Living Faith
Ernie begins by expressing deep gratitude to the Lord for His presence and blessings among His people, emphasizing the importance of practical faith rooted in works. He highlights James chapter 2, which stresses that faith without works is dead, using examples like Abraham and Rahab to illustrate that genuine faith manifests through actions. Ernie underscores that true faith is living and active, demonstrated by love, obedience, and righteousness in daily life. He explains that justification by faith is the beginning, but believers are called to live by faith continually, trusting God in trials and difficulties, which are part of His divine purpose to refine and conform us to Christ’s image. Ernie emphasizes that God’s faithfulness never changes, even in suffering, and that trials serve to build endurance, wisdom, and dependence on Him. He advocates for a simple, trusting reliance on God, recognizing that living by faith involves total dependence on Christ, the true vine. Ernie warns against superficial faith and urges believers to demonstrate their faith through righteous conduct, love, and obedience, citing Abraham and Rahab as examples. He concludes by encouraging believers to seek a genuine, experiential knowledge of God through Jesus Christ, who embodies the fullness of God, and to respond to life’s trials with faith that is active and visible in their lives.
Outline of Main Points
- Gratitude for God's presence and blessings among believers
- James 2: Faith without works is dead; true faith manifests in actions
- Examples of Abraham and Rahab illustrating living faith
- Justification by faith is the start; believers are called to live by faith daily
- Trials and difficulties are divinely designed to refine and conform us to Christ
- God’s unchanging faithfulness in all circumstances
- Living by faith requires total dependence on Christ, the true vine
- Superficial faith is ineffective; genuine faith is demonstrated through righteous conduct
- Encouragement to seek experiential knowledge of God through Jesus Christ
- Faith is active, visible, and rooted in obedience and love in daily life
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
