[1] After having to stay home from church Saturday and Sunday (Tyler was still too sick to go) I was so thankful to gather with all the ladies for women’s Bible study this morning. We are studying the book of James and this morning Pastor Mike’s wife, Carlynn, taught. I really appreciated the clear, practical glimpse she gave us of James 2:14-20 about discerning the true gospel in an age of counterfeits.One of her exhortations from this passage was the need for us to make sure our faith is Biblical and real. In verse 18 James says,

“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.”

There is a false gospel that teaches that deeds and works supplement faith and help you get to heaven. There is another false gospel that teaches that you can be a Christian, but have an unchanged life. Carlynn said, “Faith is a catalyst for action.” Christians bear fruit, its what they do. Deeds don’t save us, but they are a natural product of our faith. Could I say, “I will show you my faith by my works?”

Carlynn gave three points to help us examine the question– “How can I know that my faith is real?”

• Make sure you have a real story that testifies of your commitment to Christ. You might not remember all of the details or the exact date and time, but if you are a Christian there will be a specific time when you died to self and were made alive in Christ.”
• Look for good fruit in your life. Am I learning God’s Word and putting it into practice? 1 John 2:3-4 say, “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
• Make sure God’s heart beats in your chest. Do I hate sin? Do I love righteousness? Do I have compassion for the lost and desire to see them know Him?

There are several people in my life who say “I’m a Christian” but don’t have a story of being made alive in Christ. Most of these people hold to a prayer they said when they were a very young child, but don’t see fruit in their life. If a person is saying they are a Christian but not following Christ, they either are in sin and need to confess it and be obedient to Him, or they are not really a Christian. We need to care enough to talk through this with them. No one can afford to be wrong on this.

Carlynn gave some helpful points for interacting with someone who says they are a Christian but doesn’t seem to have works. “We have the responsibility of making sure that people get this right,” she said. “Care enough to correct heresy…be gentle when you discuss this or instruct them on the Biblical gospel and wait for God to work.” Our love for God and His Word must drive us to speak the truth, and our concern for our friend must drive us to be gentle in our approach. We need to do our part of speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and trust the Holy Spirit to give spiritual life.”We are justified by faith alone,
but the faith which justifies is never alone!”
-John Calvin