place of condemnation (Lk 8:31)
4. They believe Jesus will be the Judge! (Matt 8:28-29)

b. What kind of faith do "demons" have?
1. We saw that the man with "dead faith" was "touched only in his intellect"
2. The demons are "touched also in their emotions" (note that they "believe and tremble")
3. This is one step above a "dead faith"- it involves both INTELLECT and EMOTIONS

III. Dynamic faith: faith that is based upon the Word of God (Ro 10:17)
This faith involves the WHOLE MAN...whereas:
- Dead faith as mentioned earlier touches only the intellect
- Demonic faith involves both mind and emotions
- Dynamic faith involves intellect, the emotoins AND the WILL!

1. The MIND understands the truth.
2. The HEART acts upon the truth.
3. The WILL acts upon the truth.

True saving faith, then LEADS TO ACTION
a. It is not intellectual contemplatoin
b. It is not emotionalism
c. It is that which leads to obedience in doing good works.

In Summary: It is important that each professing Christian examine his/her own heart and life and make sure that they possess true saving faith, which is a dynamic faith.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

try me and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting."

~Psalms 139:23-24~

Source: Pastor Nelson's Sunday School notes...also the NIV Bible.