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14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:14-17 ESV

I. The Odd Couple of Faith and Works
A. Faith is a conviction about Christ that is based on the evidence of God in creation and through Christ that evidences itself through good works. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
B. Good works are acts of worship comprised of loving others as you love yourself as an expression of your deep abiding overflowing love for God. (Ephesians 2:10)

II. The Observable Connection of Faith and Works
A.Faith in the glorious work of God produces good works done for the glory of God.
B.Faith (Paul) and works (James) are not fighting one another but different factions of false teachers and beliefs in the church.

III. The Obvious Uselessness of Confession Alone
A.Useless faith is unmoved and static.
B.Useless faith is unable to move God and save. (1 John 3:17, Matthew 25:31-40)

IV. Next Steps
A. Our biggest hold up and hang up is that our core ethic or ethos is safety and comfort.
B. Jesus didn’t just say He was the Savior. He showed He was the Savior by His work, which we place our faith in to be saved from the control and consequence of our works.