Series Title: Practical Religion
Text: James
This year we have
searched out the Gifts of the Spirit, we have inquired as to the Personhood of
the Holy Spirit – the Giver of the Gifts, and today weÕll look at the
marks of true religion, practical religion. Our lives should be the outpouring
or fruit of our receipt of the Spirit and the subsequent gifts He gives
us. IÕm excited about what God has
for us in the book of James. If we take it to heart, our Christian walk can be
transformed.
The marks of true religion: chapters 1,2,3
In todayÕs world we can
have a great debate on what true or proper religion is. Some will say we must be a good person
and do good things for people. Others will say, Òno way, we must have faith
– anyone can do works and this doesnÕt qualify them to go to heaven.Ó
About this time in the
argument, someone will say, Òfaith
without works is deadÓ or Òone cannot do good works without faith so we must
focus on the worksÓ.
After this, the two will
stomp away without ever having reached agreement. Each will walk away
determined in their own mind what the marks of true religion is and how oneÕs
religion should look.
This same argument was
being made in the first century church. James gives a good treatise of this
issue. We will dig into the marks of true religion and the marks of false
profession in this epistle.
------------------------------
first, a little background on the author
There are three persons
named James in the NT: 1) James
– an apostle and the son of Zebedee, brother of John 2) An apostle son of Alphaeus and 3) James – the brother of the
Lord.
Mt 10:1-4 lists the 12
apostles by name. We see these other two men named James.
The epistle of James is
commonly believed to have been written by the brother of Jesus. For those of
you who have been raised Catholic, this statement can be a struggle. Yet the
bible clearly states that Jesus had brothers and sisters and by extension, Mary
did not remain a virgin.
Gal 1:19 Paul writing to the Galatians says, ÒBut I
did not see any other of the apostles except James, the LordÕs brotherÓ. In
fact, James became an elder in the church at large. James, having see Jesus
after the resurrection and having grown up with Jesus, has an important
eyewitness account for us.
ChristÕs brothers are
referred to in many other places in the bible. Mt 12:46, 13:55; Mk 3:31, Jn
2:12, 7:3, 5; 1 Cor 9:5
Taking just one or two
of these scriptures - Mt 13:55 says,
ÒIs not this the carpenterÕs son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His
brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not
all with us?Ó
This is pretty clear, so
we might ask, where do people get this idea that Mary was ever a virgin? The
Pharisees who were questioning the deity of Jesus claimed He was just a man because
he had brothers and sisters like the rest of us.
Jesus responded to their
accusation saying, ÒA prophet is not without honor except in his home town
and in his own household.Ó The
scriptures say He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
This is key; because of
their unbelief. May it never be with us! Let us hold fast to faith and thereby
encourage Jesus to do miracles in our life!
The Pharisees did not
believe in Jesus. This is ironic since Jesus came from the same people and was
Jewish just like they were. Yet, the scriptures and prophesies all stated that
his own people would not accept him.
Like His brother James,
we can imagine that the Pharisees might find it hard to accept Jesus as very
God having grown up with him in the same household and town. Having seen Jesus
grow up, they would not believe He is the long awaited Messiah.
Yet, what Jesus did
after coming into His ministry at the Jordan River should reveal to us His true
deity. Amen?
---------------------------------------
the audience and theme
James was addressed to
the Jewish converts who lived outside the Holy Land and likely the devout Jews
of the dispersion.
The main theme is
practical religion manifesting itself in good works, contrasted with mere
profession of faith.
The Jewish culture was
based on obeying the Law, which had become so intricate that no one could truly
obey it. There were so many interrelated elements so as to be complex and
difficult to understand or obey. Because of this, it had become a weapon that
the religious leaders would lord over the people.
Imagine having spent
your life learning the law and trying to obey it when all of a sudden one of
your own people claims to be the long awaited Messiah - claiming that
confession and faith in him is the only way to heaven.
Well, you can see how
this argument of works vs. faith got started. Amen? J
----------------------------------------
another angle of the ÔargumentÕ
Some will claim that
there is a doctrinal conflict between James and the teachings of Paul in the
book of Romans. Paul teaches justification by faith apart from trust in
ceremonial observances.
Paul is speaking of
Ôsaving faithÕ in Romans. James is speaking of Ôfaith in actionÕ. They are
different steps of faith in the one Lord Jesus. We must be justified by faith
in Jesus and our faith that blossoms out of that must be evident to
others. Enough introduction,
letÕs get started!!
--------------------------------
The Source of Wisdom -- Chapter
1 Read vs. 1-5
In testing our faith, we
must come to grips with the value of trials. Amen?
James exhorts us to
count these trials as joy. It is assumed as fact that we will have trials and
that this testing of our faith will produce endurance.
Let (Let is the key word
here) endurance have itÕs perfect result that we may be perfect and complete
lacking in nothing. Actually, we usually donÕt let endurance of trials do
anything – we argue and complain about trials huh ?!
1 Peter 5:10 says,
Òand after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called
you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen
and establish you.Ó
Thank you Lord. CÕmon,
IÕm ready. J
Many of us will say
weÕve already suffered a little while, even a lot! J
If we lack wisdom we are
to ask God. This hearkens back to the days of Solomon where he asked God for
wisdom and not worldly riches. What about us? Do we ask for riches or wisdom?
----------------------------- We need an unwavering faith. Read vs.
6-12
How are we to ask God? We are to ask in faith without doubting. Faith
is being certain of what we hope for and the evidence of things not seen.
How do we often ask
God? We often say, Òif it be
your willÓ – which is fine but we so often follow it up with doubting
behavior. Instead of seeking an understanding of His will, we will simply say
when it doesnÕt happen in our time frame, Òah, it mustÕve not been His
willÉÓ. Remember the HS searches
the thoughts of God and reveals them to usÉ.
This is what James means
by double mindedness. We doubt GodÕs provision or answer to our prayer. We
doubt the power of our prayer. We doubt the depth of our relationship with God.
We have indecision of whether to ask God or whether God will hear or whether
God has the concern for us.
Our heart and our faith
should never fade or waver.
Yes, we are to be
rejoicing in our humble circumstances or rejoicing in our coming humble
circumstances. Our physical circumstances are changeable. They are not
permanent. As we stated earlier, we can fully expect trials to come our way. We
can expect to need to rely on our faith.
We who persevere under
trial receive the crown of life. The bible speaks of spiritual crowns that are
imperishable, to be guarded and cherished. There is the crown of Righteousness
2 Ti 4:8 and the Crown of Life Ja 1:12 and the Crown of Glory 1 Pe 5:4
We receive these crowns
from Jesus when He appears again. For now though, we should rejoice in our
humble circumstances – rejoice not complain.
-------------------------------- Sources of temptation and
blessings vs. 13-17
I hear so often of
people complaining that God has tempted them. The scripture clearly says that
God is not the source of temptation. When the bible says He tests our faith, it
is not by temptation.
Our faith is tested by
how we respond to those inevitable trials that we spoke of earlier. Sin, lust,
and temptation are alive and well in this world. Satan is the ruler of the
secular world. He is the tempter, not Holy God.
Our perseverance is
tested by these trials thrown at us. So often these trials are the outcome of
our faithless, sinful, lust directed behavior. Amen? Yes, there are undeserved
trials too.
Scripture clearly says
that every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from Him. Shout Thank
You Lord.
----------------------------------
Be a doer, not just a hearer vs.
18 – 25
This is the crux of what
we hope to inspire in you; being a doer of GodÕs word, not just a hearer.
It is evident to all
when we are just a hearer and not a doer. Our lives are a wreck or at least a
poor witness. Our faith is weak and wavering. Here one day and gone another.
GodÕs word gets spoken and is known by many in the world, but it is only acted
upon by the few in the world.
May we be known as the
doers of His word.
If we are, weÕll be
quick to hear, slow to speak AND slow to anger. Anger does not achieve righteousness. When I am
angry at my wife or kids, it is not achieving righteousness in either me or
them. ÔCourse this never
happensÉ J
We need to put away
filthiness. There is so much
filth aimed at us. It comes through peopleÕs words to us, from what we look at
on television and in the movies, and where we place ourselves. What goes into
our minds through our eyes comes out in our lives through our words and
actions.
We need to receive
the word. It is planted in us.
It is able to save our souls. We prove that we have received the word by being
doers of the word. Be the Ôgood soilÕ.
This is where the
secular world says to themselves, Òwhat good is it to be a Christian since they
act just like I do?...Ó Amen? Is there a difference in our lives? Do
we look different to the world?
We do if we are doers of
the word. Definitely.
Being a doer of the word
is not something we do one day and not another. It is lasting and permanent. We
seek the true meaning of GodÕs word and we do it.
------------------------------ true and false religion vs. 26,27
You cannot be truly
devoted to God if your tongue is out of control with empty speaking, evil
speaking, and angry speaking.
One measure of pure and
undefiled religion is to visit orphans and widows, AND to keep oneself
unstained by the world.
We are stained by the world as we are brought into it and grow
up in it. The stain is seen on us in our behavior and our tongue.
Do we act like the
world or like GodÕs children?
Are we participating in the same lusts of the world with the people in the
world? Is there a difference in our lives? We are to be set apart.
This stain can be
removed if we are doers of the
word and not just hearers. We must become followers of Jesus to be a doer of
the word. But it doesnÕt stop there. That is saving faith that Paul speaks of.
We need to press on by enduring trials. We need to see a change in our lives
and what is important to us.
Do we visit orphans
and widows in their distress?
Do we KEEP ourselves
unstained by the world. This is
an ongoing battle. Satan and the secular world do not stop their preaching.
They are preaching the participation in the lusts of the world. They are saying
to us that it is fun and we should join them.
Rom 12:2 ÒAnd do not be conformed to the world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of
God is that which is good and acceptable and perfect.Ó
1 Jn 2:15 ÒDo not love the world, nor the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.Ó
Wow, this is strong talk – amen?
1 Peter 4:3,4 ÒFor
you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do –
living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable
idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same
flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.Ó
Comment on scripture: IsnÕt this plain common sense? É spent
enough timeÉ and the world scowls
at us when we choose to not participateÉ.
Conclusion: James, the brother of Jesus and elder of the church has just taught
us. We want our faith to count for something in this world. We want to make
sense out of the trials we go through.
James teaches us that:
There are orphans and
widows aplenty in our area and in many parts of the world. Shall we go visit
them?
LetÕs pray.
Series
Title: Practical Religion
Text: James
The Marks of True Religion: Chapters 1,2,3
Background on the author, the audience and the theme.
Chapter 1
The Source of Wisdom
If
we lack wisdom we are to ask God.
vv. 1-5
We
need an unwavering faith vv. 6-12
Sources
of temptation and blessings vv.
13-17
Be
a doer, not just a hearer vv. 18
– 25
True
and false religion vv. 26,27
Do
we visit orphans and widows in their distress?
Do
we KEEP ourselves unstained by the world?
Chapter 2
The
Sin of Partiality vv. 1-13
We
are to speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of the new
covenant, the law of liberty.
vv. 8-13
Judgment -
Rewards - Crowns
Chapter
2: Faith and Works vv. 14-26
God
defines love as this
Jn 15:13
Many have made a false profession of faith.
The bible says, Mt 7:21
What do our Works look like? vv. 15-20
What
does our Faith look like? Faith
known by action vv. 21-26
DIGGING DEEPER, DRAWING NEARER
FOR YOUR WEEKLY DEVOTIONS
TOPIC: THE MARKS OF TRUE RELIGION ( 2-3 week plan )
Open your devotion time in prayer.
Read James 1
Discuss & Share -
Raise discussion points and have each person share an example from their own
life. Ask if anyone has experienced:
A Trial - A Testing - A Temptation
In recounting the
experience, discuss whether they were able to persevere through it, did they
have a time of doubt during the trial, did they think God was testing or
tempting them.
Discuss the difference
between testing and tempting.
Discuss what the source
of the testing or temptation was.
Discuss the difference
between being a hearer of the word and a doer of the word.
Look in your Bible
concordance and do a word study on ÔorphansÕ and ÔwidowsÕ. Then describe how
you think God looks at them.
* if you are doing
this as an individual, write/type your discussions and answers and save as a
journal
-------------------------------------
Read James 2:1-13, Lev 19:15, Job 13:10, Mal 2:9, 1 Ti 5:21
Discuss & Share -
Each person to share a time when they favored someone and identify the
reason for partiality. Discuss why favoritism is forbidden by God.
-------------------------------------
Read Job
34:18,19; Mt 5:45, Ac 10:34,35; Ro 10:12
Discuss & Share -
Discuss why and how God is impartial. Explain why this is a good thing
for us.
-------------------------------------
Read
James 2:14-26, Exe 33:31,32; Mt 7:21, Mk 7:6, Titus 1:16
Discuss & Share –
Try to list the marks of false profession of faith. Read Gen 22:2 and discuss how Abraham
showed his faith. Read Jos 2:1,
6:17 and discuss how Rahab showed her faith. Could they do these works without
faith?
What works of faith do
you engage in? What works of faith can you begin to do? What work of faith is
God calling you in to?
Close your devotion time in prayer.
Series Title: Practical Religion
Text: James
The marks of true religion: chapters 1,2,3
Chapter 2: The Sin of
Partiality
Review: We
finished last week with what God considered True religion – Ja 1:27. By
way of review we are going to read a series of scriptures that form a single
thought; what is true religion? If you are taking notes these are the
scriptures: De 10:12, Ec 12:13, Ho 6:6, Ze 7:9,10, Mi 6:8, Ho 6:6, Mk 12:33, Ro
13:10, Ja 1:27.
True religion is
scripturally defined as: ÒAnd now, Israel, what does the Lord
your god require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His
ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul,Ó De 10:12 ÒThe
conclusion, when all has been heard, is; fear god and keep His commandments,
because this applies to every person.Ó Ec 12:13 Ò For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the
knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.Ó Ho 6:6 ÒThus has the Lord of hosts said, ÔDispense true justice and
practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the
widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor, and do not devise evil in your
hearts against one another;Ó Ze 7:9,10 ÒHe has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and
to walk humbly with your God?Ó Mi 6:8
Ò And to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and
with all the strength, and to love oneÕs neighbor as himself is much more than
all burnt offerings and sacrificesÓ Mk 12:33 ÒLove does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the
fulfillment of the law.Ó Ro 13:10
ÒThis is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father,
to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by
the world.Ó Ja 1:27
--------------------------------------------
This week we will
look at the sin of favoritism, or partiality. The sin of partiality starts early. This sin may start innocently enough but it can grow into a large invisible
barrier in our own personalities and in the church.
If we think about it,
favoritism in the church is one
of the barriers that keep people out of church.
How many times have we
heard from the outside that they donÕt come because they donÕt fit in?
How many times have we
heard from a visitor that
they werenÕt accepted at church and people stood around in their own clicks?
Let me just say that
from my experience of personally inviting thousands of individuals to church
that it is a large objection.
From not-yet believers to believers alike.
Partiality is human
nature. Human nature is ruled by sin. We must consciously step outside our
natural – yet sin directed – tendencies.
--------------------------
partiality is a sin LetÕs look at Ch 2 vs. 1-7
Like me, IÕll bet you
didnÕt know that partiality or favoritism was a sin? Sure, I thought it was not
a good thing, but a sin?
Yow!, we are exhorted
not to hold our faith in Jesus with an attitude of personal favoritism. This is a form of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is an ever-present element in false
religion. Hypocrisy reveals itself through deceit and self-righteousness.
Jesus constantly
revealed the Pharisees hypocrisy.
(pretender, pretense) (we are to love and not favor or seek advantage) We see
in Mt 15:7 where the Pharisees and scribes were questioning Jesus about the behavior
of the apostles and Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah with: [read Mt 15:7] ÒYou
hypocrites, Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you (600 years earlier)
Another time Jesus knew
they were testing him with malice when they asked Him whether it was lawful to
give a poll tax to Caesar. Mt 22:18
Jesus wisely answered, Òrender to Caesar the things that are CaesarÕs
– and He shrewdly trapped them by finishing with – and to God the things that are
GodÕs.Ó J
DonÕt cha just love Jesus?!
He leveled the field
– all are sinners – They held back on God and favored themselves
and money. In fact Mt 23 is a whole chapter devoted to hypocrisy spoken against
by Jesus.
The SIN of partiality
was taught as Moses spoke GodÕs law in Lev 19:15 – ÒYou shall do no injustice
in judgment, you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but
you are to judge y our neighbor fairly.Ó
Job counseled in 13:10, ÒHe
will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.Ó
IsnÕt this what James
is talking about here? Favoring the rich over the poor as one example?
The poor are chosen to
be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom.
James points out that
the rich are the ones who more often torment the poor. They are able to hire
attorneys to drag others into court. They are able to exert their will over
others through the use of their riches and ironically, we tend to favor the
rich in spite of this.
I think in todayÕs
America, that the rich dragging the poor into court is not quite as prevalent
because our judicial system has somewhat leveled the playing field É but, in
the Kingdom of God, more often the rich are miserly with their charity and
their service to the poor. How often do we see the rich going on mission trips
or even sacrificially supporting them? So why do we tend to favor them?
It is much more
difficult to get a rich man to come to church than a poor man. IÕve had many
more rich people slam the door on my face or physically threaten me when IÕve
invited them.
In the Kingdom of God,
the poor and the rich have equal favor with God. ManÕs riches are nothing to
our Creator. We who have homes, cars, and jobs should increase our sacrifice of
caring for the poor.
What does this issue
of Favoritism or Partiality look like in the church?
1) Elders should not show preference to the largest
tithers.
2) Elders should not show preference to the
spiritually mature.
3) Elders should not show favoritism to any
demographic of people. We are a community church.
4) One style of worship is not favored over another.
This is always on my
mind as I go out each week door to door. I choose the poor neighborhoods much more frequently than the rich
ones. I go to the jail or anyplace where I might find the poor in spirit.
Blessed are the poor in spiritÉ.
The rich are
generally not tithers É and
often when they are they are treated with partiality by the church and are
catered to – contrary to what scripture is teaching us here. They often
press their agenda to get the church to allow their kind of sin.
Jude 16 says that some
men are grumblers following after their own lusts, speaking arrogantly,
flattering people for the sake of gaining advantage.
We cannot despise the
poor even if we see them dong
wrong or seemingly taking advantage. The rich do it in other ways. Love deeply
– all people.
----------------------------
Continue with vs. 8-13 re; Judgment -
The royal law (vs 8)
aka Golden Rule says we shall
love our neighbor as ourselves.
The Law of the old covenant is ruthless and unforgiving. If we stumble on yet one point, we are transgressors of the entire law. Ouch! CÕmon this is tough!
Vs 9 says that if we
show favoritism, we sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. Ouch.
We are to speak and act
as those who will be judged by the law of the new covenant, the law of liberty. It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep
standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. i.e.
reversion to Judaism
This law of liberty
dictates that É Ò you were called to freedom
brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but
through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word in
the statement, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.Ó Ga 5:13, 14
This spiritual
freedom is the mission of Christ
that brought Him to earth to proclaim. Truth is the instrument and this new law
of life sets us free. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set
you free from the law of sin and of death. The bondage of sin is broken. The
presence of the Spirit secures this freedom. The Lord is the Spirit and where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
James clearly points out
that in this life we had better show mercy. Point: Mercy triumphs over judgment. Rock-paper-scissors
LetÕs look closer at
this biblical judgment. Our positive judgment will result in REWARDS and
CROWNS.
1352 Judgment. There will be a final judgment where the Son of Man sits on the
glorious throne
1353 Judgment
according to works
{combined scriptures illustrate this}
Ps 62:12, Je 17:10, Mt 16:27, 2 Cor 4:10, 1Pet 1:17, Re
20:12, Re 22:12
1364 Rewards. Rewards will be handed out to the faithful for spiritual service
–
1367 Crowns. Crowns will be handed out - that will be imperishable,
not like the crowns on earth (money, awards, prestige, etc.) This is a
particularly poignant as we finish up the Winter Olympics.
ÉAnd everyone who competes in the (Olympic) games exercises self-control in all
things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath (gold medal) but we an
imperishable.
Crown of Life for those who have persevered under trial Ja 1:12 | Crown of Righteousness for those who have loved Jesus 2 Tim 4:8 | and
the Crown of Glory for those
who have served God willingly 1 Pet 5:1-4.
Guard the things in your
life that gain us these crowns and let no one take them.
Conclusion:
This church is a
church without walls. One of the
way walls are created in church is by clicks. A click is favoritism and it is
also created by not associating outside of our niche in life. You, CCC, are
great at not putting up these walls. IÕve seen you welcome visitors and treat
them with love and respect without favoritism whether they be in a wheelchair,
blue collar working clothes, or snappily dressed.
Partiality is human
nature. Human nature is ruled by sin. We must consciously step outside our
natural – and sin directed – tendencies. Reach for the Crowns that
will not perish. LetÕs pray.
Series Title: Practical Religion
Text: James
The marks of true religion: chapters 1,2,3
Chapter 2: Faith and Works
The previous topic in
James 2 about the sin of partiality leads us into the next discussion of Faith
vs. Works. The infamous argument ÒYou have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the
works, and I will show you my faith by my works.Ó
É.IÕm sure you all have
that scripture memorized eh?
Certainly weÕve each had this argument. J
Yes, Faith apart from
works is dead and works without faith is futile.
Illustration: chicken and egg? Which would you want if given the
choice? You can have an infertile egg and that is all you have. But if you have
a hen you can have more eggs!
Is The Lord Your
Shepherd?
If the Lord God is your
shepherd, then you have acknowledged that you are His sheep in His flock. This
means you follow Him, not yourself. You do not decide where you go or what you
do. You follow His commands.
This means you have
exchanged your hold on the world with itÕs values and activities to become a
sheep of His flock. You have come under His direction, ownership, and
management.
We cannot have it both
ways. We cannot be half saved or half Christian or live our lives the way we
want to and used to do. 1 Pet
4:1-3 You either acknowledge that He
is your shepherd and that you are the sheep or you donÕt. Do you really belong
to Him? Do you acknowledge His right over you? Do you respond to His authority
and acknowledge His ownership over you?
Are we leading
ourselves, or being led by His Holy Spirit? This is the meaning of what Jesus
said in Mt 7:20-23. We can do things in His name and things we think should be
done for Him thinking we are being righteous but if it isnÕt what He wants us
to do, it is of our own leading, not His.
He wants our submission to His Will. We must come under His ownership
and do things He wants us to do. We cannot preach one day and practice evil the
next day.
-------------- Faith
vs. Works vs. 14
vs 14 – Many
people claim they have faith. I hear this often when I am inviting people to
church. Having faith is good, but is it a genuine faith if it is not evident?
Can we genuinely say we have faith if we have no desire to read the bible or go
to church to worship? (because I guarantee you they are not worshipping at
home.)
This is loving God with
our heart, soul, and mind: The first of the two great commandments.
Can we genuinely say we
have faith if it is not expressed in our actions; if we donÕt love our
neighbor, our fellow Del Norteans? Do we care for them? Do we become concerned
about their needs? Do we sacrifice some of our time and needs for theirs?
Love is a work borne out
of faith. Love without faith is simply self-centered. Love is an action.
God defines love as
this:
Jn 15:13, ÒGreater love has no-one than this, that one lay down his life for
his friends.Ó
We can lay down the
things in our life and pick up the things in someone elseÕs life. We need to
crucify our fleshly desires and wants and turn towards our neighbor. Love is
compassion and devotion. Love is not anger, malice, deceit.
ÒBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.Ó
We do not have fruit of the Spirit without the Spirit residing in us. The
Spirit resides in those that are born of God. Born again.
Yes, many claim to have
faith but it is not evident. It is a dead faith. It is a faith without works.
------------------------------------------
Many have made a
false profession of faith. The bible says,
ÒNot everyone who
says to Me ÔLord, LordÕ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the
will of My father who is in heaven.Ó Mt 7:21
We cannot just say
I believe in Jesus. It has to be a change of heart that causes us to confess
this.
ÒBut they deceived
Him with their mouth, and lied to Him with their tongue.Ó
Ps 78:36
ÒThey profess to know
God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and
worthless for any good deed.Ó Tit 1:16
IÕm not trying to make
you doubt your salvation or make you question yourself. You are here. Your
presence is an outpouring of your works borne of faith. You responded today to
GodÕs pull on your heart to be here.
I am trying to
move you to greater works borne of your genuine faith. I am trying to
give you the tool of discernment to recognize genuine confession in others as
you are in the mission field.
Do we see those who have
confessed faith but we donÕt see any change in their life? Are they still
consumed with the lusts of life and without any service to their neighbors? Do
they come to church because the WANT to? Church isnÕt a duty, it is a
privilege!! Mid-week bible study isnÕt a duty, it is a privilege!! It is a
privilege to sit under the teaching of the Holy Spirit.
God regenerates our
heart when we become born again. We are a new creation. We do not do the
things that we used to do. A
spiritual man does not have the spirit of anger possessing him. He is not
continually angry with God or His creation. He is not even entertaining the
thought of following the ways of
the world.
The person who is born
again and has a regenerated heart is the one who is humble and meek. Blessed
are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
Does this describe your heart?
If you are here today
and your life outside looks like the carnal world, then know that God has
brought you here today for one thing: to confess your sins and become a child
of God.
---------------------------------------- What do our Works look like? vv. 15-20
James presents two sides
of faith with this passage: Our active faith actions and the level of our
faith.
1) Do we just give the needy something we have, bless them, and send them on their way when we
know that what we gave them is not what they need? This is so often the case.
We should not give the needy a $20 dollar bill and say, Òthere you go, now you
can get food for a week.Ó IÕm sorry to say, this is dead faith.
Brethren, true faith gives the person what they need. Even though they ask for $20 it may not be what
they need. I believe we are charged with going to their home and sitting with
them. Find out more about them and see how we can really help them. Even bring
them home to our house for a meal. In our house they will receive from us much
more than a warm meal. They will receive the presence of God in our house. This
peaceful, warm, loving home will bless them and give them the opportunity of
experiencing God and His wonderful works.
Maybe what they need is energetic help in solving their daily problem that brought this need? Maybe we
make phone calls for them asking for the help they really need? Maybe we go
with them on an appointment or court hearing and stand alongside them?
2) The other side of this rich passage is that faith
without works is isolated and by itself. Faith without
works is never connected to others through service. Do you see that if we are
not serving others our faith is contained in just our being? It isnÕt being
used. It has no connections. It is a dead faith. Dead in the sense that there
is no life in it.
We often try to justify
our faith by our beliefs. We naively think that our strong beliefs equates
with a strong faith. Nope. The
reality is, even the demons and Satan acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. They even
shudder at the thought. They believe; they have faith. But it is not a saving
faith. In fact it is a dead faith apart from any relationship with the Lord.
Do you now see what a
dead faith is? Are you getting a
picture of the difference between dead faith and genuine faith?
You have faith and I have works; show me your
faith without works
and I will show you my faith by my works.
Many will quote this out
of context stating that we must have works, and works is how we are justified.
That we must have works first. No. James is saying both have faith; but one has
a working faith and the other simply touts their faith. James is saying that
just claiming faith without demonstrating works is a dead faith. James is
saying, let my life show you my faith rather than me just stating I have faith. {St. Augustine quoteÉ}
--------------------------------------- Faith known by action vv. 21-26
Here, James is
presenting another side of ÔworksÕ. We donÕt all have to be full time charity
workers or ministry leaders in order to have faith with works. We are given
examples of how faith was put into action.
Read with me Gen
22:1-3 - This is works by faith. Remember now that Abraham had been given a
covenant by God that he would have an heir and that all nations would be
blessed by him. Now, God was asking him to sacrifice his one and only heir. A
dead faith would not have responded. But a living faith says, ÒYes LordÓ and
commences to do what the Lord has asked.
Do we show our faith in
this manner? Do we respond to what God calls us to do or do we say, ÒLord, is
that you?Ó J Abraham had a living faith. He believed GodÕs
promise and somehow figured that the Lord would fulfill His promise. Maybe that
God would even raise Isaac from the dead? Or that God would provide the ram
sacrifice as they reached the mountainÉ..
You see? Faith in action.
Rahab was on the enemyÕs
side. Yet she feared IsraelÕs God and in fact came to be on His side. She had
faith in the God of Israel. Would
she demonstrate her faith?
Turn to Joshua 2:1-16
and read with me. - She stated her faith and then
demonstrated her faith by risking her life for the benefit of the spies from
Israel.
She feared the God of
Israel and the nation could see that her faith was demonstrated by her actions.
She also had to trust that these invaders would not go back on their promise to
save her and her family. This was great faith. As we read further on, we see in fact that she
held to her side of the deal as did the Israelites.
RahabÕs faith is
demonstrated by her works, her working out of her faith.
Nehemiah demonstrated his faith and prayed that God would
remember him for the good he had done.
{restored wall, recommitted to live by GodÕs law, repopulated, restored
Sabbath & tithes, cleansed temple, restored musicians, purified priesthood,
forbid mixed marriages eg Solomon} Care for YOUR church.
Conclusion: Today, we looked at
JamesÕ teaching on
You have faith and I
have works; show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by
my works. Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith
without works is dead.
This is plain and simply
put. Amen? {preach gospel} LetÕs pray
Series Title: Practical Religion
Text: James
The marks of true religion: chapters 1,2,3
Chapter 3: The Tongue is a Fire
Oh, this is a fun one.
Nobody is getting out of here today without feeling singed by what weÕve used
our tongue for in the past. J Some of us may still be spewing flames on a daily basis. J
It is such a challenge
to me to listen to people who claim to be Christians and regularly cuss. Ouch.
I used to talk like a
truck driver or biker or construction worker or mtv jock – no offense to
any of you – and why? I suppose I thought I was more powerful by doing
so. Yet, when I listen to cussing now I cringe, I actually lower our estimation
of the speakerÕs intelligence.
The tongue can be very
ugly without using cuss words. We can politely say very ugly things. We can
politely say evil things. We can be very evil in GodÕs eyes when we talk in admiration
of false and ungodly things, or when we boast of ourselves, or when we put down
others, or if we simply argue or gossip.
Maybe we just politely
use our tongue to help us commit sin? We could politely woo another person into
the act of adultery. We could politely agree to commit a sinful act with
someone and verbally agree to hide it from someone else. This is a regular
occurrence in business. Let it never be part of our speech.
Well, as weÕll see, our
tongue can direct our life into a sinful worldly walk or a walk with Jesus.
vv. 1-12
JamesÕ Points:
Ex 21:17 – He who
curses his father or mother shall surely be put to death.
Ex 20:7 – You shall
not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him
unpunished who takes His name in vain.
[476]