Dynamic Faith (James 2:20–26) - Part 1

Dynamic faith is faith that is real, faith that has power, and faith that changes your life.

James talked about this kind of real saving faith. First of all, dynamic saving faith is based on the Bible. God's Word gives us a new life, which is what we call our spiritual birth (James 1:18). We get the Word, and it saves us (James 1:21). "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17). James used Abraham and Rahab as examples of active saving faith because both of them heard and accepted God's message through His Word.

The object of faith is what makes it good. The man in the jungle kneels down in front of a stone idol and asks it for help, but he doesn't get any. No matter how much faith someone has, if it is not directed at the right thing, it will not do anything. A lot of honest people may say, "I believe," but the most important thing is, "In whom do you believe?" We are not saved by faith in faith; we are saved by faith in Christ as He has shown us in His Word.

Dynamic faith is rooted in God's Word and encompasses the entirety of the individual. Dead faith only affects the mind; demonic faith affects both the mind and the emotions; but dynamic faith affects the will. There is a part of the whole person in true saving faith. The mind comprehends the truth, the heart yearns for the truth, and the will executes the truth. The people of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 were doers: they heard God's voice and did what he said. Once more, "Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; faith is obeying in spite of consequence."

Genuine faith that saves leads to action. Dynamic faith is not just thinking about things or feeling bad about them; it makes you want to do what you should. And this obedience is not just a one-time thing; it lasts for the rest of your life. It makes things happen.

There are many different kinds of works mentioned in the New Testament. "The works of the law" (Gal. 2:16) refer to the sinner's effort to satisfy God through adherence to the Mosaic law. It is impossible for a sinner to be saved by the law's works. People who are not saved and live for the things of the old nature do "the works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19). There are also "wicked works" (Col. 1:21) and "dead works" (Heb. 9:14). You will always find good works where there is dynamic faith—saving faith.

James then used the lives of two famous Bible characters, Abraham and Rahab, to show how his ideas worked. You couldn't find two people who are more different! Abraham was a Jew, and Rahab was not. Abraham was a holy man, but Rahab was a sinful woman and a prostitute. God was Abraham's friend, but Rahab was one of God's enemies. What did they have in common? Both had faith in God that would save them.

To understand this example, you should read Genesis 15 and 22. God told Abraham to leave Ur of the Chaldees and go to Canaan, where he would become the great nation of Israel. God would send the Savior into the world through Israel. Genesis 15 tells the story of how Abraham was saved. God showed His servant the stars at night and made a promise: "So shall thy seed [descendants] be!" What did Abraham do? "And he [Abraham] believed in the Lord, and the Lord counted it to him for righteousness" (Gen. 15:5–6).

The word "counted" is a legal or financial term that means "to put to one's account." Abraham's spiritual bank account was empty because he was a sinner. He was out of money! But he had faith in God, and God put righteousness on Abraham's account. Abraham didn't have to work for this righteousness; God gave it to him. He was made right by faith. He was justified by faith (read Rom. 4).
 
​[continues tomorrow]