Friday, May 18, 2012

faith vs. works or, faith and works, or faith that produces works

faith vs. works or, faith and works, or faith that produces works We are going to look at a passage of scripture that has been miss understood. James chapter 2:14-26 Martin Luther. referred to James as an epistle of straw and unworthy to be included in the Word of God. He felt that James and Paul had a different definition for salvation. Paul said we are saved by grace and not by works, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Eph 2:8 but lets look a little closer to what Paul says in Eph 2. Read Eph 2:8-10. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. so even Paul says we were created in Christ to do good works. Paul and James were writing to two different audiences for 2 different purposes. Paul for example wrote to a group of Christians in the book of Galatians that were being pressured to be circumcised and follow the Jewish laws. Paul told them that Abraham was made righteous because he believed the promise God gave him in Gen 15. Abraham looked up in the sky and saw the stars. God told him that he would have decedents that were as numerous as the stars. Now this was when he was a very old man. He did not go to a good church. He did not have a Bible. He grew up in a town where they worshipped idols. He heard the voice of God, and moved. And in Gen 15:1-6 God gave him a promise. 1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,[a] your very great reward.[b]” 2 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d] be.” 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Before Abram became Abraham he believed God’s promise…he had faith and God said it saved him. His faith saved him. Paul’s focus was where does our justification come from. We are justified by faith in Christ. Our works don’t save us…our faith in Christ saves us. So let’s look at what James is saying. Is it really different? Or is it just a different focus? James chapter 2:14-26 14. What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15. Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17. In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18. But 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. 19. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. 20. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? 21. Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22. You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. vs. 14 Can “such faith” save him? What does James mean when he says “such faith”? He is talking about faith that is without fruit. Real faith will produce fruit. Then he gives his first of 3 examples….vs. 15-17 In this example he is saying that a person that has faith will help in a real practical way. How many times have you been asked to pray, and you say” I’ll pray for you” but you don’t. I know I’m trying to be careful about saying I will do something, and to do it. If I say I’ll pray…I will. But I also try to be aware of needs. Story of my small group in San Diego. no one paid for my lunch. Are we expected to do everything? No. But our lives should bear fruit that demonstrates real faith. vs 17 “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” 18. But 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. 19. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. 20. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? loads of people in our society say they believe in God. They are the folks that say if I die I will go to heaven because I’m a good person. Or have an intellectual knowledge of God, but no real faith. James makes the some what shocking statement that even the demons believe. What do you think, is every person who say they believe really in the faith? So this topic becomes very important if you care about your eternal destiny. There is such a thing as false faith. James gives 2 more examples… read vs. 21-26 21. Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22. You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. I find it interesting that James uses an example from Gen 22 about Abraham offering his son Isaac on the altar? Paul had used an example of Abraham from Gen 15. It’s like James knew Abraham had faith that was planted in Gen 15, and produced fruit in Gen 22. What do you think? an outward demonstration of faith vs inward faith. Should we judge faith? Why or why not? If you have faith but it’s not very fruitful what can you do to help it grow? real faith always manifests itself in active, practical ways James 1:19-21 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:26-27 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Practical stuff!

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