WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.000 We're going through James. We're in James chapter 2. I'm going to handle verse 14 through the end of the chapter. It's verse 26. 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:15.100 It's picking up where Sam left off. It was Sam, right? You preached last? 00:00:15.440 --> 00:00:15.560 Me? 00:00:15.859 --> 00:00:22.179 Yeah. And I think the context is important because he was talking about partiality. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:30.719 And so James is going to segue into a different topic, but he didn't totally leave the context, which we'll see why in a minute here. 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:34.700 I'm going to go ahead and read the passage, and then they'll have some commentary. 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:38.820 Okay. James chapter 2, verse 14. 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:45.340 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:47.740 Can that faith save him? 00:00:48.380 --> 00:00:53.980 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:56.719 Go in peace. Be warm and filled. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:01.740 Without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 00:01:01.740 --> 00:01:09.320 So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 00:01:10.540 --> 00:01:13.260 But someone will say, you have faith and I have works. 00:01:13.939 --> 00:01:18.780 Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 00:01:19.659 --> 00:01:21.219 You believe that God is one. 00:01:21.659 --> 00:01:22.439 You do well. 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:25.659 Even the demons believe and shudder. 00:01:25.659 --> 00:01:31.679 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:37.700 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:45.620 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works. 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:53.380 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:56.260 And he was called a friend of God. 00:01:57.600 --> 00:02:01.580 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 00:02:02.340 --> 00:02:10.960 And in the same way, was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:20.819 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:25.300 Okay, so this is a challenging passage. 00:02:25.860 --> 00:02:27.520 The message seems pretty straightforward. 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:32.280 It's challenging because if you take it at first glance, it seems to contradict other things the Bible says. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:35.120 I'm sure you might be thinking about some of those things. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:41.420 So I'm going to make a few points here before we dig into a deeper dive on these passages. 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:47.920 Number one is James is addressing a specific error. 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:54.200 All right, so the Bible in totality is balanced. 00:02:55.900 --> 00:03:02.219 When authors are writing to specific churches or combating specific errors, 00:03:02.219 --> 00:03:06.900 they might be unbalanced in how they present the thing. 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:08.020 And that's good. 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:08.819 Okay? 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:14.180 If you took just this passage and you derived the doctrine of justification by faith from it, 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:17.219 you might get into some difficult territory. 00:03:18.579 --> 00:03:25.759 But James isn't trying to give a comprehensive treatment of the doctrine of justification by faith. 00:03:26.259 --> 00:03:27.560 He's battling something. 00:03:27.979 --> 00:03:29.139 He's attacking an error. 00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:34.779 He's attacking something that's a deception, a twisting of the doctrine of justification by faith. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:39.059 And the specific error is antinomianism. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:40.039 Antinomianism. 00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:41.219 I can't say it. 00:03:41.979 --> 00:03:45.679 Antinomianism is anti-law or cheap grace. 00:03:46.139 --> 00:03:46.959 Easy believism. 00:03:47.519 --> 00:03:52.939 Using the grace of God, the free grace of God, as a license for sin. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:56.000 That's what he's attacking right here. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:58.519 This is what he's teaching against this. 00:03:59.139 --> 00:04:04.599 Antinomianism basically says, I can be saved without obeying God's commands. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:05.739 Okay? 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:07.139 That's the basic message. 00:04:07.299 --> 00:04:11.579 I can be saved and I don't have to obey God's commands. 00:04:12.539 --> 00:04:13.819 It's a license to sin. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:15.159 That's what antinomianism is. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:17.560 It's different than the error of legalism. 00:04:17.719 --> 00:04:21.060 Legalism says, I'm saved by obeying God's commands. 00:04:22.019 --> 00:04:22.220 Okay? 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:24.620 That's human effort. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:25.740 Both of these things are wrong. 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:29.319 So, other parts of the Bible deal with legalism. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:33.139 James is dealing with antinomianism. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:34.600 He's attacking an error. 00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:36.680 So, that's important to keep in mind as we read this. 00:04:37.420 --> 00:04:44.360 Second, and related to this, is this passage does not contradict salvation by faith alone. 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:46.259 It seems that way. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:49.220 You know, maybe at a first go, it seems that way. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:49.900 But it doesn't. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:51.800 God's word does not contradict itself. 00:04:52.400 --> 00:04:53.580 God doesn't contradict himself. 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:55.379 But he does clarify himself. 00:04:55.939 --> 00:04:56.060 Okay? 00:04:56.860 --> 00:05:05.379 James is bringing clarity to something that, without what James has to offer here, we might not be quite as clear on. 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:05.699 Okay? 00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:06.319 Okay? 00:05:08.420 --> 00:05:13.639 So, I'm going to read a couple passages that are important to keep in mind as a backdrop. 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:16.300 Romans 3.28 says, 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:20.920 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:23.100 No, that didn't start. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:28.240 In Ephesians 2, verses 8 through 9 says, 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:31.000 For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:33.100 And this is not your own doing. 00:05:33.719 --> 00:05:35.159 It is the gift of God. 00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:39.500 Not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:40.620 Alright. 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:41.439 These are true. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:44.060 James isn't saying these aren't true. 00:05:44.180 --> 00:05:44.680 So, these are true. 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:49.560 We've got to go into reading this knowing and being convinced that these are true. 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:52.759 We are justified by faith alone. 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:54.120 Alright? 00:05:54.420 --> 00:05:55.259 It's a wonderful truth. 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:57.839 This is what started the Protestant Reformation. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:02.339 So, he's not... 00:06:02.339 --> 00:06:04.819 James isn't denying salvation by faith, I guess is my point. 00:06:04.819 --> 00:06:07.219 He's refining what true faith really is. 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:08.019 Okay? 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:13.000 He's bringing more clarity to what saving faith looks like. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:19.839 So, anyway, another point to keep in mind is, I think there's two basic ways of thinking about this passage. 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:24.879 One is, salvation is by faith plus works. 00:06:25.699 --> 00:06:25.920 Alright? 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:28.759 You can think about salvation as like a table, and there's two legs on it. 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:30.279 You've got a leg over here, that's faith. 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:32.459 And you've got another leg that works, and you prop it up. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.100 You just kind of add these two things together, and boom, you get salvation. 00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:37.120 That's basically Rome's position. 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:38.020 Right? 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:44.200 And, but the second way of thinking about it, this is the way that I believe, I think this is what the Bible teaches, 00:06:44.520 --> 00:06:48.400 is that salvation is by faith that works. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:49.480 Yeah. 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:50.620 Okay? 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:50.680 Okay? 00:06:51.080 --> 00:06:52.580 This is the Protestant position. 00:06:53.280 --> 00:06:54.640 This is what started the Protestant Reformation. 00:06:56.259 --> 00:07:02.819 Rome uses these passages to undermine the simplicity of the gospel. 00:07:03.080 --> 00:07:03.840 We don't want to do that. 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:07.980 But you don't want to go so far as to start giving a license for sin, 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:12.220 which is Rome's criticism of a lot of Protestant churches. 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:12.900 You know what? 00:07:12.960 --> 00:07:13.360 They're right. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:13.800 Okay? 00:07:14.400 --> 00:07:14.680 Okay? 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:21.160 So, the truth is, real faith reduces works. 00:07:21.520 --> 00:07:23.400 So, that's what James is talking about here. 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:28.000 And I think the last point I want to mention before we dig into this, 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:33.139 I think the key passage is the last verse, James 2.26. 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:34.139 James 2.26. 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:44.360 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. 00:07:44.939 --> 00:07:48.219 James is defining a kind of faith that doesn't save. 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:50.879 It's a definition. 00:07:51.779 --> 00:07:54.300 He's talking about a version of faith. 00:07:55.039 --> 00:07:57.240 And he's trying to put language to it. 00:07:57.259 --> 00:07:58.279 He does put language to it. 00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:01.139 It's a faith that doesn't produce works. 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:04.000 And he calls that dead faith. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:05.399 Okay? 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:07.779 So, James isn't trying to undermine faith. 00:08:08.579 --> 00:08:11.620 And it's salvific, simple, saving power. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:12.259 Okay? 00:08:12.919 --> 00:08:17.060 He's trying to attack something that says it's faith and sends you to hell. 00:08:17.560 --> 00:08:21.479 And it's a faith that doesn't have works. 00:08:21.919 --> 00:08:24.599 So, it's important to keep that in mind. 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:26.219 Saving faith is alive. 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:29.459 Saving faith receives a living Christ. 00:08:29.459 --> 00:08:29.579 Christ. 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:35.019 And Jesus Christ himself, when he comes into someone's life, he makes everything new. 00:08:35.319 --> 00:08:38.019 And he produces fruit in keeping with his character. 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:39.019 He's the same. 00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:40.539 We'll talk about that more later on. 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:42.759 But that's what James is trying to do. 00:08:42.819 --> 00:08:47.480 He's trying to separate and differentiate these two things that call themselves faith. 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:50.460 And they're both in the church. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:52.560 Unfortunately, they're both in the church. 00:08:52.800 --> 00:08:53.920 They might be in our midst today. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:54.680 Okay? 00:08:55.000 --> 00:09:00.779 So, it's important to hear this and ask yourself the question, do I have the real thing? 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:04.399 Because that's what he wants to do for his hearers. 00:09:05.180 --> 00:09:06.480 So, we're going to dig into this. 00:09:06.899 --> 00:09:09.639 James, chapter 2, starting in verse 14. 00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:11.100 I'm going to go verse by verse here. 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:16.460 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:18.240 Can that faith save him? 00:09:19.019 --> 00:09:23.879 James speaks here of a person who says, I believe in Jesus but doesn't obey his commands. 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:26.639 And he asks the question, can such faith save him? 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:27.519 It's rhetorical. 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:28.240 No. 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:30.200 The implication is no. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:31.320 That's why he's asking. 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:33.400 Verse 15. 00:09:33.520 --> 00:09:44.180 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:47.260 So, he gives us an example. 00:09:48.040 --> 00:09:51.340 If you see your brother or sister, they're lacking in something essential. 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:54.920 We don't want to get weird about this. 00:09:54.919 --> 00:10:04.199 There's a way of taking this and basically taking it to a logical conclusion of communism. 00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:06.259 Everyone just has to have the same thing. 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:12.839 And if you have two shirts and I have four shirts and I need to give you one of my shirts, we both have three shirts. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:13.919 That's not what he's talking about here. 00:10:15.299 --> 00:10:16.939 He's talking about real need. 00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:18.459 Real need. 00:10:19.199 --> 00:10:20.599 Jesus talks about real needs. 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:21.779 He defines what real needs are. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:26.720 Food, clothing, shelter, with these things be content. 00:10:27.300 --> 00:10:32.560 And he's saying, you're seeing people that are lacking things that God has said are needs, real needs. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:34.759 And I think you can apply this spiritually too. 00:10:34.820 --> 00:10:35.920 And you're saying, not my problem. 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:37.159 All right. 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.440 Maybe I'll pray for you. 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:41.680 You know, I'll pray for you. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:45.680 But you're obviously the answer to prayer. 00:10:45.680 --> 00:10:49.560 Like, you are the person God put in their life to take care of that. 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:51.419 And you say, not my problem. 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:56.939 And he says, what good is that? 00:10:58.239 --> 00:10:59.500 Continue in verse 17. 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:03.179 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:06.079 What kind of faith do you have? 00:11:07.179 --> 00:11:10.500 That's the way you relate to the people God has put in your life. 00:11:11.239 --> 00:11:12.619 You're like, I believe in God. 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:17.700 And then you divest yourself of responsibility when God sends people your way. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:20.340 Especially people, it says brother, sister, people in the church. 00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:21.720 Not my problem. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.039 No. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:32.419 You're in a scary position, is what he's trying to say. 00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:34.199 That's the way you relate to people. 00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:36.579 You need a reality check. 00:11:38.719 --> 00:11:40.919 But someone will say, let's go moving on. 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:41.439 Verse 18. 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:43.259 Someone will say, you have faith and I have works. 00:11:43.719 --> 00:11:47.860 Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you my faith by my works. 00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:50.240 So James anticipates responses. 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:50.899 Last point. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:53.899 You know, you have faith, I have works. 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:59.080 Or another way of maybe saying this is, are you saying we should trust in our works now? 00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:02.120 Are you undermining everything that we received here? 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:03.680 You know, salvation by faith alone. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:05.139 And now you're telling me I got to do works. 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:06.580 Is this like the other thing now? 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:07.860 Now I got to do works to get saved? 00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:08.940 You know, like, what's the deal? 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.200 He's like, no, no. 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:16.780 Well, I will show you my faith by my works. 00:12:16.920 --> 00:12:21.420 I'm going to reveal the reality of my saving faith by my works. 00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:24.420 You say you have faith, but you have no attendant fruit. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:28.960 You're not showing me that you believe just by saying, I believe. 00:12:29.560 --> 00:12:29.879 Okay. 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:32.660 That's not how you show you're a Christian. 00:12:32.900 --> 00:12:35.300 It's by going to church and say, yes, I believe in Jesus. 00:12:36.300 --> 00:12:37.400 I give to the church. 00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:39.060 I show up at, you know, church on Sundays. 00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:40.140 You know, I've always been a Christian. 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:43.960 And that's not how we show saving faith. 00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:46.460 We show saving faith by our works. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:48.639 That's the point that he's trying to make here. 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:51.000 He's not saying you're saved by works. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:51.860 Okay. 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:54.639 He's not turning the gospel on its head and saying, no, no, no. 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:55.819 Now you're saved by works. 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:57.960 So anyway, he's anticipating that response. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.659 And that's his challenge is, no, no, no. 00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:03.159 I'm saying it communicates via works. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:10.120 Galatians 5, 6 says, for in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision, circumcision. 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:11.240 I can't say that. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:14.519 Nor uncircumcision counts for anything. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:19.240 But only faith working through love. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:22.019 Faith, real faith, works through love. 00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:25.399 It's in living connection with Jesus. 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:31.299 The Holy Spirit sheds abroad his love in our hearts and he produces good works in keeping with the character of Christ. 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:32.199 That's just what faith does. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:33.220 Okay. 00:13:34.199 --> 00:13:38.379 It's not propositional only. 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:46.919 You know, there's a, I think there's a way of thinking through faith that a lot of the reformers landed on like a formulation. 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:47.679 It's knowledge. 00:13:47.939 --> 00:13:48.980 It's knowing a truth. 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:50.439 Assent. 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:52.159 I agree with that truth. 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:53.299 I'm assenting to that truth. 00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:54.539 That truth is true. 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:56.860 And trust. 00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:58.360 Okay. 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:00.700 You trust in the Lord. 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:01.800 It's a heart thing. 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:03.840 I'm trusting in him. 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:05.220 I'm not leaning on myself anymore. 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:06.080 I'm leaning on him. 00:14:08.300 --> 00:14:13.019 And so I think that's, that's what he's starting to attack here is holding the first two. 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:21.299 I know the gospel and I agree that it's true, but I haven't put my trust in the person of Jesus. 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:22.120 Okay. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:24.059 Verse 19, continuing. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.519 You believe that God is one. 00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:25.960 Here we go. 00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:26.860 Propositional truth. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:27.980 We believe God is one. 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:29.399 You do well. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:33.120 Even the demons believe and shudder. 00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:34.500 Okay. 00:14:35.439 --> 00:14:37.120 Demons have the first two. 00:14:37.819 --> 00:14:38.840 They know the truth. 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:41.340 They assent to the truth. 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:44.920 But they don't trust him who is the truth. 00:14:45.180 --> 00:14:46.000 They shudder. 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:46.660 They're terrified. 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.440 They're going to hell. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:51.259 This, this is why this point hits home. 00:14:51.540 --> 00:14:52.899 We all know where demons are going. 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:53.580 They're going to hell. 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:54.780 Okay. 00:14:55.560 --> 00:15:05.600 It's pertinent because if I only know the truth and assent to the truth, I have the same faith that demons have. 00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:08.820 And I share their destiny. 00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:13.560 Matthew 25, verse 41 through 46. 00:15:13.760 --> 00:15:16.620 I'm just going to read this because I think it's pertinent. 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:20.080 Jesus is speaking of the day of judgment. 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:29.660 Then he will say to those on his left, depart from me, you cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.940 Remember, hell is prepared for the devil and his angels. 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:32.620 Okay. 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:34.120 For I was hungry. 00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:35.220 You gave me no food. 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.660 I was thirsty. 00:15:36.780 --> 00:15:37.740 You gave me no drink. 00:15:38.020 --> 00:15:38.879 I was a stranger. 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:40.520 You did not welcome me naked. 00:15:40.660 --> 00:15:42.540 You did not clothe me sick and in prison. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.500 You did not visit me. 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:52.139 Then they also will answer saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you? 00:15:52.500 --> 00:16:00.600 Then he will answer them saying, truly, I say to you, as you did not do it under the least of these, you did not do it unto me. 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:06.379 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:14.759 The reality of their faith was put on display by their actions or really lack thereof. 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:17.460 Look at every one of those as a relational interaction. 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.080 Every single one of those. 00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:20.800 You saw a need. 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:23.580 Not my problem. 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:25.019 Okay. 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.860 That's kind of faith demons have. 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.440 It's not going to save them on the day of judgment. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.640 Moving on. 00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.220 Verse 20. 00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:36.440 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:37.800 He says, you want proof? 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:40.700 Then he goes on to offer two examples from the Old Testament. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.200 Verse 21. 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.780 First example, Abraham. 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:49.160 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 00:16:50.140 --> 00:16:56.620 You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by his works. 00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:59.580 So, the word completed. 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:02.919 I'm not even going to try to pronounce this Greek word here. 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:09.220 You can, synonyms are perfected, brought to maturity, fulfilled. 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:15.700 So, we, I think, we can think of faith as having a beginning. 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:16.400 Okay? 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.299 And it does. 00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:17.880 It has a beginning. 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:19.920 Abraham believed God. 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:21.420 It was counted to him as righteousness. 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:22.500 Boom. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:34.220 But there's also a sense in which it has an end or like a telos, an aim, a mark of maturity, a completion. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.859 And that's what he's speaking about here. 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:41.339 That, like, the end for which it was given. 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:44.579 Ephesians 2, verses 8 through 10. 00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:46.680 This is one of the verses about justification by faith. 00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:46.960 Okay? 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:49.400 Let's continue reading the whole passage here. 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:53.039 For by grace you've been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing. 00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:54.059 It's the gift of God. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:57.000 Not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:59.960 For what purpose? 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:00.960 For what purpose? 00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:08.720 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:12.840 which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.160 All right? 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.579 So, it's in Ephesians. 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:18.799 You're saved by grace through faith. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.000 It's a free gift of God. 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:21.039 For what purpose? 00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:23.879 Good works. 00:18:24.659 --> 00:18:26.319 God prepared ahead of time for us to walk in. 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:31.139 So, this is basically exactly the same thing he's saying with Abraham. 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.319 Abraham believed God. 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.359 It was credited to him as righteousness. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:33.859 Day one. 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:34.419 Okay? 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:38.579 Day, you know, many days later, years and years later, 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:49.059 he produced works that were in keeping with that faith and authenticated that faith and show that that was the real deal. 00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:49.779 Okay? 00:18:49.919 --> 00:18:53.220 There were works that God created beforehand for Abraham to walk in. 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:58.640 And walking in those works, it didn't add to his faith. 00:18:58.640 --> 00:18:59.839 It just showed what it really was. 00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:00.579 It was the real deal. 00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:02.279 So, continuing on here. 00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:02.880 Verse 23. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:06.240 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, 00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:07.300 Abraham believed God. 00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:08.480 It was counted to him as righteousness. 00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:10.220 And he was called a friend of God. 00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:11.560 Okay? 00:19:12.300 --> 00:19:15.080 So, he's offering Isaac. 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:17.960 It was another marker of faith. 00:19:18.040 --> 00:19:18.920 It took faith to do that. 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:20.080 He was living by faith. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:23.419 So, the same faith that he had day one, 00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:28.740 God calls him out to, you know, leave his fathers behind, go out. 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.059 He didn't know where. 00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:31.480 He believed God. 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:35.480 Well, later on, he's living by the same faith, 00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:43.740 and he's doing works that are producing insight into the true saving quality of that faith. 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:47.419 Verse 24. 00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:51.820 So, you see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:52.900 Okay? 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.240 So, this is one of the tricky passages. 00:19:54.420 --> 00:20:00.039 If you just took this verse and pulled it out and made a doctrine out of verse 24, 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:03.560 you see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.180 Well, you get the position of Rome. 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:08.019 This is what the Catholic Church essentially believes. 00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:09.500 It has way more nuance than that. 00:20:09.580 --> 00:20:10.740 It's way more complicated than that. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:14.400 But if you boil it down and just make it so something like a five-year-old can understand, 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.519 it's faith plus works. 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.000 Okay? 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:18.480 Which is the true test of any doctrine. 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:20.220 You know, you boil it down to its bare essentials. 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:21.579 What fruit does it produce? 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.480 That's basically it. 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:23.940 All right? 00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:27.059 Which is why it's so important not to yank verses out of context here. 00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:33.180 So, it's really important to remember what's the goal James has in mind. 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:35.980 Differentiating living faith from dead faith. 00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:38.360 Continuing on verse 25. 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:42.820 In the same way, was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers 00:20:42.820 --> 00:20:44.799 and sent them out by another way? 00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:47.620 This is referring to when the children of Israel entering the promised land, 00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:49.080 they go to Jericho. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:56.340 There's a prostitute in Jericho who hides the spies and allows them to escape. 00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:58.039 Well, she did that by faith. 00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:59.759 And she was counted righteous for that. 00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:05.720 But again, comparing scripture with scripture here, 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:10.299 we see that her works are showing the existence of her justifying faith. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.319 Same as Abraham. 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:13.159 Abraham offers up Isaac. 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:18.920 It shows his faith is working together with his works to show something. 00:21:19.300 --> 00:21:22.160 The same thing with Rahab here. 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:26.240 For as the body, verse 26, continuing on here, 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:28.400 for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:32.440 so also faith apart from works is dead. 00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:35.240 This wraps up James' whole argument here. 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:38.060 His summary point is, 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:40.679 dead faith is a thing. 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:44.399 And it equals faith without works. 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:49.559 Propositional faith without attendant fruit. 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:50.679 Okay? 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:54.339 And he uses the analogy of a body. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:56.440 So, what do you call a body without a spirit? 00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.980 A dead body. 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.879 It's got all the form there. 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:02.839 It's dead. 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:04.299 It's not alive. 00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:05.200 It's a dead body. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:06.419 It's a body without a spirit. 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:08.620 In the same way, he says, 00:22:09.300 --> 00:22:11.120 what do you call faith without works? 00:22:12.340 --> 00:22:13.240 Dead faith. 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.759 It's dead. 00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:16.680 It has no life in it. 00:22:17.580 --> 00:22:18.580 It's a dead thing. 00:22:19.860 --> 00:22:20.460 Doctrine's right. 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.240 Propositions are right. 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:25.860 No reality. 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.580 No reality. 00:22:28.600 --> 00:22:30.440 Like a body without a spirit is dead. 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:33.900 Faith without works is dead. 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:34.720 Okay. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:34.759 Okay. 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:38.259 So, that's all my passages here. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.880 I want to say a few things. 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:42.500 James talks a lot about what dead faith is. 00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:45.280 And I wanted to say a few things about, 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:48.680 positively, about what living faith is. 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.880 First of all, 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:53.700 living faith receives a living Christ. 00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:56.519 John 1, 12 through 13 says, 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.940 speaking of Jesus, 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.480 it says, 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:02.039 but to all who did receive him, 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:04.359 who believed in his name, 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:06.980 receiving Christ and believing in his name, 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.400 same thing. 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:07.740 Okay. 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:11.039 But to all who did receive him, 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:13.079 who believed in his name, 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:15.779 he gave the right to become children of God, 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:19.079 who are born not of blood or the will of the flesh 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.879 nor the will of man, 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.539 but of God. 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.359 Saving faith. 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:27.959 Saving faith receives a living Jesus. 00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:29.019 Okay. 00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:30.759 We're born again. 00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.259 You're different. 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.759 You're a different person. 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:36.740 You're not some heathen carrying around 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:39.259 some propositional truths about, 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.019 you know, 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.259 salvation by faith alone 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:43.740 and using that to hide from God 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:46.639 as a license to continue living however you want. 00:23:46.699 --> 00:23:47.139 You're different. 00:23:47.439 --> 00:23:47.679 Okay. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:50.500 1 John 5, 00:23:50.620 --> 00:23:51.560 verse 11 through 12. 00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:52.560 And this is the testimony 00:23:52.560 --> 00:23:54.259 that God gave us eternal life. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:57.560 And this life is in his son. 00:23:58.500 --> 00:24:00.539 Whoever has the son has life. 00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:03.000 Whoever does not have the son of God 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:03.860 does not have life. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:05.940 We receive Christ 00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:07.960 livingly. 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.799 He's alive. 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:10.900 Okay. 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.060 And we receive him. 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:14.160 That's what saving faith is. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.500 You have Christ. 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:17.099 You have life. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.599 You don't have Christ. 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.779 You don't have life. 00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:20.680 That's what faith is. 00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.779 Second point. 00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:24.140 Jesus acts like himself. 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.099 He's consistent. 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:27.279 He's not one person 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.440 when he was on earth 00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.839 2,000 years ago 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:31.259 and then somehow, 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.740 you know, 00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:34.619 weirdly different in you. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:35.799 Okay. 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.819 If he's weirdly different in you, 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.839 he's not in you. 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.700 He's consistent. 00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:43.160 Bible says in Hebrews 13a 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:44.420 that Jesus Christ is the same 00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:45.600 yesterday and today and forever. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.779 Ephesians 3.17 says that 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.800 Christ dwells in your heart 00:24:49.800 --> 00:24:50.600 through faith. 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:51.700 He's consistent. 00:24:52.060 --> 00:24:53.180 He just acts like himself. 00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.519 That's what good works are. 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.120 Okay. 00:24:55.580 --> 00:24:56.220 Good works 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:57.700 are works produced by 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:59.100 the Holy Spirit 00:24:59.100 --> 00:25:01.820 bringing the character of Christ 00:25:01.820 --> 00:25:02.259 to bear 00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:03.680 in our lives. 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.460 Okay. 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.539 And Jesus is the same. 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.519 He's just, 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.120 he's always, 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.000 he's always consistent. 00:25:10.600 --> 00:25:11.840 Jesus is the continuity, 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.700 I guess is my point, 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.140 between faith and works. 00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.460 We receive Christ 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.400 as a free gift 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:18.440 and when Christ lives 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.180 in our life, 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.620 he comes into our life, 00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:22.940 he produces works 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.720 in keeping 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.860 with his character. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:25.900 Okay. 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.400 So, 00:25:28.780 --> 00:25:29.800 a few exhortations 00:25:29.800 --> 00:25:30.740 just to wrap this up. 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:34.740 this is the main point 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:36.480 that he's getting across here 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.480 is that dead faith 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.299 is a real thing. 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.420 It's real. 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:41.779 Actual people 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.579 that you know, 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:44.960 maybe people in this room, 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.920 have 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.980 dead 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.799 faith 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.680 and 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:51.720 they feel okay. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.880 They feel okay 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:54.980 with, 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.980 I'm a Christian. 00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:59.300 I've always been a Christian. 00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:02.500 I believe Jesus died 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.420 on the cross for my sins. 00:26:04.040 --> 00:26:04.920 I believe that. 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:05.200 Yeah, 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:05.840 I do. 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.040 I do. 00:26:09.040 --> 00:26:10.700 No reality. 00:26:11.260 --> 00:26:12.340 No fruit. 00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:14.180 And it's real. 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:15.080 It's a real thing. 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:17.679 We need to 00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:18.819 receive this 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:20.319 and judge ourselves 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.019 by the light 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.619 of what James 00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:22.500 is saying here 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.699 so that we don't have 00:26:23.699 --> 00:26:24.960 a made up definition 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.399 of faith 00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:25.960 in our minds 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.539 and our hearts. 00:26:26.659 --> 00:26:27.740 Which is easy to do 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.199 if you don't have 00:26:28.199 --> 00:26:29.299 a passage like James here 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.859 where he dials things in 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.919 and he hones, 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:32.679 you know, 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:34.019 he sharpens the pencil 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:35.460 on what faith means. 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:37.439 So, 00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:37.779 it's real. 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.359 Titus 1.16 says, 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.799 they profess to know God 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.500 but they deny him 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.240 by their works. 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:45.559 They are detestable, 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.180 disobedient, 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.400 unfit 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.720 for any good work. 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:51.620 Consistent pattern 00:26:51.620 --> 00:26:52.799 of disobedience in life 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:54.319 shows 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.819 that you 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:57.700 may not have 00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.400 saving faith. 00:26:59.440 --> 00:26:59.720 Okay? 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.920 Do you have saving faith? 00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:05.120 Do you repent? 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.839 Do you flee 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.660 sin in your life? 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.359 Do you run 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.339 like it's going 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:11.079 to send you to hell 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.759 because if you don't 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.279 repent, you will? 00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:13.839 Is that your attitude 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.359 towards it? 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:15.980 Praise God, 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:16.559 you probably have 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.079 saving faith. 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:18.480 Do you say, 00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:19.420 I'll repent tomorrow? 00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:22.059 Okay. 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:24.140 I'm not saying 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:25.000 you're not a Christian 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.460 but you are 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.240 really getting 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.920 into the category 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.359 of people 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:29.380 he's talking about here. 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.559 Which brings me 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.299 to my second point. 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.359 Examine yourselves 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.000 to see 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.779 if you are in 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:40.299 the true living faith. 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:41.159 I'm just going 00:27:41.159 --> 00:27:41.599 to read a few 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.359 passages here. 00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:43.319 And 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:45.079 the goal 00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:45.619 of reading this 00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:46.099 is just to let 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:46.460 the Bible 00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.480 help us 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.279 examine ourselves. 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.940 First one, 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:51.519 2 Corinthians 13.5 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:53.339 Examine yourselves 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:54.440 to see whether 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.159 you're in the faith. 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:56.299 Same thing. 00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.159 Test yourselves 00:27:58.159 --> 00:27:59.639 or do you not 00:27:59.639 --> 00:28:00.299 realize this 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:00.980 about yourselves 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:02.000 that Jesus Christ 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.839 is in you 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:04.259 unless indeed 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.759 you fail 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.680 to meet the test. 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:08.299 He's saying 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:09.240 look at yourselves. 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:10.100 Test the authenticity 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:10.880 of your own faith. 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.779 Do you realize 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.160 that Jesus 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.980 is inside of you? 00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:14.440 Do you have 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:15.420 like a real 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:18.039 confident understanding 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.799 that the person 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.400 Jesus Christ 00:28:19.400 --> 00:28:20.299 lives inside of you 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:22.160 and is changing 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.160 you from the inside out? 00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:25.940 If you don't 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:26.860 have that experience 00:28:26.860 --> 00:28:28.660 you need to come 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:28.920 to the Lord 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:29.279 for that. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:29.779 Okay? 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.600 Second passage 00:28:32.600 --> 00:28:34.759 Galatians 5 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.839 19-23 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:37.140 When you follow 00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:37.740 the desires 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.779 of your sinful nature 00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.420 the results 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.259 are very clear. 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.079 Sexual immorality 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:43.299 impurity 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.779 lustful pleasures 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.879 idolatry 00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:46.660 sorcery 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.379 hostility 00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:48.420 quarreling 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.059 jealousy 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:50.079 outbursts of anger 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:51.480 selfish ambition 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.160 dissension 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:52.759 division 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.420 envy 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.240 drunkenness 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.420 wild parties 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.700 and other sins 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.339 like these. 00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.980 Let me tell you 00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:00.119 again as I have 00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:01.299 before that anyone 00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:02.519 living that sort 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:03.019 of life 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.519 will not inherit 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:04.900 the kingdom 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.339 of God. 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:07.000 Okay. 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:09.299 Long list there. 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.680 Do you live 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.859 that sort of life? 00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:15.079 If you live 00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:16.180 that sort of life 00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:18.019 you will not 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.779 inherit the kingdom 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.200 of God. 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:21.299 It's very plain. 00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:22.279 He's not asking you 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.400 do you believe 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:23.819 in Jesus? 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.619 He's asking you 00:29:25.619 --> 00:29:26.819 do you live 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.779 this sort of life? 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.539 Why? 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:31.720 Because 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:33.180 a tree is known 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.599 by its fruit. 00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.539 If you have a 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.240 saving relationship 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.759 with Jesus 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:38.879 he turns you away 00:29:38.879 --> 00:29:39.799 from living 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:41.220 this sort of life 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:42.159 now 00:29:42.159 --> 00:29:43.920 in real time. 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:46.099 He puts the terror 00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:46.500 of the Lord 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.019 in your heart 00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:47.859 so that you flee 00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:48.460 from sin 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:50.440 through the Spirit. 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.240 But the Holy Spirit 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:53.639 produces 00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:54.619 this kind of fruit 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:55.039 in our lives 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.740 continuing here. 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.680 love, 00:29:56.859 --> 00:29:57.160 joy, 00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:57.660 peace, 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.160 patience, 00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:58.620 kindness, 00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.400 goodness, 00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.079 faithfulness, 00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.640 gentleness, 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.120 and self-control. 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.319 There is no law 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:04.120 against these things. 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:05.839 The Holy Spirit 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.279 comes in 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:06.759 and he produces 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.519 a different 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.480 kind of life. 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.259 I'm not saying 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:10.859 he produces 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.819 sinless perfection 00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.180 overnight. 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:12.660 That happens 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.019 when Jesus 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.579 comes back. 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.240 In fact, 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.420 one of the very 00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.480 clear signs 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.620 that Jesus 00:30:18.620 --> 00:30:19.240 is living 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:19.880 in your heart 00:30:19.880 --> 00:30:20.839 is he brings 00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:21.740 conviction of sin 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:23.559 and he doesn't 00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:24.019 let you alone 00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.380 with it. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.120 You know, 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.299 pray this for my kids. 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.019 I pray that God 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.720 would grant them 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.620 conviction of sin 00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:29.460 and they would 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.259 come to us 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.480 without us 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:33.019 provoking it. 00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:35.259 That they would 00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:35.660 not be able 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.599 to rest with their sin. 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:37.240 Well, 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.620 that's the work 00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:38.220 of the Holy Spirit. 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.079 It's awesome. 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.519 It points us to Christ. 00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:41.420 It shows us our need. 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.279 It turns us to him. 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.779 But if you go on 00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.319 living your life 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:44.559 saying, 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:44.960 ah, 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.440 it's fine. 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.460 Blood Jesus covers it. 00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.120 I'm fine. 00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:48.680 You're going to hell. 00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:49.279 Okay? 00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.579 That's what he's saying here. 00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:53.000 And you need to get rid 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:54.379 of that vain confidence. 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.460 You're putting your trust 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.659 in dead faith. 00:30:57.159 --> 00:30:57.939 It's not real faith. 00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:00.559 Ephesians 5, 00:31:00.639 --> 00:31:01.740 verses 5 through 6. 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:03.259 For of this 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:04.480 you can be sure. 00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:06.619 No immoral, 00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.240 impure, 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.339 or greedy person, 00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:09.879 such a person 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:10.779 is an idolater, 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:12.399 has any inheritance 00:31:12.399 --> 00:31:13.079 in the kingdom 00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.559 of Christ 00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:14.139 and of God. 00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:16.379 Let no one deceive you 00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:17.299 with empty words. 00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:20.000 For because of such things, 00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:21.279 God's wrath 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.400 comes on those 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.500 who are disobedient. 00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:24.960 All right. 00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:25.779 Again, 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:27.180 don't be deceived. 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:29.900 1 Corinthians 6, 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.799 verses 9 through 11. 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:31.380 This is the last one 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:32.039 I'll read on this. 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.160 Again, 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.200 we're using these 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:35.180 to examine ourselves. 00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:36.259 Do you not know 00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.039 that wrongdoers 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.720 will not inherit 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.559 the kingdom of God? 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:40.400 Do not be deceived. 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:42.519 Neither the sexually immoral, 00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:43.460 nor idolaters, 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.440 nor adulterers, 00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:45.720 nor men who have sex 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.259 with men, 00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.240 nor thieves, 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:47.839 nor the greedy, 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.640 nor drunkards, 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.580 nor slanderers, 00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:51.040 nor swindlers 00:31:51.040 --> 00:31:51.440 nor inherit 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.340 the kingdom of God. 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.780 And that is what 00:31:53.780 --> 00:31:55.500 some of you were. 00:31:57.020 --> 00:31:57.900 Past tense, 00:31:58.280 --> 00:31:58.580 were. 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.860 But you were washed. 00:32:02.560 --> 00:32:04.280 You were sanctified. 00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:05.860 You were justified 00:32:05.860 --> 00:32:06.759 in the name 00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:08.020 of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:32:08.020 --> 00:32:09.580 and by the Spirit 00:32:09.580 --> 00:32:10.340 of our God. 00:32:12.520 --> 00:32:12.920 Okay. 00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:14.240 I know it's a 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:18.300 very common thing 00:32:18.300 --> 00:32:18.660 nowadays 00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:20.300 to take certain sins 00:32:20.300 --> 00:32:20.860 out of the Bible 00:32:20.860 --> 00:32:21.960 and identify with them. 00:32:22.600 --> 00:32:23.060 Homosexuality, 00:32:23.120 --> 00:32:23.500 obviously. 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.420 Transgenderism. 00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.600 These are sins 00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:26.440 the Bible addresses. 00:32:28.100 --> 00:32:28.920 There's other stuff 00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.420 in here, though. 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.200 Drunkenness. 00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:31.860 Slanderers. 00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:36.060 We want to use these 00:32:36.060 --> 00:32:36.980 as our identity. 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.700 We're condemning 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.519 ourselves to hell. 00:32:39.100 --> 00:32:39.920 Because he says, 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:40.960 don't be deceived. 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:41.779 These people 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.759 will not inherit 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.640 the kingdom of God. 00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:45.620 And 00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:47.039 that is what 00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:48.140 some of you were. 00:32:49.060 --> 00:32:49.880 Past tense. 00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:51.259 But you were washed. 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.360 How were you washed? 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.360 By the blood of Jesus. 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.900 You were sanctified. 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.080 Okay? 00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:56.900 Sanctification, 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:58.200 it doesn't happen overnight, 00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:58.800 but the Holy Spirit 00:32:58.800 --> 00:32:59.320 comes in 00:32:59.320 --> 00:33:00.320 and he starts fighting 00:33:00.320 --> 00:33:00.940 against sin 00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.519 and setting us free 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.259 from the power of it. 00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:04.259 Okay. 00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:04.980 So, I guess 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:06.140 my last 00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:07.440 exhortation here, 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:08.160 those are examining. 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.400 My exhortation there 00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.519 was just examine yourselves. 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:10.960 Okay? 00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:12.640 My last one is, 00:33:13.340 --> 00:33:15.500 you say you trust Jesus 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.600 to save you from hell. 00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:18.220 Do you trust him 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.140 to save you from sin? 00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.220 I think a lot of times 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:20.940 this is the real, 00:33:21.080 --> 00:33:23.120 this is the real differentiator. 00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:24.680 Many want to be saved 00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.100 from hell. 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.920 The real question is, 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.620 do you want to be saved 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.100 from sin? 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:29.880 Because they're both true. 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:30.900 They're both true in Christ. 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.759 He does save us 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.600 from the wrath to come. 00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:36.299 Matthew 1.21 says, 00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:37.059 this is about Jesus, 00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:37.700 Christmas time. 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:38.879 Great Christmas time verse. 00:33:39.099 --> 00:33:39.639 Very applicable. 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:41.519 She will bear a son 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:43.279 and you shall call 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:44.240 his name Jesus 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:46.700 for he will save 00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.279 his people 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:48.659 from their sins. 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.339 Emmanuel, 00:33:50.899 --> 00:33:51.200 Jesus, 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:53.839 he is promised 00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:54.919 to save his people 00:33:54.919 --> 00:33:56.200 from their sins. 00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:58.839 Not just the penalty of sin, 00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:00.859 from their actual sins 00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:03.539 that destroy them. 00:34:05.059 --> 00:34:06.240 Acts 3.26, 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:07.400 God having raised up 00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:07.799 his servant, 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.659 referring to Jesus, 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:10.460 sent him to you first 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.860 to bless you 00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:14.480 by turning every one of you 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.940 from your wickedness. 00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:16.920 That's what it means 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.699 to be blessed by God. 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.559 We want God's blessings. 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.000 Lord, bless me. 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:22.119 I want to be blessed by God. 00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:23.599 Send me your blessings, Lord. 00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:27.559 His blessing is to turn you 00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:28.199 from wickedness. 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:30.000 Your sin is destroying you 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:30.639 and sending you to hell. 00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:32.920 What greater blessing is there 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:34.300 than to be turned 00:34:34.300 --> 00:34:35.519 from your sin? 00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:37.079 It's life. 00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:39.460 Sin is a deception, okay? 00:34:40.220 --> 00:34:41.139 It's a total lie. 00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:42.480 It doesn't feel like that. 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.000 It feels like, 00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:43.599 oh, that's good. 00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:45.360 Let me get some more of that 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:45.960 good stuff 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:48.099 and sprinkle me 00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:48.820 with some blood of Jesus 00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.260 afterwards 00:34:49.260 --> 00:34:50.740 and wash me clean 00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:52.400 and I can have my sin 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.559 and my fun here on earth 00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:54.960 and I'll just come to Jesus 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.940 and get washed clean 00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:57.180 and it's kind of best 00:34:57.180 --> 00:34:57.740 of both worlds. 00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:58.619 Get saved from hell 00:34:58.619 --> 00:34:59.880 and get to have 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:00.759 as much fun with sin 00:35:00.759 --> 00:35:02.059 as I want to in this life. 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:03.519 It's a total deception. 00:35:04.139 --> 00:35:05.000 It's killing you. 00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:07.319 And that's what he came 00:35:07.319 --> 00:35:10.380 to bless us 00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:12.159 by turning us away from that. 00:35:13.319 --> 00:35:13.880 And it's trust. 00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:14.779 Trust is the key here. 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.960 We're talking about faith. 00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:18.679 Faith trusts God 00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.619 for what he promises. 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:21.440 He sent Jesus 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:23.000 to be my Savior from sin. 00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:25.239 Do I trust him 00:35:25.239 --> 00:35:26.079 to save me from sin? 00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:27.019 That's really the question 00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:27.559 we've got to ask. 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.940 Is that the kind of faith 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.380 I have? 00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:31.559 Lord, I believe 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:33.579 that you came here 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.759 to bless me 00:35:34.759 --> 00:35:35.699 by turning me away 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:36.480 from wickedness 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.980 and you have the power 00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:38.440 to do it. 00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:40.219 So, 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:42.139 that's it.