James 2:20—Faith without works is useless
But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? James 2:20
James labored with this group of believers. You can hear it in his tone in this portion of the letter. Evidently, they thought that being “saved by grace through faith” meant that they could coast from here on out. They were “in” with God for eternity; the rest was gravy. Indeed, there was some cause for their ease—authentic faith in Christ and simul-personal.de kamagra online kaufen italien His atoning work on the cross truly did make them new men and women. But again, it appears they mistook their position of rest in Christ for license to live for themselves without regard for the conviction and promptings of the Holy Spirit.
It is likely that these believers were so thrilled with the message about grace that they took it to the extreme to the exclusion of the rest of the teachings of the apostles. The same tendency is alive and well today, and as a result, the teaching of God’s wonderful grace gets a bad rap. The fact that you are loved by God despite your sin is foundational to salvation; without His grace, you can’t get saved. The fact that you live in this dispensation of grace—a set time in history in which God views you through the blood of His Son Jesus—is absolutely true and should set your life ablaze with thankfulness to Him. The fact that God’s grace is always extended to you in your life, unconditionally connecting you to the Father as a son or a daughter is intended by Him to comfort, encourage, and empower you.
Yet despite the wonder and all-encompassing depth of His grace, the Bible is also very clear about another important truth: you are accountable to God for your choices and behaviors in this life. Faith in Jesus and http://heimatverein-isselhorst.de/viagra-fur-die-frau-wirkstoff/ His accompanying grace does not exempt you from responsibility to live uprightly and to walk in love with others.
James was adamant about this. When he asked, “Are you willing to recognize…?” he was spotlighting the root of the problem—the will of man. As it is now, so it was in James’ day—people want to believe what they want to believe and are often unwilling to hear anything else—even if it comes straight from the Word of God.
He even called them foolish, using a Greek word that means “empty, vain, devoid of truth” (see http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G2756&t=KJV ). They were foolish because they assumed that they could live their lives believing in Jesus without ever manifesting His love to others.
…faith without works is useless…
Faith without works is useless, but works won’t save you. However, if you say that you believe in Jesus without exerting any effort to help others, yours is a very unstable faith, at best, and according to James, that type of faith is useless.
I know that I need to lean upon the grace of God to do the works of God whether they are supernatural or completely natural. If I pray for the sick or lead the lost to Jesus, I need grace to empower and direct me. If I buy groceries for someone or write out a check so they can pay rent, I need the grace of God to empower and direct me. If I open a door for a stranger, say a kind word, or catch someone’s eye and smile, I need the grace of God to remind me that it’s not all about me.
James was unwavering—he taught that faith without works is useless, similar to lighting a lamp and then hiding it under a bushel (see Matthew 5:15). Jesus’ death freed us from sin; He did not redeem us so we could live for ourselves alone or just be like everyone else. Instead, His sacrificial death empowers us to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), to manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place (see 2 Corinthians 2:14), and to declare His praises (1 Peter 2:9). It is an honor and an adventure to take part in the works of faith, however God may lead you. And He will lead you.
May your faith be demonstrated by the gracious works of God!
Dorothy
…prove yourselves to be blameless and slejko-conseil.fr viagra innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life… Philippians 2:15b-16a
Read MoreJames 2:19—Demons also believe
You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. James 2:19
You believe that God is one. You do well…
James commended his brothers for believing in one God; by this they proved they were neither atheists nor followers of the false gods to which much of society was devoted at that time. According to the writer of Hebrews who wrote “he who comes to God must believe that He is” (see Hebrews 11:6), the early believers mastered the first baby step of faith—they believed in the one true God.
However, neither the writer of Hebrews nor James taught that the mere acknowledgement of God’s existence equaled saving faith. Hebrews 11:6 goes on to say that the one who comes to God must not only believe that He exists, but must also believe that “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (NKJV). Simply believing that there is a God on one hand and diligently seeking Him on the other are two different things. You can believe in Him without any passion or awe at all; however, when you seek Him diligently, you are moved with spiritual hunger and an earnest desire to know Him. Believing in Him is intellectual acknowledgement—a good thing; but diligently seeking Him involves not only your mind, but your heart and soul as well—the basis of intimacy in any relationship.
…the demons also believe, and shudder.
Demons believe in God; they not only believe, but they resentfully recognize the authority of His Son, as well. They loathe God; they despise the fact that His Word and the name of Jesus spoken in faith by one of His children has the power to thwart their plans. Yes, they know all too well that God exists and that He is a very real Presence here on the earth.
Therefore, what distinguishes your belief in God from the type of belief that resides in demons? James’ very blunt answer is this: your works. You aren’t saved by your works; you are saved by faith in Jesus. But saving faith is demonstrated through corresponding actions that bring glory to God and lefestindeve.fr viagra salvation and help to others.
May your faith shine so vividly through your life that others “will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you” (see 2 Corinthians 9:13-14).
Blessings,
Dorothy
Read MoreJames 2:18—Show me your faith
But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:18
No two believers are exactly alike. Gifts, talents, interests, and personalities vary from person to person within the Church. Paul wrote that there are varieties of gifts, ministries, and effects within the body of Christ, and each member is to move in the manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the common good (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-7).
However, despite the huge diversity of gifts, callings, and godly talents within the Church, each member is to live by faith—no exceptions. Likewise, each member is accountable to the Lord for the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad (see 2 Corinthians 5:10). Therefore, you are responsible to walk by faith and you are accountable for all the things you do—your works.
You and I may have different functions within the Church, but I can’t say, “I am called to works; you are called to faith.” You and I are both called to works and faith.
James challenged those who said they had genuine faith without works. He wrote, “…show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (emphasis added). He knew that no one’s faith could be proven without corresponding actions or deeds of kindness and charity.
Confusion sneaks in the door whenever you emphasize one side of the faith/works spectrum to the exclusion of the other. Many cults are built around the belief that human works are the basis of salvation; however, the Word of God is clear—you are saved by grace through faith, and that is not of your own manufacturing; it is a gift from God (see Ephesians 2:8). Whether you are good, bad, or somewhere in between—you must be born again through faith in Jesus Christ if you hope to make Heaven your eternal home. It is impossible to be saved any other way.
Why, then, did James emphasize works? Do we, as some cults suggest, receive partial salvation through Christ and then bridge the gap by our own good deeds? Can we save ourselves by our works? Absolutely not.
James pointed out very directly that if you live a life of faith and consecration to Christ, then you will demonstrate it by the way you treat others. Your genuine faith life will be accompanied by a trail of good fruit and kind deeds. If your personal history is not littered with such occurrences, then very possibly you need an overhaul by the One you say you serve.
You do not work your way into Heaven. However, if your faith lacks any external indication that the Lord lives in you, it is at best useless (see James 2:16 and 20), and is very likely dead.
I believe James’ motive in writing this was to stir believers to authentic expression of faith, especially toward those less fortunate than themselves. His goal was neither to douse the grace message of Paul nor to push the Church into legalism. His objective, I believe, was simply to offer his brethren an opportunity to examine whether or not their actions lined up with their words of faith.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Being a recipient of the loving grace of God will never exempt you from examining your life to determine if your actions demonstrate the Lord you proclaim. And if you do find that you have a deficit of works that declare your faith (and there’s a good chance you will from time to time), God’s grace is the very place to which you should run. His grace will lift you up and put you back on track to live out your faith—full of the gracious works of Jesus.
May you, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, live by faith and let it blossom into wonderful good works!
Dorothy
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
Read MoreJames 2:14-17—Faith without works
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. James 2:14-17
James opened a can of worms with this question: “Can faith without works save you?” Upon first glance, he seems to contradict the message preached by the apostle Paul found in Ephesians 2:8-9. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” How can both be true and coexist within the New Testament?
You are saved by grace through faith; it is a gift from God. You are not saved as a result of your works—no amount of good deeds on your part could ever grant you entrance into Heaven when you die. No matter how good you’ve been, you have need of Jesus who bore your sin and the punishment for it. You receive redemption through your faith—also a gift from God. This is the very bedrock of the Christian message.
However, as the young church was learning about the grace of God through Paul’s revelation, James wrote a powerful letter declaring that faith without works is dead. Was the early church divided along these lines or were they just doctrinally schizophrenic? The answer, as far as the teachings of Paul and James are concerned, is neither.
You are saved by grace through faith and that not of yourself. And faith without works is dead. These seemingly contradictory truths do not negate one another; instead, they complement and complete each other, offering a full-orbed view of the proper operation of faith in the life of a believer.
James asked, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” In other words, saying so doesn’t make it so.
When I was a little girl, my sister and I would put petticoats on our heads and “sway in the breeze”, singing “I’m a flower.” Were we flowers? We played that game all the time, but we never underwent photosynthesis. We never grew roots. We couldn’t. We were humans.
Likewise, merely saying I’m a Christian doesn’t make it so any more than a child singing I’m a flower turns her into a plant. A trade must first take place—you lay your sin at His feet in exchange for His cleansing forgiveness and righteousness. Without this deliberate choice on your part, you do not become a Christian, no matter what you call yourself.
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
Being saved by grace through faith truly changes you. You are born again and receive the Father’s nature. The imprint of eternity is forever emblazoned upon your heart, and the fire of His Spirit warms and brings light through your life. Although you may stumble in your decisions from time to time, the conviction of God urges you onward, willing and working within you for His good pleasure (see Philippians 2:13).
When I get up in the morning, I pull out one of the cold, empty coffee mugs that sit in my cabinet. Each mug looks lovely, sturdy, and welcoming, but not one of them can warm my hands or awaken my groggy body or soul until it receives the infilling of steaming coffee, fresh from the pot.
Once filled, that mug takes on the warmth of the brew which fills it, and as I sip its contents, my taste buds smile. The rich liquid within is constant: it always warms, it always fills the room with rich aroma, and it always delivers what it promises.
Similarly, before you receive Jesus, you may be helpful, appealing, or sweet; however, something is missing—a relationship with the One who lovingly created you. But once you become filled with God by faith in Christ, you take on the characteristics of the One who indwells you. Mugs filled with hot coffee become hot; people filled with Christ become Christ-like.
As a believer, you behave like the One who indwells you. When Jesus sees a brother or sister in need of food or clothing, He does something about it. Therefore, as His vessel, you likewise take action as He works in you to help those who have need. Hot coffee warms up cold mugs. The living Christ within a person prompts loving action. If no one is helped by your life, as James said, what use is that?
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
If a mug doesn’t feel hot to the touch or emit a rich coffee aroma, there’s a good chance it isn’t filled. If a professor of faith lives for himself alone and not at all for others, there’s a good chance he is not filled. Such a faith—which never reaches out to others—is empty, devoid of the One it professes.
You are saved by grace through faith, not as a result of your own works. When Jesus takes up residence in your heart, you emit His warmth, aroma, and giving nature to those around you and they are helped.
If you discover that you’re doing nothing to minister to needs of anyone else, then go back to the Source, hold up the cold, empty mug of your life to Him, and by faith, receive the piping hot infilling of the One who died for you. Then pour out into the lives of others.
Dorothy
Read MoreJames 2:10-13—Mercy triumphs over judgment
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:10-13
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
James continued his instruction on Christian partiality by illustrating that the royal law he described in verse 8 is not subject to the whims or circumstances of life. Those who heard his letter were very familiar with the Mosaic Law and its requirements—just because you were “good” at one point of the law didn’t cut you any slack on the rest of it. Everyone in the congregation where this letter was first read knew this all too well.
For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Although he was writing to born again men and women, James drew the connection between embracing the whole Old Testament as a standard to the believer committing his entire life to the law of love. Even if you walked in love with almost everyone, if by your behavior or attitude you dishonored even one of your brothers or sisters in the body, your good behavior toward the rest did not absolve you from the dishonor you showed to the one. Remember, our Lord was He who left the ninety-nine to find the one (see Matthew 18:12). That one was very important to Him, and He took the manner in which the one was treated very seriously. The good news is that Jesus is just as protective toward you.
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
James revisits the law of liberty. In James 1:25 he wrote, “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” Not only are you to gaze into His Word and do what it says, but you are to so speak and so act as those who are to be judged by it, as well. You are called to submit everything in your life to the Word of God, which is the law of liberty. By this you can keep your motives, attitudes, and behaviors in contact with the washing of the water of the Word. By this you also stay humble before the Lord, knowing that you—along with everyone else—are accountable to the royal law, the law of liberty.
For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
You will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. You will be rewarded according to the deeds you’ve done in your body here on earth (see 2 Corinthians 5:10); all of your works will be revealed that day by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13). In light of this fearsomely awesome event to come, the wisest way to navigate through life is by James’ sweeping admonition: Judgment will be merciless if you have shown no mercy; however, mercy triumphs over judgment.
Mercy will be the common denominator at the judgment seat of Christ. His mercy poured out toward you—because of your professed faith in Him—has made you His own treasured possession (see Malachi 3:17), and will usher you into your eternal home. I believe that your mercy shown toward others throughout your life will render you triumphant over any outstanding judgments against you.
Paul wrote, “Each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work…If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13, 15). The mercy of our Lord is evident here; despite the flawed works of this man and the deep loss he sustains on that day, yet he, as a new creature in Christ, will be saved. And what is the primary requirement of the Lord for believers? To love the Lord and to love others. Living below this standard destabilizes and undermines everything else in your life. Living below this call to love is the same as building with wood, hay, and stubble in your life. Those things burn; judgment is merciless to the one who has shown no mercy. But he himself will be saved as through fire. I believe that a Christian life stingy in mercy is a life built with wood, hay, and stubble.
On the other hand, mercy triumphs over judgment. As you major on mercy toward others in your life—even when you need to confront them with truth—your deeds will be formed of gold, silver, and precious stone (see 1 Corinthians 3:12-14). Despite other flaws that may have nagged you in your life, as you make it your habit to major on the royal law, the law of love—liberally displaying mercy to those you encounter—you walk in the mercy that triumphs over judgment. An earth walk saturated with mercy toward others will be a precious commodity on the day you see Jesus face to face.
When you are disappointed with yourself—perhaps your behaviors, attitudes, words, or thoughts fall short of the glory of God—you have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ Himself (see 1 John 2:1). Turn to Him with your whole heart and allow His love and forgiveness to wash you. But remember, freely you’ve received His mercy; now freely extend it to others as well (see Matthew 10:8). I believe that as you do, you will be building with gold, silver, and precious stones, not wood, hay, or stubble. And when you arrive before His throne—and you will—the mercy you have shown toward others will cause you to triumph over judgment.
Sow mercy—reap mercy!
Dorothy
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9
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