JAMES 2:21-26
WHAT WILL YOUR
FAITH COST YOU?
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
THE VERDICT
If obedience costs you nothing, your faith is not the faith James describes.
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
THE AIMS
1 RECALL the two witnesses: Abraham and Rahab.
2 EXPLAIN how faith reaches its goal through obedience.
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
THE AIMS
3 APPLY where obedience will cost us something real.
4 EVALUATE our faith by concrete obedience to Christ.
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
NOT A
DECORATION
Faith is easy to praise. It sounds safe.
But James treats faith as a power that moves a life.
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
“
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple…
— JESUS (LUKE 14:27)
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
“
For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost…
— JESUS (LUKE 14:28)
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
“
Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough…
— JESUS (LUKE 14:31)
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
“
So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
— JESUS (LUKE 14:33)
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
THE REAL QUESTION
The question is not “Do you believe?”
“What has your belief made you do?”
“What has your belief made you do?”
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
JAMES CALLS
TWO WITNESSES
ABRAHAM (A Patriarch)
RAHAB (An Outsider)
RAHAB (An Outsider)
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
ONE
ABRAHAM
Faith that costs what you love most.
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
JAMES 2:21
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?”
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
THE SEVERE TEST
Genesis 22 was the most severe test of his life. But it was not his first encounter with faith.
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
GENESIS 15:6
“Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
PUBLIC CONFIRMATION
The reckoning happened before the altar.
James is not replacing faith; he is showing its public confirmation.
James is not replacing faith; he is showing its public confirmation.
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
THE PROMISE EMBODIED
Abraham rose early.
No recorded argument.
No delay.
No negotiation.
No recorded argument.
No delay.
No negotiation.
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
“
He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
— HEBREWS 11:19
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
JAMES 2:22
“You see that faith was working with his works, as a result of the works, faith was perfected.”
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
GOD’S VERDICT
“…for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Gen 22:12)
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
DISCIPLESHIP UNDER CHRIST
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
— JOHN 14:15
— JOHN 14:15
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
Faith that costs your old life.
TWO
RAHAB
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
JAMES 2:25
“In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?”
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
JOSHUA 2:11
“…for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
A DELIBERATE BREAK
“By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient…”
(HEBREWS 11:31)
(HEBREWS 11:31)
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
THE PRINCIPLE
FAITH THAT COSTS NOTHING
SAVES NO ONE
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
JAMES 2:26
“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
SCRIPTURE AGREES
“…the doers of the Law will be justified.” (Rom 2:13)
“…faith working through love.” (Gal 5:6)
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
“
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father…
— JESUS (MATTHEW 7:21)
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
CONCLUSION
Abraham laid Isaac on the altar.
Rahab left her old world behind.
Real faith always lays something down.
Rahab left her old world behind.
Real faith always lays something down.
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
OBEY THE GOSPEL
HEAR
BELIEVE
REPENT
CONFESS
BAPTIZED
“Repent, and each of you be baptized…” (Acts 2:38)
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
THE CHALLENGE
Stop admiring faith.
Start living it.
Start living it.
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026