Continue from yesterday. . .
IOI CHRISTIAN MEAL
TOPIC: II. DEMONIC FAITH (18,19)
A. PERHAPS TO SHOCK ANY COMPLACENT READERS, JAMES REMINDS US THAT
EVEN "DEMONS" HAVE A KIND OF FAITH!
1. They believe in God (no atheists or agnostics here!)
2. They even believe in the deity of Christ - cf. Mk 3:11-12
3. They also believe in the existence of a place of condemnation
- cf. Lk 8:31
4. And they believe Jesus will be the Judge! - Mt 8:28-29
B. WHAT KIND OF FAITH DO "DEMONS" HAVE?
1. We saw that the man with "dead faith" was "touched only in his
intellect"
2. The demons are "touched also in their emotions" (note that they
"believe and tremble")
3. This is one step above a "dead faith" - it involves both
INTELLECT and EMOTIONS
C. CAN THIS KIND OF FAITH SAVE?
1. NO! A person can be enlightened in his mind and even stirred
in his heart and still be lost forever!
2. True saving faith involves something more, something that can
be seen and recognized: a changed life! (cf. Jm 2:18)
3. Being a Christian involves trusting Christ and living for
Christ!
a. You first RECEIVE the life...
b. Then you REVEAL the life!
D. DO WE HAVE THIS KIND OF FAITH?
1. We do, if we just BELIEVE the right things and FEEL the right
things
2. We do, if our service to God does not go beyond...
a. Intellectually adhering to the right doctrines
b. Emotional experiences while attending services
[Thus, James has introduced us to two kinds of faith that can NEVER
save: DEAD faith (involving the intellect alone), and DEMONIC faith
(involving the intellect and the emotions, but stopping there).
He closes this section by describing in verses 20-26 the only kind of
faith that can save...] I WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW.
PRAYER
EVERY DEMONIC FAITH IN MY HEAD, I CAST YOU OUT IN JESUS NAME, I RECEIVE THE FAITH OF JESUS IN JESUS NAME
No comments:
Post a Comment