DRAWING NEAR
June 28
Dead Faith Versus Demonic Faith
"Someone may well say, 'You have faith, and I have works; show
me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by
my works.' You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons
also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you
foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?" (James
2:18-20).
In recent years there has been an alarming rise in the number of
professing Christians who believe that there's no necessary
relationship between what they believe and what they do. They say you
can't judge a person's spiritual condition by what he or she does
because salvation is a matter of faith alone--as if requiring works
violates the principle of faith.
It was that kind of reasoning that prompted James to issue this
challenge: "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith
without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (James
2:18). The Greek word translated "show" means "to exhibit,"
"demonstrate," or "put on display." His point is simple: it's
impossible to verify true faith apart from holy living because
doctrine and deed are inseparable.
Can you know if someone is a Christian by watching his behavior?
According to James, that's the only way to know! In verse 19 he says,
"You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe,
and shudder." In other words, affirming orthodox doctrine isn't
necessarily proof of saving faith. Demons believe in the oneness of
God, and its implications fill them with fear, but they aren't saved.
The phrase "you do well" is intentionally sarcastic. The implication
is that demonic faith is better than non-responsive faith because at
least the demons shudder, which is better than no response at all.
You can't be a Christian in creed only--you must be one in conduct as
well! James makes that very clear. Don't be confused or deceived by
those who teach otherwise. Continually aim your life at bringing
glory to God through obedient application of biblical truth.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Reaffirm to the Lord your commitment to abide by His Word.
For Further Study:
Read John 8:12-47. Make a list of doctrines and deeds that
characterize dead faith and a corresponding list of those that
characterize true faith.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
John 8:12-47
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the
world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the
light of life."
13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of
Yourself; Your witness is not true."
14 Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of
Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I
am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.
15 "You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
16 "And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone,
but I am with the Father who sent Me.
17 "It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is
true.
18 "I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me
bears witness of Me."
19 Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered,
"You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would
have known My Father also."
20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the
temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.
21 Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will
seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come."
22 So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, 'Where
I go you cannot come'?"
23 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You
are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if
you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
25 Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them,
"Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
26 "I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He
who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I
heard from Him."
27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.
28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then
you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as
My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone,
for I always do those things that please Him."
30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in
My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free."
33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never
been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever
commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son
abides forever.
36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill
Me, because My word has no place in you.
38 "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you
have seen with your father."
39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus
said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works
of Abraham.
40 "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth
which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.
41 "You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We
were not born of fornication; we have one Father; God."
42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me,
for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself,
but He sent Me.
43 "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to
listen to My word.
44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father
you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not
stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks
a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the
father of it.
45 "But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
46 "Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do
you not believe Me?
47 "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear,
because you are not of God."
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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