JAMES 2

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

JUSTIFICATION DEMONSTRATED BY OBEDIENCE

We are justified purely by our faith in Christ alone by grace alone.  However, our faith is not static.  It is a dynamic force within our lives that leads to good works that bring glory to God.  When James speaks of faith by works, he does not contradict Paul; rather he is telling the reader that true saving faith produces a desire to serve God and engage in actions that blesses His people and those who need to know the love of the Savior.  

Paul states that “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3-6. James uses the illustration of Abraham’s offering of Isaac to show how faith is more than just an affirmation that God’s word is truth; it is unquestioned obedience to God.  

In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

How can you tell that someone is a Christian? Is it their worship?  Their political affiliation? Their denomination?  No, it is their obedience to Christ’ commands.

A Christian is obedient because they have been justified. Paul says, we make it our aim to please Him. How can we please Him?  By being obedient to His Word.

In 2 Timothy 2:4, Paul says, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”

Who enlists us? Who justifies us? Is it not Christ?  The Lord won’t ask us to sacrifice our son on the altar, but He does ask us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1

Abraham showed his obedience to God; he wasn’t justified by sacrificing Isaac.  Abraham’s actions showed that his faith was real.

Authentic faith will produce genuine obedience.

Amen

KK

JAMES 2

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The Scarlet woman

In the west, we often call a prostitute a scarlet woman, Rahab was certainly that.

She received the spies.  She hid them, and she mislead the authorities in Jericho.  This was all very good, but what places her in the hall of faith is her declaration concerning the God of Israel.  As you read the story, you see that she was totally convinced that the Israelites were going to capture Jericho; there was no question in her mind.  Rahab knew that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was the true and living God.

She did all she could to help the spies, but it was her faith in the true God that led to her deliverance when the city of Jericho was destroyed.  

 21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

She could have said, I believe in the power of God, I believe these men are telling the truth, but the simple act of hanging the cord, shows that her faith was backed up by actions.

Likewise in Exodus chapter 12, God told the Children of Israel to put blood on the doorposts so that the death angel would pass over them.

They could have said, “We believe you Moses.”  But had they not applied the blood of the lamb to their doorposts they would have perished like the Egyptians.  Rahab was justified by her faith in God as seen in the story, but her actions in hanging the scarlet cord, completed it and made it active.

James has a wonderful discourse in Chapter 2, Faith in Christ saves us from our sins, AND produces works of obedience to the living God.

God bless you

KK

JAMES 2

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

THE BEST EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITY

This is one of the greatest discourses in the whole of the NT. It looks like James is speaking against the rest of the NT, but he is confirming it.

In verse 14, James asks two questions; the answers to these questions are that if we have faith and we do not illustrate that faith, it is worthless.  First, let me say that all that is needed for salvation is Faith alone by Grace alone in Christ alone, but the true evidence of that faith, will outflow in what a person does and says.

James gives a wonderful illustration in verses 15-16. He has already given a wonderful one in chapter 2:1-5. The apostle John builds on this in Chapter 3 and verses 17-18 of his first epistle, when he says:

17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

What both John and James are saying is this, if you hear at church, that a brother/sister is in need and have the resources to service that need, but don’t do anything.. then your faith is worthless. What’s the point! If you don’t show it, you talk about loving your brethren, but God isn’t interested in your mere talk, He’s interested in your walk.

The Apostle Paul says many times, that our faith will work itself out in acts of love.

Look at the book of Acts. The disciples had faith, but that faith was shown, at the end of Acts chapter 4, and these disciples had true faith, but there was evidence of this faith, works is faith in action.

Jesus was the Saviour, but it says about HIM, that He went about doing good. Yes He died for us, but He spent three years doing good, healing people, teaching and feeding people.

Works in themselves are not enough for salvation. Look at the example of Cornelius; he was a good man, he did many good works, but this was not enough for salvation. Are you depending on your works for salvation?

True, good works are the evidence of being born again.. Works are not the root of Salvation, they are the fruit of Salvation.

God bless you

Keith

JAMES 2

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

TRUE OR FALSE TREMBLING

James is one of my favourite books. It is so practical and so hard hitting. It speaks on such difficult subjects such as the tongue, etc.

In the latter part of chapter 2, James shows the link between Faith and Works.

Here in China, we often say that people believe in Jesus, but this verse is a sobering one. “Belief” in Jesus is not enough, indeed the demons believe in Jesus, they believe in His existence, remember these demons are fallen angels.

Many times, in the gospels, Jesus casts out demons and says to them, that they are not to tell anyone. They knew who He was. In Acts, these demons say.. Paul, I know Jesus I know but who are you Acts 19:15.

Judas was around Jesus for three years. He saw the miracles, heard Jesus speak, but today he is in hell. Just another example of someone supposedly ‘believing in Jesus’.

The whole thrust of James’ discourse is that true faith is shown by our actions. Our lives are the best evidence of Christianity, because they are changed: 2 Corinthians 5:17. We do things differently, we treat people differently, and we are more different to any other people on the planet.

So many people play at Christianity. They think it is enough to go to church and have a basic belief about Jesus.. it is not.. Hell will be full of people who claimed to “believe in Jesus.”

Christianity is a relationship with God which flows outward to others. Have you encountered God and have you shared his love with others?

That is what a Christian is and what a Christian does.

God bless you

KK

Keith

The Royal Law

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

As I study further in the Epistle of James, I am so blessed.

He is so practical, and as I read this passage, I see several questions arising from it.

In verse 6 James says, do we despise or look down on the poor.

We can from our comfortable vantage point, look down with disdain to the poor instead of obeying scripture and helping them. In China, millions have been taken out of poverty by the government, you may say that this is their job, but in James 1, we are told that pure religion is to visit widows.. when was the last time you did that?

That is their job, but the church has a responsibility  to the poor and widows of its community Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 5

Verse 6 says, why do we put wealthy people on a pedestal, after all it is often they, that are the chief persecutors of the church. 

Verse 7 says they blaspheme and curse the good name of Christ, many Christians want to make friends with rich people, but this is a slippery slope.

The Royal law of God is God’s supreme law. Are you doing well, by loving your neighbour as yourself? Treating those around you, the same way you treat yourself.

Are you showing partiality? vs 9

Do you think better of rich people than of poor people see verses 1-5

The religious leaders of the day were meticulous in the keeping of the law, but if you fail in one small point, you are guilty of breaking it all. If we say, do not kill and then we steal, this means we are completely guilty?

Are we telling people it is wrong to steal and then we steal ourselves? see Romans 2

In verse 13 the question is asked.

Do we say something and do another?

Basically are we two faced?

Are we saying that swearing and lying are wrong and then are we doing them ?

These are all searching questions, we must all answer.

We need to look into the royal law and see if we are committing any of these sins and come to the foot of the cross in repentance.

God bless you

Keith

JAMES 2

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

WHEN THE “SMELLIES” COME TO CHURCH

The epistle of James is probably one of the toughest to read in the New Testament, but it is also the most practical.

It provides insight on so many relevant things in our lives.

Here James gets very practical and touches on a subject that we don’t really like to admit happens in our churches…partiality.

Are we guilty of this sin?

Most of us commit this sin without realizing it.

… let me explain.

In our church in Nanjing, we used to have an old lady, who collects rubbish for a living, like many do in China.

She lives in a very old property and has to go to the public baths to wash.  We went to her home once, it would be bulldozed if this home was in the UK and called unfit to live in.. thankfully she moved to another city to be with her son in a good flat.

Every Sunday, she walks about 2 miles to church or is brought by her husband in a cart like vehicle.

We love this sister very much and she comes and sits right at the front, right under the nose of the preacher.

Would you go and shake her by the hand and welcome them in the name of the Lord? Or would you stick your nose in the air and talk to your little closed circle of friends?

Every time she came, I would get a great big hug off her, it meant so much.  We are told to greet each other with a holy kiss and to be kindly affectionate towards one another.

Why are we the complete opposite?

Many people come to faith, because they see the difference in our true Christian love and fellowship.

They will know we are Christians, by our doctrine, by our knowledge of the bible or by our fancy churches.?..NO!

They will know we are Christians:

BY OUR LOVE

We know this dear sister is so gracious, so loving.

She only has her Bible, no internet.

She just has Jesus.

The Lord is sick and tired of the attitude of the church towards those who are broken.

Our actions makes us a poor witness of the Lord’s love for all people.

God looks on the heart.

When Samuel was ordered by God to anoint a new king to replace Saul, Samuel looked on one of the older more handsome sons of Jesse, and said in his heart, “this is the Lord’s anointed.”

But God rebuked Samuel and said, “Do not look on this man because of his stature, for I have not chosen him.

Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Verse 9, puts it into context, if you have respect of persons, whether in word or even in thought, you are in believer that is guilty of sin.

So I urge you, Let us love all our brethren and stop judging your fellow brethren. True Christian love sees past people’s appearance.. amen.

God bless you

Keith