Harvest Sunday - 30 September 2001 PM Sermon Outline. Rev D Blandford

Faith & Works
James 2.14-26

The ABCD of becoming a Christian.

Need to consider society today - what people do believe or know.

Also the way people come to faith and are integrated into Chuch

Eg believing, behaviour, belonging has now changed to belonging, believing, behaviour.

The importance of having a real belief that has impacted the whole of a person's life.

Protestant emphasis of grace - we are Christians because of what Jesus has done for us. John 3.16

Catholic Emphasis upon grace and works. James 2.17

The key Issue is whether works is a genuine expression of Christian faith and an outworking in response to God's grace; or is it a requirement of being a Christian?

2 examples of faith in action:

Abraham - Gen 15.1-6, 22.1-14.

Rahab - Joshua 2.1-21, 6.22-25

Faith & works like two wheels on a tandem, faith the first wheel is followed by works. James 2.26