you can see it in people’s lives…

we are looking in the nt book of james at the characteristics of authentic, real faith.  one thing he shows is that real faith is more than just something you think.  you can point it out and see it in people’s lives.

james 2.18 (niv), 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’s a chorus that we sang as kids, “if you're saved and you know it then your life will surely show it.”  that’s what james is saying.  show me.  you claim to have real faith.  it's something more than something you say, something you feel, and something you think about.  you can prove it.

2 corinthians 5.17 (nirv), anyone who believes in CHRIST is a new creation. the old is gone! the new has come!  not over night but they start becoming new.

if you grab onto a 220 wire you’re going to know it.  i don’t see how somebody as big as GOD can enter your life and it not change you.  james says, flat out, if it doesn’t change you there’s a question whether HE’s really in your life.  what can i see in my life that proves it?

jimmy carter in his book, why not the best? said that “one of the things that was the turning point in my life was when someone asked me the question, ‘if you were arrested for being a CHRISTian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?’”

that’s a good question.  that’s what james was talking about.  if you say, “i know it!”  show it!

how do you know you’re a believer?  you’ll see some changes in your life.  real faith always produces change.  real faith is not just something you say.  it's not just something you feel.  it’s not just something you think.

just a thought from the front porch…