WEBVTT

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 It's on page 1214, 1214.

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 James chapter 2, starting at verse 14.

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 Page 1214.

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 Let's read.

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 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?

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 Can such faith save them?

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 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

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 If one of you says to them, go in peace, keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

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 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

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 But someone will say, you have faith, I have deeds.

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 Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

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 You believe that there is one God.

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 Good.

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 Even the demons believe that and shudder.

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 You foolish person.

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 Do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

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 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

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 You see that his faith and his actions were working together.

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 And his faith was made complete by what he did.

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 And the scripture was fulfilled that says,

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 Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.

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 And he was called God's friend.

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 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

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 In the same way, was not Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies

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 and sent them off in a different direction?

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 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

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 I'm going to ask Jason now.

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 He's going to come and preach this morning.

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 Thanks, Jason.

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 I'm just going to pass around a pen or two.

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 Anybody like a pen?

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 Well, I want to thank Johnny and the elders for entrusting this responsibility to me this morning.

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 It is no small thing to entrust somebody with the ministry of the word.

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 And so I hope to serve you well this morning as we look into God's word.

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 We have been here since this past Wednesday.

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 And we have been staying with the Campbells.

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 And the hospitality here in Ireland is amazing.

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 We have not only been at their home, but we've been at several other homes.

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 And I think I have eaten more in the last five days than the last five months combined.

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 So thank you so much for your kindness and your hospitality.

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 We've been drinking gallons, it seems like, gallons of tea.

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 Or liters, I guess.

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 Is that what I would say here?

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 Liters of tea?

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 But it's just been wonderful.

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 Pints.

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 A lot.

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 A lot of it.

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 So it has just been wonderful.

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 Thank you so much for your hospitality.

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 As Johnny said, we'll be in James 2 this morning.

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 If you haven't already turned in your copy of the scriptures to James 2,

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 you can do that now.

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 A couple of years ago, I read a very interesting story about a man named Wolfgang Beltracchi.

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 Perhaps some of you have heard about him.

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 Wolfgang's paintings brought him millions and millions of dollars during a career that spanned nearly 40 years.

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 His paintings made their way into museums, galleries, and private collections all over the world.

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 Now, what is most notable about the work of Wolfgang Beltracchi is that all of his paintings are fake.

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 And what makes him an unusual forger is that he didn't copy the paintings of great artists,

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 but he created new works which he imagined some well-known artist might have painted

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 or which might have gotten lost.

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 Here are the closing two sentences of the article that I read.

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 It said,

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 Connoisseurs and dealers acknowledge that Beltracchi is the most successful art forger of our time,

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 perhaps of all time.

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 Brilliant not only as a painter,

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 but as a con man of epic proportions.

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 Can you imagine what it would feel like to pay millions for a painting only to find out that it's a fake?

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 No one I've ever known likes to be tricked or deceived.

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 In fact, it makes us feel silly, maybe even ashamed when it happens to us.

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 And of course, deception can bring with it a great cost.

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 Like those who paid a tremendous sum of money for a work of art that was not what it claimed to be.

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 You see, being fooled can have devastating consequences, can't it?

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 Now consider this.

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 As awful.

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 As awful as it would be to lose money.

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 There is absolutely nothing more devastating than if you were to find out in the last day

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 that you fooled yourself

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 about the nature of genuine faith in Christ.

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 How can you know?

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 How can you know if your faith is genuine?

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 How do you know that you're a true believer and not a fake?

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 How can you determine whether or not you're being fooled by a false or counterfeit faith?

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 I want to invite you friends to look with me at God's Word.

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 And together, we will find answers to these very important questions.

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 We want to know that our faith in Christ is genuine.

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 And if you're here this morning and you don't know Christ,

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 you've never turned in repentance and faith to believe in Jesus,

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 trusting in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins,

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 then I want you to understand what it means to truly believe.

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 Our text, James 2, 14-26,

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 this text answers two major questions.

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 And here is the first.

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 Question number one.

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 What is true faith?

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 This is a fundamental and foundational question

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 that we must answer and we must answer it correctly

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 so we go to God's Word.

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 Look at verse 14 again.

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 What good is it, my brothers and sisters,

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 if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?

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 Can such faith save them?

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 So I want you to notice a couple of things here.

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 First is this.

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 True faith, true faith is more than a mere announcement.

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 That's found in verse 14.

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 James begins this section with two questions

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 and both of them expect the same answer.

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 He asks, does faith without works help a person?

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 The answer is no.

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 Then he asks, does faith without good works save a person?

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 Again, the answer is no.

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 There is a very important word in verse 14 that you must see.

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 James writes, if someone claims to have faith.

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 James is not suggesting that this individual actually has faith.

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 He's not talking about someone whose faith has been confirmed as genuine.

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 He's simply referring to someone who regularly claims to have faith.

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 Does simply making a claim of faith without a lifestyle of good works save a person?

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 And the answer is no.

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 This verse, and really this whole text,

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 has been one of the most controversial and misunderstood in all of Scripture.

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 The question is often asked,

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 is James saying that works save a person?

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 Or we might ask the question this way,

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 is James disagreeing with the Apostle Paul?

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 Here's a quick sampling of what the Apostle Paul wrote.

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 You heard some of it already this morning.

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 In Romans chapter 3, verse 28,

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 we find this,

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 for we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

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 In Romans chapter 4, verse 5,

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 this is what we find,

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 and to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly,

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 his faith is counted as righteousness.

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 And then in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 and 9,

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 for by grace you have been saved through faith,

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 and this is not your own doing.

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 It is the gift of God,

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 not a result of works,

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 so that no one may boast.

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 You can see from these texts why some confusion may exist,

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 but we need to understand the purpose of each writer.

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 Simply put, Paul is writing,

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 Paul is writing about our declaration of faith,

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 and James is writing about our demonstration of faith.

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 One well-known pastor in the States wrote something very helpful

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 in his commentary on James.

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 This is what he wrote.

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 Listen carefully to this.

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 There is no real contradiction between James and Paul regarding faith.

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 Paul's teaching about faith and works focuses on the time before conversion,

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 and James' focus is after conversion.

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 Paul was fighting against tradition which promoted a false works salvation.

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 James was fighting against a light or trivial or easy faith

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 which minimized the necessity of works after coming to Christ.

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 Paul says works cannot bring us to Christ.

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 James says after we come to Christ,

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 they are imperative.

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 In fact,

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 in fact,

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 in fact,

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 in fact,

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 brothers and sisters,

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 the Apostle Paul actually makes the very same point that James is making

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 in the text that Alex read for us earlier.

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 After Paul wrote those wonderful verses about faith alone

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 as the basis for our salvation in Ephesians chapter 2,

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 he followed it immediately with chapter 2, verse 10.

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 For we are God's handiwork,

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 created in Christ Jesus to do good works

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 which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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 And so you heard it said already,

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 Paul and James would agree that counterfeit faith

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 makes all kinds of statements and claims,

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 but never,

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 never supports those words with actions.

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 In contrast,

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 true faith is demonstrated

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 by a life of good works.

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 Paul's emphasis on salvation by faith alone

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 was intended to correct our natural desire

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 to earn salvation by means of our own effort and good works.

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 As Paul came face to face with pharisaical legalism,

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 the teaching that our works affect our standing before God,

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 he emphasized the truth that nothing in us,

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 nothing in us can merit God's favor.

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 Only Jesus Christ can earn right standing with God for us.

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 And this right standing comes to us

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 through faith alone in Christ alone.

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 What Paul makes clear in Ephesians chapter 2

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 is that we are not saved by works,

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 but we are saved to works,

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 or for works.

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 Works do not contribute a thing to our justification,

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 but works are the result and aim of our justification.

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 Friends, James as well is insisting

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 that genuine faith always produces righteous works.

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 Now, I want to be as clear as I can be,

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 these works,

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 these works do not make us righteous before God,

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 but they demonstrate the reality

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 that we have already been made righteous

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 before God in Jesus Christ.

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 To summarize this first observation,

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 brothers and sisters,

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 the genuineness of a profession of Jesus Christ

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 as Savior and Lord

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 is evidenced more by what a person does

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 than by what he claims.

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 So what is true faith?

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 It is more than a mere announcement.

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 And a second observation here,

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 true faith is more than a statement of sympathy.

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 It's more than a statement of sympathy.

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 Look at verse 15.

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 Suppose a brother or a sister

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 is without clothes and daily food.

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 If one of you says to them,

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 go in peace,

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 be warm and well fed,

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 but does nothing about their physical needs,

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 what good is it?

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 In the same way,

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 faith by itself,

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 if it is not accompanied by action,

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 well, it's dead.

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 As James so often does,

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 he provides a powerful illustration.

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 In preaching through James

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 and studying through James,

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 there are these moments

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 when you're reading

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 and you read an illustration

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 that he offers

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 and at least if you're like me,

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 I go,

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 ouch,

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 that hurts.

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 I think he's talking about me.

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 Imagine you're sitting in church.

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 Week after week,

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 the same man sits down beside you.

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 You notice that his clothes are torn.

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 They're really insufficient

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 to keep him warm,

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 dry,

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 clean,

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 and protected.

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 You also notice

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 that as each week goes by,

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 he looks like he's malnourished

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 and he's becoming very unhealthy.

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 So you begin to wonder,

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 what should I do?

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 Clearly,

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 this man has a need.

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 What should I do?

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 And here is what you decide.

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 You approach him

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 and you begin to speak

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 and this is what you say.

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 Brother,

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 you're not looking good.

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 It looks like you've fallen

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 upon hard times.

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 You need help.

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 So may God be with you this week.

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 Go.

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 Find some clothes

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 and warm yourself.

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 And then you turn

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 and walk away.

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 Well, of course,

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 this man would be confused

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 thinking,

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 well,

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 don't you think

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 I would have already

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 clothed myself

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 and fed myself

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 if I could?

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 What if this

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 is all you did,

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 friend?

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 The expression

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 of the Christian love

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 that you claim to possess

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 has motivated you

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 to do nothing more

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 than offer

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 religious platitudes

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 to someone in obvious need.

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 If that is your only response,

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:01.840
 then according to God's Word,

00:17:02.140 --> 00:17:03.240
 how should you

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:05.420
 interpret your own actions?

00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:09.799
 The answer is in verse 17.

00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.460
 If you offer

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:14.360
 a sympathetic statement

00:17:14.360 --> 00:17:16.759
 without actually doing

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.700
 anything loving,

00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:22.180
 without actually meeting the need,

00:17:23.620 --> 00:17:28.140
 then your faith is dead.

00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:32.100
 And please understand,

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:35.120
 dead faith is not only lifeless,

00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:37.200
 but it's useless.

00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:41.080
 It serves no purpose.

00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.319
 Oh, friend,

00:17:43.380 --> 00:17:44.640
 this is not what God

00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:45.740
 redeemed you for.

00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:50.100
 Genuine faith is more than

00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:51.180
 feeling compassion

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.380
 for someone in need.

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:53.500
 The Apostle John

00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.980
 challenges us

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:56.440
 in 1 John 3,

00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.259
 but if anyone

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:58.519
 has the world's goods

00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:00.140
 and sees his brother

00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:00.720
 in need,

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:03.100
 then listen to this expression.

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:06.820
 Yet closes his heart

00:18:06.820 --> 00:18:07.759
 against him.

00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:11.980
 How does God's love

00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.779
 abide in him?

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.860
 Little children,

00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.580
 let us not love

00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:19.240
 in word or talk,

00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:21.140
 but in deed

00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:22.759
 and in truth.

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:25.460
 You see,

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.220
 real faith

00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.900
 is not seen

00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.819
 in statements,

00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:30.140
 but in action.

00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:34.200
 Counterfeit faith

00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.259
 stops with a promise

00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:35.740
 to pray.

00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.119
 Real faith

00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:41.220
 starts by not only

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:42.160
 praying for someone

00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:42.579
 in need,

00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.900
 but providing them

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:44.440
 with a meal

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.559
 as well.

00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.299
 Counterfeit faith

00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:49.119
 stops with

00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.539
 sympathetic words.

00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.220
 Real faith

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:51.940
 suffers

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:53.680
 to help

00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:54.660
 someone in need.

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.440
 Counterfeit faith

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.299
 stops with

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.140
 empty words

00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.940
 of compassion.

00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:01.960
 Real faith

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.819
 starts

00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:04.460
 with loving

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.600
 actions.

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.039
 I try to explain

00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.839
 that to my children

00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.559
 all the time.

00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:10.319
 You can say

00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.279
 you're sorry

00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:11.960
 to your brother

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.600
 or sister

00:19:12.600 --> 00:19:13.640
 a hundred times,

00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.700
 but if you turn around

00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:16.440
 and do the same thing

00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.680
 over and over again,

00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.420
 your words

00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.779
 will ring hollow

00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:21.779
 when you say

00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:23.180
 I love you

00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:25.319
 or I forgive you

00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.859
 that needs to be

00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:28.279
 followed by actions

00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:29.379
 that demonstrate

00:19:29.379 --> 00:19:31.259
 the validity

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.920
 of your words.

00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:36.440
 What is true faith?

00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.279
 Well,

00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:37.819
 it's more than

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.539
 a mere announcement.

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.299
 It's more than

00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.980
 a statement of sympathy.

00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:41.700
 And then a third

00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:42.619
 observation here.

00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:43.480
 True faith

00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.200
 is more than

00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:44.819
 a declaration

00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.720
 of doctrine.

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:48.360
 Look at verse 18.

00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:51.079
 But someone

00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.960
 will say

00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:54.360
 you have faith

00:19:54.360 --> 00:19:56.220
 I have deeds.

00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:58.120
 Show me your faith

00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:58.880
 without deeds

00:19:58.880 --> 00:19:59.779
 and I will show you

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.220
 my faith

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.200
 by my deeds.

00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.779
 You believe

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.200
 that there is

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:03.799
 one God.

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:04.839
 Good.

00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:06.839
 Even the demons

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.740
 believe that

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.680
 and shudder.

00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:11.200
 You foolish

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:11.799
 person.

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.839
 Do you want

00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.480
 evidence

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.279
 that faith

00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.819
 without deeds

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.940
 is useless?

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.980
 James anticipates

00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:21.539
 an objection

00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:22.680
 we might all have

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.640
 to what he's teaching us.

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.380
 We might suggest

00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.380
 that claiming faith

00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:27.000
 is no different

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.420
 than demonstrating faith.

00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.319
 It's like we're

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:32.019
 saying to James,

00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:32.799
 James,

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.039
 stop looking

00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:34.980
 so closely

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.940
 at what I'm doing.

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.559
 Don't you know

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.500
 what I believe?

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:42.519
 You see,

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.059
 a lot of people

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:43.559
 assume that

00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:44.519
 making a declaration

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.099
 of faith

00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:45.640
 is enough.

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.400
 But friends,

00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:47.279
 genuine faith

00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:47.859
 is more than

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:48.599
 a declaration

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:50.099
 even if that

00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.819
 declaration

00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.519
 includes

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.539
 correct doctrine.

00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:55.940
 James'

00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:56.859
 next words,

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.759
 verse 19,

00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:59.619
 are a shocking

00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.259
 illustration

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.299
 of this truth.

00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:03.319
 Look at verse 19.

00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:06.859
 Do you realize

00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.639
 this morning,

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:08.960
 as you look

00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:09.619
 at this text,

00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:10.740
 do you realize

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.099
 this morning

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:12.019
 that no demon

00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:13.559
 is an atheist?

00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:16.939
 Every demon

00:21:16.939 --> 00:21:17.700
 believes in God.

00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.460
 Do you realize

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:21.159
 that no demon

00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:22.659
 is a polytheist?

00:21:24.179 --> 00:21:25.119
 Every demon

00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:25.659
 believes

00:21:25.659 --> 00:21:26.099
 there is

00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:27.339
 one true God.

00:21:28.939 --> 00:21:29.859
 It's frightening

00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.259
 to think

00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:30.659
 that there are

00:21:30.659 --> 00:21:31.460
 probably questions

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.160
 that you and I

00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:33.140
 would get wrong

00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:33.860
 on a theological

00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.519
 exam

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.259
 that demons

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.779
 know.

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.480
 But James

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:39.860
 is making

00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:40.519
 a point here.

00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:44.079
 It's a warning.

00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:47.720
 So let me

00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:48.480
 offer this

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.220
 warning to you,

00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:50.100
 brothers and

00:21:50.100 --> 00:21:50.400
 sisters.

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:52.900
 This,

00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:55.259
 this is a

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:55.759
 church that

00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.319
 believes

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.519
 in the importance

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.420
 of right doctrine

00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.759
 and rich theology,

00:21:59.759 --> 00:21:59.819
 theology,

00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:01.480
 which is

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:02.160
 wonderful.

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.099
 Most of you

00:22:05.099 --> 00:22:06.000
 care deeply

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.619
 about what the

00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:07.240
 Bible says,

00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.279
 and you should.

00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.980
 But be careful.

00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.559
 A commitment

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.299
 to biblical

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.819
 knowledge alone

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:17.879
 does not

00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.619
 equal true

00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:19.099
 faith.

00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:23.460
 No amount

00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:24.059
 of biblical

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:24.619
 knowledge

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.599
 guarantees

00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:26.879
 genuine

00:22:26.879 --> 00:22:27.440
 faith.

00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:27.519
 faith.

00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:30.059
 So I

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.799
 ask you,

00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:33.799
 what are you

00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.860
 trusting in

00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.340
 for the

00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:35.759
 forgiveness

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.299
 of your

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:36.960
 sin and

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.779
 for eternal

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.820
 peace with

00:22:38.820 --> 00:22:39.259
 God?

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.559
 Are you

00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:41.279
 trusting in

00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:41.840
 the depth

00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:42.380
 of your

00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:42.759
 biblical

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.220
 knowledge?

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.559
 Is your

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.140
 confidence

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:47.200
 in facts

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:47.660
 you have

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.240
 learned

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:50.080
 or have

00:22:50.080 --> 00:22:50.559
 you placed

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.160
 your faith

00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:51.559
 in the

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.160
 person

00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:53.759
 and work

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:55.000
 of Jesus

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.759
 Christ

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.340
 alone?

00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:00.460
 our first

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.580
 major question,

00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:02.720
 what is

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:04.480
 true faith?

00:23:04.580 --> 00:23:05.120
 And James

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:05.779
 primarily

00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.799
 answers that

00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.240
 in this

00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:07.799
 section by

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.840
 telling you

00:23:08.840 --> 00:23:09.500
 what it's

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.220
 not or

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:10.759
 what it's

00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:11.660
 not limited

00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:12.059
 to.

00:23:13.820 --> 00:23:14.799
 But then he

00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.400
 expounds.

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.700
 Question number

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:17.019
 two,

00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:18.720
 what does

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.340
 true faith

00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:19.940
 look like?

00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:22.759
 And in

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.980
 explaining

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.620
 this,

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.740
 he defines

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:27.340
 the nature

00:23:27.340 --> 00:23:28.519
 of saving

00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:28.840
 faith.

00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.259
 Look with

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.559
 me at

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.660
 verse 21.

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.400
 Was not

00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:34.840
 our father

00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:35.320
 Abraham

00:23:35.320 --> 00:23:35.820
 considered

00:23:35.820 --> 00:23:36.259
 righteous

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:36.880
 for what

00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.320
 he did

00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:37.600
 when he

00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:37.860
 offered

00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:38.200
 his son

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:38.519
 Isaac

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:38.799
 on the

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.019
 altar?

00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:41.100
 You see

00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:41.480
 that his

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.019
 faith and

00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.620
 his actions

00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:43.080
 were working

00:23:43.080 --> 00:23:43.519
 together.

00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:44.960
 And his

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:45.620
 faith was

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.519
 made complete

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.820
 by what he

00:23:47.820 --> 00:23:48.100
 did.

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:49.779
 And the

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.259
 scripture was

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.939
 fulfilled that

00:23:50.939 --> 00:23:51.779
 says Abraham

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.579
 believed God

00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:52.980
 and it was

00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.599
 credited to

00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.259
 him as

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:54.819
 righteousness.

00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.659
 And he

00:23:56.659 --> 00:23:57.379
 was called

00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.859
 God's

00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.259
 friend.

00:24:01.459 --> 00:24:02.159
 You see

00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:02.439
 that a

00:24:02.439 --> 00:24:02.939
 person is

00:24:02.939 --> 00:24:03.419
 considered

00:24:03.419 --> 00:24:04.179
 righteous by

00:24:04.179 --> 00:24:04.519
 what they

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.079
 do and

00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.480
 not by

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.099
 faith alone.

00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:07.359
 In the

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:07.959
 same way,

00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.359
 was not

00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:09.019
 even Rahab

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.759
 the prostitute

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.240
 considered

00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:10.939
 righteous for

00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:11.359
 what she

00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:12.139
 did when

00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:12.579
 she gave

00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.240
 lodging to

00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:13.779
 the spies

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.199
 and sent

00:24:14.199 --> 00:24:14.699
 them off in

00:24:14.699 --> 00:24:15.019
 a different

00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.500
 direction?

00:24:16.719 --> 00:24:17.459
 As the

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.299
 body without

00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.000
 the spirit

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.940
 is dead,

00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:22.100
 so faith

00:24:22.100 --> 00:24:23.860
 without deeds

00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:25.559
 is dead.

00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:28.799
 As James

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.759
 continues his

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.420
 discussion of

00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:30.920
 living faith,

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.519
 he provides

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.279
 us with two

00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:33.579
 role models

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.799
 who are

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.519
 very,

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:37.539
 very different

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.000
 from each

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.220
 other.

00:24:38.860 --> 00:24:39.539
 The first

00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:39.920
 is a

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.799
 patriarch who

00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.799
 shows us

00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.259
 what true

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:42.799
 faith looks

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.420
 like over a

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:43.759
 lifetime.

00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:45.740
 The second

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.100
 is a

00:24:46.100 --> 00:24:46.700
 prostitute.

00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:49.100
 A

00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:49.620
 prostitute

00:24:49.620 --> 00:24:50.140
 who shows

00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:50.480
 us what

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.019
 true faith

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.559
 looks like

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.579
 in a

00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:52.900
 moment.

00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:55.819
 The first

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.279
 example,

00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.259
 true faith

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.519
 in the

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:57.880
 life of

00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:58.779
 a patriarch.

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.319
 Abraham

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:00.920
 was the

00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:01.340
 epitome

00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:02.120
 of faith

00:25:02.120 --> 00:25:02.680
 in God.

00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:03.460
 And James

00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.140
 begins with

00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:04.600
 a question

00:25:04.600 --> 00:25:05.000
 about his

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.200
 faith.

00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:05.660
 And this

00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:05.880
 is what

00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:06.299
 he asks.

00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:07.539
 Wasn't

00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:07.920
 Abraham

00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:08.420
 considered

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:08.840
 righteous

00:25:08.840 --> 00:25:09.279
 for what

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:09.680
 he did?

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:10.579
 The ESV

00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.160
 says it

00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:11.539
 this way,

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.140
 wasn't

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.680
 Abraham

00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.480
 justified

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.279
 by his

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.920
 works

00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.920
 when he

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.600
 offered

00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:17.660
 Isaac.

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.380
 Now,

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:20.680
 there are

00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.360
 two meanings

00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:21.759
 for the

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.460
 word justified.

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.060
 It can

00:25:24.060 --> 00:25:24.620
 mean to

00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:25.340
 be declared

00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:25.779
 righteous,

00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.259
 and that's

00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:27.279
 probably how

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.880
 you typically

00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.440
 think about

00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:28.640
 it.

00:25:30.060 --> 00:25:30.640
 But it

00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:30.980
 can also

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.640
 mean this,

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:32.960
 to vindicate,

00:25:33.600 --> 00:25:34.720
 to show,

00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:37.019
 to prove

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.880
 righteousness.

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.000
 So the

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.880
 question becomes,

00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:41.980
 didn't Abraham

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:43.340
 demonstrate his

00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:44.679
 righteousness by

00:25:44.679 --> 00:25:45.679
 the act of

00:25:45.679 --> 00:25:46.399
 offering Isaac?

00:25:46.679 --> 00:25:46.980
 Or,

00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:47.980
 wasn't

00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.500
 Abraham

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:50.599
 shown to

00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.259
 be righteous

00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.259
 by this

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:52.759
 act?

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.119
 If we

00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.439
 were to

00:25:56.439 --> 00:25:56.740
 take the

00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.099
 time to

00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:57.480
 turn to

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:57.839
 Genesis,

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:58.359
 here is

00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:58.619
 what we

00:25:58.619 --> 00:25:59.079
 would find

00:25:59.079 --> 00:25:59.879
 explained

00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:00.240
 about

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.879
 Abraham,

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.299
 and this

00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:01.779
 is so

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.240
 important.

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:03.899
 In

00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.279
 Genesis

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.859
 22,

00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:05.899
 God

00:26:05.899 --> 00:26:06.419
 commanded

00:26:06.419 --> 00:26:06.859
 Abraham

00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.359
 to take

00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:07.759
 his only

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.679
 son and

00:26:08.679 --> 00:26:09.319
 offer him

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:09.659
 as a

00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:09.839
 burnt

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.279
 offering.

00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:11.859
 Abraham's

00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:12.500
 response to

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:12.759
 God's

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.220
 command will

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:13.579
 show us

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:13.779
 whether

00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.220
 Abraham

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:15.059
 truly

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:15.860
 believes

00:26:15.860 --> 00:26:15.980
 in

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.180
 God,

00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:16.420
 right?

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.500
 His

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:18.940
 works

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.180
 will

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:19.720
 demonstrate

00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.039
 whether

00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.319
 or not

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.519
 his

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:20.799
 faith

00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.079
 is

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.680
 real.

00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.240
 But

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.700
 remember,

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:25.700
 this

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.259
 command

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.700
 took place

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.160
 nearly

00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.259
 30 years

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.660
 after Abraham

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.220
 was

00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:32.380
 declared

00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:32.920
 righteous

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:34.279
 by God

00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:34.440
 in

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:34.720
 Genesis

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.259
 15.

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.339
 The

00:26:38.339 --> 00:26:38.779
 command

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.039
 he has

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.240
 given

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.740
 now

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:41.519
 to

00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.099
 sacrifice

00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:42.440
 his

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:42.759
 son,

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:43.779
 well,

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.079
 it went

00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:44.680
 against

00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:45.039
 everything

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.259
 in

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.460
 him.

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:46.740
 His

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:46.960
 love

00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.120
 for

00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.400
 Isaac,

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:47.640
 his

00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.120
 understanding

00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:48.319
 of

00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:48.779
 morality,

00:26:49.059 --> 00:26:49.279
 his

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.039
 common

00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:50.620
 sense,

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:50.980
 his

00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.539
 dreams,

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.539
 but

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.160
 still he

00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.640
 obeyed

00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:54.980
 God.

00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.039
 And in

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.660
 so doing,

00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:58.079
 Abraham

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:59.019
 demonstrated

00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.660
 that his

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.599
 faith was

00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:01.160
 genuine

00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.660
 or

00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.180
 authentic.

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.240
 So,

00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:03.720
 this is

00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.380
 how it

00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:04.700
 works.

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.079
 Abraham

00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:05.400
 was

00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:05.839
 declared

00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.259
 righteous

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.160
 by faith

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:07.500
 alone,

00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:07.859
 Genesis

00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:08.480
 15.

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:09.920
 But he

00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:10.200
 was

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.119
 shown

00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:12.259
 to be

00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:12.619
 righteous

00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:13.140
 by his

00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:13.740
 act

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.480
 of faith

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.279
 in

00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:15.579
 Genesis

00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.059
 22.

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.299
 That's

00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:18.720
 precisely

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.119
 what the

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.220
 point is

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.400
 in

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:20.879
 James.

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.099
 So,

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.500
 back in

00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:22.920
 James 2,

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.299
 we find

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.240
 that Abraham's

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.119
 life shows

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:25.680
 the important

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.240
 connections

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.940
 between faith

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.440
 and works.

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.099
 In the

00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:28.460
 first part

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:28.700
 of verse

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.119
 22,

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:29.539
 we find

00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:29.980
 that faith

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.579
 and works

00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.980
 were active

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.740
 together.

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.759
 They were

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.440
 active

00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.079
 together.

00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:36.439
 One

00:27:36.439 --> 00:27:37.119
 pastor

00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:38.199
 said it

00:27:38.199 --> 00:27:38.639
 this way,

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.099
 faith

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:39.579
 isn't

00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.179
 shy

00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:41.079
 or

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.740
 timid.

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:42.779
 It

00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:43.079
 doesn't

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.379
 like to

00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:43.500
 be

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.019
 alone.

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.039
 Faith's

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.539
 constant

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.240
 companion

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.079
 is

00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:48.659
 works.

00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:51.939
 Abraham's

00:27:51.939 --> 00:27:52.859
 works

00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:54.399
 supported

00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:55.439
 his

00:27:55.439 --> 00:27:55.899
 faith.

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.480
 Then we

00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:58.699
 see in

00:27:58.699 --> 00:27:59.019
 the second

00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.319
 part of

00:27:59.319 --> 00:27:59.460
 verse

00:27:59.460 --> 00:27:59.879
 22,

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.539
 faith

00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:00.819
 was

00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.139
 brought

00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:01.419
 to

00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:02.179
 maturity

00:28:02.179 --> 00:28:04.059
 through

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.639
 works.

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.119
 God

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.259
 was

00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:07.659
 working.

00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:08.139
 It's

00:28:08.139 --> 00:28:09.139
 interesting, that's in the passive voice.

00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:12.339
 God was working.

00:28:12.899 --> 00:28:18.379
 God was working to bring Abraham's faith to a certain point of maturity.

00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:22.680
 And he did this through his works.

00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:26.360
 This is Philippians 1.6.

00:28:28.040 --> 00:28:33.520
 God, who has begun a good work in you, he will bring it to completion.

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.540
 That's so encouraging.

00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:42.200
 That we're not only saved by grace, but we're sanctified by grace.

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:50.259
 Your sanctification is not ultimately dependent upon your own effort, your own creativity, your own ingenuity.

00:28:50.259 --> 00:29:03.359
 The God who saved you, who brought life into your spiritual death, is continuing to make you alive to good works which exalt and magnify Jesus Christ.

00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:14.000
 In verse 23, we see that faith was demonstrated as genuine through works.

00:29:15.439 --> 00:29:18.459
 Abraham's faith was counted or credited to him as righteousness.

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.799
 Nothing he did made him righteous.

00:29:21.899 --> 00:29:28.039
 That came through faith alone in Jesus Christ, but the reality of his faith was evidenced through his works.

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:40.599
 Yes, Abraham believed God's promise of a son, but it wasn't until he was willing to offer that son on an altar that the genuineness of his faith was demonstrated.

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:43.940
 You see this often when someone is suffering.

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:48.480
 There's a Christian and they give every evidence of joy.

00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:51.240
 And then you find out that they're ill.

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:55.339
 That there's some illness that will probably lead to death.

00:29:55.339 --> 00:30:03.819
 And you see in their suffering a level of joy you could have never imagined.

00:30:05.199 --> 00:30:13.980
 That suffering is proving the genuineness of their faith.

00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:17.559
 Now look at verse 24.

00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:31.039
 You see that a person is considered righteous or justified by what they do, their works, and not by faith alone.

00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:35.539
 This statement answers the question posed in verse 14.

00:30:35.919 --> 00:30:39.200
 Can faith without good works save a person?

00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:41.339
 No, the answer is no.

00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:51.179
 Not because works produce righteousness, but because saving faith will always produce righteous works.

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:59.759
 Abraham shows us true faith in the life of a patriarch, but the second example is quite different.

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.220
 Isn't it?

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.799
 Verse 25.

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:07.599
 True faith, not in the life of a patriarch, but in the life of a prostitute.

00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:10.779
 Look at verse 25 again.

00:31:10.919 --> 00:31:18.299
 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies

00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:21.199
 and sent them off in a different direction?

00:31:22.719 --> 00:31:26.699
 The example of Rahab continues the same point as the example of Abraham.

00:31:28.179 --> 00:31:33.559
 But it would be difficult, wouldn't it, to put together two people with more striking differences.

00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:36.480
 Abraham was a patriarch.

00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:38.240
 Rahab was a prostitute.

00:31:38.679 --> 00:31:39.740
 Abraham was moral.

00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:41.039
 Rahab was immoral.

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:43.019
 Abraham was a man.

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.919
 Rahab was a woman.

00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:45.700
 Abraham was a Jew.

00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:47.000
 Rahab was a Gentile.

00:31:47.899 --> 00:31:49.099
 Abraham was respected.

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:51.019
 Rahab was rejected.

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:56.500
 I love John Calvin's comment on James' use of these two examples.

00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:57.240
 Listen to what he says.

00:31:57.240 --> 00:32:03.740
 He designedly put together two persons so different in their character

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:07.980
 in order more clearly to show that no one,

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:12.519
 no one, whatever may have been his or her condition,

00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:15.400
 nation or class in society,

00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:20.720
 no one has ever been counted righteous without good works.

00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:29.799
 It could be easy for us to dismiss Abraham's example as impossible for us.

00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:32.360
 If you're like me, I tend to think this way.

00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:34.339
 I think I could never be like Abraham.

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:36.039
 He was a friend of God.

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:40.860
 This passage could therefore lead us to discouragement.

00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:41.759
 We might worry.

00:32:42.660 --> 00:32:45.799
 I haven't done any works of faith in the category of Abraham.

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:50.380
 So is there any hope for me?

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:55.039
 Oh, friends, in Rahab,

00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:57.680
 we are encouraged, aren't we?

00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:01.440
 She was a wretched sinner.

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:04.339
 I can identify with that.

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:08.120
 She has real problems.

00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:11.839
 She wasn't a model of perfection.

00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:15.160
 But according to God's Word,

00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:17.360
 she was a model of faith.

00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:21.500
 Well, how do we know this?

00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.479
 How do we know this?

00:33:24.859 --> 00:33:26.279
 Is it because she told us?

00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:30.299
 Is it because of the great theological work she wrote?

00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:35.919
 Is it due to the clarity of her doctrinal confession?

00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:38.200
 No.

00:33:39.319 --> 00:33:42.819
 No, it's because Scripture bears testimony to her life.

00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:47.919
 Her actions demonstrated real, authentic, genuine, living faith.

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:49.140
 Her works.

00:33:49.140 --> 00:33:49.240
 Her works.

00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:57.080
 Her works declared louder than her words ever could that she believed God.

00:33:57.079 --> 00:34:03.359
 When she protected the spies from their pursuers,

00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:05.980
 her faith was revealed as genuine.

00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:12.119
 I'm so encouraged that this is the way God works.

00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:16.760
 There are those who I'll hear them share the gospel with someone.

00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:22.619
 In fact, we were with our brother Shane in passage the other night

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:26.519
 and listened to him declare the gospel in a Bible study

00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:29.179
 and I thought, this brother is so gifted.

00:34:29.359 --> 00:34:31.799
 He's so clear in sharing the gospel.

00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:33.759
 I wish I had that gifting.

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.819
 I wish I had that ability.

00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:38.059
 And yet, I know from texts like this

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:42.539
 that God in His infinite and sovereign wisdom works in different ways.

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:45.259
 You may not have an eloquent testimony

00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:49.339
 where you can share words beautifully with people,

00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:53.059
 but it may be your life and the depth of your faith

00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:57.880
 and your actions of love and kindness and grace to others

00:34:57.880 --> 00:35:01.760
 that will announce to them the glory of the gospel

00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:04.420
 and the transforming grace of Jesus Christ

00:35:04.420 --> 00:35:10.220
 in ways that you would fail to do in the way you want to with your words.

00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:18.920
 God works in both ways and we see this reality in our text.

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:21.340
 God works in both ways and we see this reality in our text.

00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:26.019
 Verse 26 summarizes and illustrates the truth

00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:31.120
 behind the examples of both Abraham and Raham.

00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:35.320
 As the body without the spirit is dead,

00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:40.300
 so faith without deeds is dead.

00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:47.220
 A faith that doesn't work is no better than a corpse.

00:35:47.219 --> 00:35:52.539
 Faith and works, like a body and spirit,

00:35:53.359 --> 00:35:55.839
 are inseparably connected.

00:35:58.079 --> 00:36:00.559
 So in closing, friends, let me offer you two reminders.

00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:04.799
 And I hope and pray that God's Spirit will work through His Word

00:36:04.799 --> 00:36:06.259
 to open your eyes.

00:36:07.759 --> 00:36:10.000
 If you're being deceived this morning

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:11.899
 about the genuineness of your faith,

00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:13.660
 I pray you'll see that

00:36:13.660 --> 00:36:17.480
 and turn in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ.

00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:20.320
 So the first reminder, just quickly,

00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:25.320
 salvation is by faith alone.

00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:28.059
 Salvation is by faith alone.

00:36:28.160 --> 00:36:31.639
 Your works in no way contribute to your standing before God.

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:34.340
 The only way you can be saved

00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:37.639
 is by faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:41.519
 It's His completed work that is important.

00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:45.519
 So have you ever renounced

00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:50.539
 both your good deeds and your bad deeds

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:52.539
 and called out to Jesus for mercy?

00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:53.400
 Oh friend,

00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:55.500
 turn from your sin

00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:57.980
 and receive Jesus Christ by faith this morning

00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:59.239
 and then rest.

00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:01.839
 You can stop running.

00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:06.359
 The effort to be good enough

00:37:06.359 --> 00:37:09.939
 in hopes that someday God will accept you,

00:37:10.379 --> 00:37:11.219
 you can stop.

00:37:11.359 --> 00:37:13.839
 Jesus has run that race perfectly.

00:37:14.059 --> 00:37:15.959
 He has crossed the finish line

00:37:15.959 --> 00:37:18.699
 and now He will give you everything you need by faith.

00:37:21.279 --> 00:37:24.599
 Remember, salvation is by faith alone.

00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:27.880
 And then the second reminder,

00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:34.739
 salvation is by a faith that is never alone.

00:37:36.759 --> 00:37:38.360
 Salvation is by faith alone,

00:37:38.860 --> 00:37:42.420
 but salvation is by a faith that is never alone.

00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:47.900
 True, saving faith always works.

00:37:48.779 --> 00:37:51.400
 Genuine faith is demonstrated.

00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:56.300
 Faith in Jesus Christ always results in a changed life.

00:37:58.780 --> 00:38:01.880
 No works of righteousness can ever bring God's favor,

00:38:02.260 --> 00:38:04.599
 but if God's favor has been given to you

00:38:04.599 --> 00:38:05.920
 through faith in Jesus Christ,

00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:09.460
 it will be revealed in your life.

00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:12.059
 It was Jesus who said,

00:38:12.180 --> 00:38:13.680
 by their fruits you will know them.

00:38:14.139 --> 00:38:15.460
 The reality of your faith

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:17.380
 will be revealed in your actions.

00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:19.019
 So let me just ask you,

00:38:19.019 --> 00:38:24.119
 is your faith seen in your actions?

00:38:27.219 --> 00:38:30.179
 Like just think through the last several days.

00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:35.119
 What you believe is seen in how you behave.

00:38:36.340 --> 00:38:39.440
 What is your life revealing about your faith?

00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:44.920
 How is your faith in Jesus displayed in your marriage?

00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:46.820
 In your parenting?

00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:49.880
 In your place of work?

00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.880
 With your neighbors?

00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:59.539
 Friends, let this text serve as both a warning

00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:02.099
 and an encouragement.

00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:06.159
 Be warned that faith without works is dead.

00:39:09.159 --> 00:39:10.699
 But be encouraged.

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:15.739
 If you see evidence of a living faith in your life,

00:39:16.219 --> 00:39:18.400
 it means that you belong to God.

00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:21.699
 He has made you new by the Holy Spirit

00:39:21.699 --> 00:39:25.099
 and brought you into union with Jesus Christ

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:29.319
 and He will now use you in a thousand different ways

00:39:29.319 --> 00:39:32.619
 every single day to glorify His name

00:39:32.619 --> 00:39:35.579
 and point people to the life transforming power

00:39:35.579 --> 00:39:38.699
 of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:39:41.199 --> 00:39:46.239
 This is a divine miracle from beginning to end.

00:39:46.239 --> 00:39:50.399
 Only God can bring a sinner to genuine faith in Christ

00:39:50.399 --> 00:39:54.079
 and only God can produce righteous deeds

00:39:54.079 --> 00:39:55.719
 in those who are redeemed.

00:39:57.639 --> 00:39:59.959
 Both the initiation of faith

00:39:59.959 --> 00:40:02.719
 and the life of faith

00:40:02.719 --> 00:40:06.899
 is the work of Almighty God.

00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:10.979
 So friends, marvel.

00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:15.479
 Marvel at the good hand of God

00:40:15.480 --> 00:40:17.679
 as He works in your life

00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:21.000
 and the lives of your brothers and sisters.

00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:26.519
 Recognize God's hand.

00:40:28.119 --> 00:40:30.440
 I would have to imagine it would be encouraging

00:40:30.440 --> 00:40:35.019
 if you were to go to a fellow member in this church

00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:36.460
 and to point out to them

00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:39.420
 an evidence of God's grace in their life.

00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:42.780
 Not as a way of puffing them up

00:40:42.780 --> 00:40:47.260
 or tempting them to become proud or arrogant,

00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:49.280
 but to draw attention

00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:52.440
 to the ongoing work of grace

00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:54.740
 that is happening in the life

00:40:54.740 --> 00:40:57.900
 of every single Christian.

00:40:57.900 --> 00:41:03.780
 let this text also motivate you.

00:41:05.300 --> 00:41:07.099
 Let it motivate you to pray.

00:41:07.099 --> 00:41:10.460
 Pray that God will rescue

00:41:10.460 --> 00:41:12.900
 your lost friends and family members

00:41:12.900 --> 00:41:17.300
 so they too can experience the joy

00:41:17.300 --> 00:41:19.920
 of genuine faith

00:41:19.920 --> 00:41:22.539
 and eternal rest

00:41:22.539 --> 00:41:25.740
 in Jesus Christ alone.

00:41:27.079 --> 00:41:28.500
 Will you pray with me?

00:41:33.960 --> 00:41:36.559
 Father, we thank You for Your Word.

00:41:36.559 --> 00:41:39.440
 It seems inadequate

00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:41.900
 to simply thank You

00:41:41.900 --> 00:41:42.940
 and yet

00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:45.119
 in our frailty

00:41:45.119 --> 00:41:47.940
 sometimes we

00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:51.400
 we're left with words

00:41:51.400 --> 00:41:53.739
 that seem inadequate.

00:41:56.440 --> 00:41:58.619
 We know that Your Word is powerful.

00:41:58.619 --> 00:42:03.940
 We know that when Your Spirit

00:42:03.940 --> 00:42:06.859
 accompanies Your Word

00:42:06.859 --> 00:42:09.359
 miracles happen

00:42:09.359 --> 00:42:12.159
 particularly the miracle of regeneration.

00:42:15.739 --> 00:42:17.159
 So we ask You

00:42:17.159 --> 00:42:18.579
 even in this moment, Father

00:42:18.579 --> 00:42:22.239
 if there is someone here

00:42:22.239 --> 00:42:24.119
 who is not yet

00:42:24.119 --> 00:42:28.839
 who is not yet

00:42:28.839 --> 00:42:30.420
 tasted of the grace

00:42:30.420 --> 00:42:33.400
 of the Lord Jesus Christ

00:42:33.400 --> 00:42:35.339
 through repentance and faith

00:42:35.339 --> 00:42:36.719
 Holy Spirit

00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:40.880
 grant that to them even now

00:42:40.880 --> 00:42:47.739
 for the person who may be deceiving themselves

00:42:47.739 --> 00:42:49.639
 Holy Spirit

00:42:49.639 --> 00:42:50.859
 give them eyes to see

00:42:50.859 --> 00:42:52.480
 ears to hear

00:42:52.480 --> 00:42:54.519
 and a heart to receive

00:42:54.519 --> 00:42:55.519
 the hard truth

00:42:55.519 --> 00:42:59.059
 that their faith

00:42:59.059 --> 00:42:59.860
 is not genuine

00:42:59.860 --> 00:43:02.099
 but then immediately

00:43:02.099 --> 00:43:03.980
 lead them to the hope

00:43:03.980 --> 00:43:06.119
 that is found in Jesus.

00:43:07.940 --> 00:43:09.659
 And I pray that my brothers and sisters

00:43:09.659 --> 00:43:10.699
 here would be encouraged

00:43:10.699 --> 00:43:13.400
 as they see

00:43:13.400 --> 00:43:14.699
 evidence

00:43:14.699 --> 00:43:16.780
 of the ongoing work

00:43:16.780 --> 00:43:17.420
 of the Spirit

00:43:17.420 --> 00:43:19.619
 in their life

00:43:19.619 --> 00:43:20.940
 that they wouldn't be discouraged

00:43:20.940 --> 00:43:25.079
 but that they would be encouraged

00:43:25.079 --> 00:43:27.920
 to see that as evidence

00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:30.159
 of genuine faith

00:43:30.159 --> 00:43:31.720
 the ongoing work

00:43:31.720 --> 00:43:32.619
 of the Holy Spirit

00:43:32.619 --> 00:43:35.500
 the continual work of grace

00:43:35.500 --> 00:43:36.960
 that You are doing

00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:37.980
 O triune God

00:43:37.980 --> 00:43:39.900
 in sanctifying us

00:43:39.900 --> 00:43:42.179
 by Your Word and Spirit

00:43:42.179 --> 00:43:46.119
 So Father

00:43:46.119 --> 00:43:46.980
 we do indeed

00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:47.639
 thank You

00:43:47.639 --> 00:43:48.779
 for Your Word

00:43:48.779 --> 00:43:50.980
 and we pray now

00:43:50.980 --> 00:43:51.719
 that Your Spirit

00:43:51.719 --> 00:43:52.219
 would work

00:43:52.219 --> 00:43:52.759
 in ways

00:43:52.759 --> 00:43:53.940
 that only

00:43:53.940 --> 00:43:55.159
 the Spirit can work

00:43:55.159 --> 00:43:56.399
 to bring conviction

00:43:56.399 --> 00:43:57.399
 to bring comfort

00:43:57.399 --> 00:43:59.179
 to bring instruction

00:43:59.179 --> 00:44:00.119
 to bring clarity

00:44:00.119 --> 00:44:03.859
 we pray this all

00:44:03.859 --> 00:44:04.759
 in Jesus' name

00:44:04.759 --> 00:44:05.899
 Amen

00:44:05.900 --> 00:44:06.900
 Amen

00:44:06.900 --> 00:44:19.700
 Thank you Jason

00:44:19.700 --> 00:44:21.420
 We're going to sing now

00:44:21.420 --> 00:44:22.320
 when I survey

00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:23.619
 the wondrous cross

00:44:24.319 --> 00:44:50.279
 that

00:44:50.679 --> 00:44:52.239
 fans