Real Christianity Part 5: Real Faith Do’s and Don’ts!

#1 — Real Christians With Real Faith Don’t !

 

 

 

 

James 2:1 (NLT)

My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

 

 

 

 

• God never discriminates against us!

 

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 10:17 (MSG)
GOD, your God, is the God of all gods, he’s the Master of all masters, a God immense and powerful and awesome. He doesn’t play favorites,

 

 

 

 

Acts 10:34 (MSG)
Peter said — “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites!

 

 

 

 

• To discriminate is to disobey God’s royal rule!

 

 

 

 

James 2:8 (MSG) —

You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: “Love others as you love yourself.”

 

 

 

James 2:2-4

 

 

 

 

#2 — The Real Faith of Real Christians Always !

 

 

 

James 2:14 (NLT)
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?

 

 

 

 

• Real faith is about more than saying right things!

 

 

 

 

• Real faith is about more than compassionate feelings!

 

 

 

 

 

James 2:15-17 (NLT)
Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? ¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

 

 

 

 

• Real faith is about more than a set of spiritual beliefs!

 

 

 

 

 

James 2:19 (NLT)

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!

 

 

 

 

Mark 3:11; Matthew 8:29

 

 

 

 

• Real faith always involves our actions!

 

 

 

 

 

Our faith isn’t determined by what we do, it’s demonstrated by what we do!

— Rick Warren

 

 

 

 

James 2:21-22;25

 

 

 

 

 

Real faith … always shows – so we need to ask ourselves:

• As a believer, what measurable differences has following Jesus made in my values and priorities?

 

 

 

 

• In what specific and detailed ways am I behaving my beliefs?

 

 

 

 

• If I was arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me?

 

 

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 13:5 (MSG)
Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith … give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.