GOSPEL - Works are evidence of true salvation (faith)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 3:8 | Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

James 2:14-26 | 14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 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 do not give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself is not enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, Some people have faith, others have good deeds. But I say, How can you show me your faith if you do not have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds. 19 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. 20 How foolish! Can you not see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Do you not remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Romans 3:22 | We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

DISCUSSION

1. What is faith?
2. What happens when someone has true faith in Jesus?
3. If a persons life does not show any fruit or evidence of their faith in Jesus, are they saved? Why or why not?
4. Can a person have a life full of good works but not be saved? Why or why not?
5. Looking at your own life - do you have faith? Is it shown through your works (actions)? In what ways?