James Is Christian Faith a Private Matter?

 

James

Is Christian Faith a Private Matter?

Yes, our faith is private but must also be public

If our faith does not have action, James says it is “DEAD”

We must remember all our actions are to be displayed in love

By this all men will know that you are my disciples,

 if you love one another." John 13:35

 Even though Jesus said the world was evil

 He still died for the world because He loves the world John 3:16

Christian Faith is an incredible relationship with others

A life of love in the midst of hating evil

Christian Faith is action, action that produces fruit found in Galatians 5

 These words from James should challenge every believer

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder. James 2:18-19

Don’t be a fearful believer like the Devil

Be a loving believer full of good deeds

 

 

Is Christian Faith a Private Matter?

 

Faith is what you believe.

 

What you believe is in your mind or heart.

 

Many have said…

 

 “Keep your faith to yourself.”

 

Or,

 

“My faith is a private matter.”

 

Everyone believes in something

and it effect everything they do.

 

So it is impossible to keep your faith private.

 

You will say and act on your beliefs.

 

Beliefs can be strong or weak

and that does affect our actions.

 

For the Christian…

 

 The word faith is a major word.

 

Because it is by Faith we are saved.

Ephesians 2:8

 

Our righteousness is by faith from first to last,

so the righteous live by faith.

Romans 1:17

 

So is Christian Faith a private matter?

 

Yes, Faith is a personal and private matter.

 

Faith in God is a personal matter

 between the believer and God.

 

Faith is when God’s Spirit takes

up residency in the believer.

 

It is when God’s Spirit bears witness with our spirit,

an internal connection that makes a person a Child of God.

 Romans 8:14-16; John 3:3-8

 

Even though Faith is a private matter…

 

 It is also a public matter.

 

Our faith is to be a confession.

 

Confession is criteria for Salvation

as much as believing in the heart. 

Romans 10:9

 

Jesus made confession very clear in Matthew 10:32…

 

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,

him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

KJV

 

Fear should not stop the believer

from confessing their faith.

John 12:42

 

Jesus was and is the model of the Christian faith.

 

Jesus’ life was not private.

 

Jesus’ life, what He said and did,

 was more than His private relationship

with the Father and His friends.

 

Jesus’ faith affected society,

the religious and political world.

 

When Jesus said, “Do not Judge”…

 

 He was not saying we are not to judge,

 but our judgments is to be without hypocrites.

Matthew 7:1-3

 

Jesus’ message and actions dealt with every aspect of

life because He came so we could have abundant life.

John 10:10

 

Faith in God’s Word deals with…

 

 Economic, Environmental, and Military Issues.

  

Yes, our faith is private…

 

 But must also be public.

 

If our faith does not have action,

 James says it is “DEAD”.

 

We must remember all our actions

are to be displayed in love…

 

By this all men will know that you are my disciples,

if you love one another."

John 13:35

Even though Jesus said the world was evil…

 

 He still died for the world because He loves the world.

John 3:16

 

Christian Faith is an incredible relationship with others.

 

A life of love in the midst of hating evil.

 

Christian Faith is action…

 

 Action that produces fruit found in Galatians 5.

 

 These words from James should challenge every believer…

 

Show me your faith without deeds,

and I will show you my faith by what I do.

You believe that there is one God. Good!

Even the demons believe that — and shudder.

James 2:18-19

 

Don’t be a fearful believer like the Devil.

 

Be a loving believer full of good deeds.

 

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

James 2:14-19 NIV

 

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 

18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."

 

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.