WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.880 This week we're going to be continuing in our study of the book of James as we look at James chapter 2 starting in verse 14 and working our way through the end of James chapter 2. 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:14.960 So it'll be verses 14 through 26. 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:19.379 And as you make your way there, I want to run something by you this morning. 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:27.660 How many people in here love it when somebody tells you one thing, but then they do something completely different with their life? 00:00:27.660 --> 00:00:33.060 They give you advice on how to live your life, but then they do something completely different with theirs. 00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:36.659 Maybe it's a politician that says you should be doing this or that. 00:00:36.820 --> 00:00:38.620 This is one of the things you should be valuing. 00:00:38.700 --> 00:00:42.100 Then you look at their life and they're not even doing any of those things. 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:43.520 I'm sure we all love that. 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:52.600 Or maybe a restaurant owner who goes on and on and on talking about how wonderful their food is and how much better their food is than anybody else's food. 00:00:53.240 --> 00:00:54.820 But then they don't eat their own food. 00:00:55.280 --> 00:00:56.299 They don't actually eat it. 00:00:56.299 --> 00:01:07.799 Or maybe as we think about these things, some of those other instances could be a boss who claims the importance of having a work-life balance. 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:09.560 Where they talk a big game. 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:11.859 Yes, you need to take those vacation days. 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:14.379 Make sure you make time for your family. 00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:19.400 But then every time you go to try to take the vacation, they give you that look like, again? 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:20.979 Are we doing this again? 00:01:20.980 --> 00:01:27.700 And so I'm sure we all love people who claim one thing, but then they live their lives completely different, right? 00:01:28.460 --> 00:01:29.400 Of course not. 00:01:29.900 --> 00:01:31.340 Those things frustrate us. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:33.260 And we see the differences in there. 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:40.020 In each of these examples, there's a difference between what is claimed and what is actually done. 00:01:40.320 --> 00:01:42.500 The actions don't match the claim. 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:51.340 In each of these examples, it is the actions of the people that tell us what they really believe far more than what they say. 00:01:51.960 --> 00:02:00.920 You see, our claims are not always an accurate reflection of what we actually believe, but our actions rarely lie. 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:03.439 Sam Albert, he puts it this way. 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:03.740 He says, 00:02:03.739 --> 00:02:12.680 Let me say that again. 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:12.879 He says, 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:20.620 We don't always live what we say we believe, but we do always believe what we live out. 00:02:20.979 --> 00:02:24.419 And this is true when it comes to our walk with Christ as well. 00:02:24.699 --> 00:02:28.199 And it's one of those things that James addresses in our passage today. 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:36.359 And so if you've had a chance to turn to James chapter 2, I invite you to follow along as we read verses 14 through 26. 00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:38.599 And this is what the word of the Lord says. 00:02:38.679 --> 00:02:39.179 It says, 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:46.939 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:48.839 Can that faith save him? 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:55.280 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food and one of you says to them, 00:02:55.700 --> 00:03:03.280 Go in peace, be warmed and filled without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 00:03:03.900 --> 00:03:10.080 So faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:12.080 But someone will say, 00:03:12.260 --> 00:03:13.940 You have faith and I have works. 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:20.200 Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you my faith by my works. 00:03:20.600 --> 00:03:22.300 You believe that God is one. 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:23.700 You do well. 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:26.820 Even the demons believe and shudder. 00:03:27.760 --> 00:03:32.260 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:38.120 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:43.080 You see, that faith was active with his works. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:46.680 And faith was completed by his works. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:48.960 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:54.200 Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:57.439 And he was called a friend of God. 00:03:58.180 --> 00:04:02.759 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:12.399 And in the same way was not Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way. 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:21.180 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead. 00:04:21.659 --> 00:04:26.240 And so there's a couple observations that I want us to make from this passage today. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:30.939 But before we get into those observations, I want us to make a comparison. 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:37.780 I want us to take a verse from this passage and compare it to another verse that is found in Romans. 00:04:38.259 --> 00:04:47.639 And let that be kind of the key to our understanding of this passage that hopefully will help us to understand these observations in a greater way. 00:04:47.639 --> 00:05:00.379 So to begin with, what I want us to do before we dive too deeply into this passage is I want us to see justification according to Paul and justification according to James. 00:05:00.899 --> 00:05:04.740 And really justification according to Jesus because that's where it originates. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:09.199 And so it's looking at these passages to see the comparison. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:18.019 You see, we're going to be looking at one of the most challenging passages in all of Scripture when it comes to understanding our salvation. 00:05:18.719 --> 00:05:24.459 This passage that we will look at today is a passage that caused many to be frustrated. 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:29.919 It led Martin Luther to say many different things about the book of James. 00:05:30.019 --> 00:05:35.180 But when he got to this section, he says that he was ready to throw Jimmy in the stove. 00:05:35.500 --> 00:05:37.399 He was just ready to be done with this. 00:05:37.399 --> 00:05:39.519 I'm ready to be done with this passage. 00:05:39.919 --> 00:05:41.560 I want to just move on past it. 00:05:41.579 --> 00:05:43.219 I'm ready to throw Jimmy in the stove. 00:05:43.779 --> 00:05:49.199 But I hope and pray that when our time is done this morning that we do not feel the same way. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:55.279 But that we see that both Paul and James aren't contradicting each other. 00:05:55.419 --> 00:05:59.419 But they're actually coming together and complementing one another. 00:05:59.419 --> 00:06:05.719 But to help us see this issue at hand, I want us to do a side-by-side comparison. 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:11.240 And so if you have that copy of God's Word, I want you to put one finger there in James. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:15.700 But then also turn over to Romans chapter 3. 00:06:16.220 --> 00:06:17.840 Romans chapter 3. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:19.780 And we're going to look at verse 28. 00:06:20.380 --> 00:06:22.920 And this is what Romans 3.28 says. 00:06:22.980 --> 00:06:24.380 This is what Paul is saying. 00:06:24.460 --> 00:06:25.860 He says this. 00:06:25.860 --> 00:06:36.020 Let me read that one more time. 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:36.300 It says, 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:43.120 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 00:06:43.660 --> 00:06:47.500 And then let's turn back over to James chapter 2 verse 24. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:49.240 And it says this. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:57.279 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 00:06:58.060 --> 00:07:02.079 You can see where some people have a hard time with this passage, can't you? 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:08.279 If you just take these two verses and don't look at the context in which they were written, 00:07:08.579 --> 00:07:12.120 you'll look at these two verses and think, well, there's a contradiction here. 00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:13.160 Which one is it? 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:15.740 Are we justified by faith or are we justified by works? 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:20.420 Because it seems like these things are in contradiction to each other. 00:07:20.579 --> 00:07:23.319 It seems like there's something going on here. 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:28.300 And so you can understand where some people have an issue with this. 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:31.639 Paul in Romans says that we are justified. 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:36.840 That is that we are made right before God by faith in Christ. 00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:39.240 Not by works of the law. 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:41.340 Not by what we do. 00:07:41.460 --> 00:07:44.040 But what has been done for us. 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:48.220 And hopefully we can all hear that and give that a hearty amen, right? 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:50.340 That we are justified by faith. 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:52.280 Not anything that we do. 00:07:52.640 --> 00:07:55.240 That we can't do anything to save ourselves. 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:59.120 But it's only by what has been done for us on the cross. 00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:00.820 And we all say amen to that. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:01.500 Absolutely. 00:08:02.460 --> 00:08:05.759 But then we also get to this passage here in James 2 24. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:12.740 And it says, you see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:16.139 And that seems pretty clear and straightforward as well. 00:08:16.599 --> 00:08:20.740 So it begs the question, is there a contradiction here? 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:25.860 Is there a contradiction between the teachings of James and the teachings of Paul? 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:28.199 And the answer is, of course not. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:29.259 Absolutely not. 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:30.839 There's not a contradiction here. 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:36.120 In fact, not only are they not contradicting each other, they're complementing one another. 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:40.120 And the context of their writing is helpful in understanding this. 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:44.860 You see, each of them is writing about the exact same gospel. 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:48.240 Yet they are writing from different vantage points. 00:08:48.699 --> 00:08:52.139 They are addressing different problems in the church they are writing to. 00:08:52.699 --> 00:08:57.559 David Platt, he gives a really helpful visual to help us understand this. 00:08:57.559 --> 00:09:06.099 He says, I don't picture James and Paul standing toe-to-toe with each other with contrary understandings of the gospel. 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:11.299 He says, they're not standing toe-to-toe going back and forth arguing about the gospel. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:21.099 He says, rather he sees them as back-to-back defending the same gospel against different threats that are coming into the church. 00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:24.059 Different threats to the gospel that people are saying. 00:09:24.199 --> 00:09:27.179 Different discrepancies that people are saying about the gospel. 00:09:27.179 --> 00:09:32.519 And so they're standing back-to-back defending the faith here. 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:41.339 Paul is fighting against a false understanding that we can somehow earn our salvation based on our works. 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:42.979 That we can be good enough. 00:09:43.079 --> 00:09:44.679 That we can be generous enough. 00:09:44.719 --> 00:09:48.379 Or we can go to church enough to finally earn God's favor. 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:50.720 If I can just be good enough. 00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:52.720 If I can just do enough good things. 00:09:52.820 --> 00:09:57.439 Then maybe God will look at me and overlook all of the sin and all of those things. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:02.000 And so this is what Paul is writing to argue against. 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:06.000 And Paul is saying that there's nothing you can do to save yourself. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:07.940 But then James here. 00:10:08.600 --> 00:10:12.759 James on the other hand is fighting against an easy believism. 00:10:13.100 --> 00:10:18.100 That has reduced faith into Christ to simply right knowledge. 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:22.139 Where someone could say that as long as you believe the right thing. 00:10:22.220 --> 00:10:26.200 As long as you could answer the questions correctly on a test. 00:10:26.419 --> 00:10:27.700 Then you're covered. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:28.440 You're good. 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:31.779 You can then live however you want to live. 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:37.039 And I would argue that in the church and the culture that we live in today. 00:10:37.199 --> 00:10:41.179 That we struggle with both of these same issues. 00:10:41.839 --> 00:10:46.720 I would argue that we as a culture in the context in which we live in today. 00:10:46.819 --> 00:10:48.879 That we struggle with both of these issues. 00:10:49.179 --> 00:10:51.539 It's not just one that we struggle with. 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:57.220 But both of these enemies of the gospel have found their way into culture. 00:10:57.980 --> 00:10:59.039 There are many who could. 00:10:59.339 --> 00:11:00.839 You could ask the question. 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:02.000 Are you saved? 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:03.980 Or are you going to heaven? 00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:05.700 And they'll answer to you. 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:07.740 And they'll give you an answer to that question as. 00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:09.060 I sure hope so. 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:11.960 I hope that I've lived good enough life. 00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:15.759 I hope that I've done enough good things to outweigh the bad things. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:19.379 I hope that when I die one day God will look at my life and says. 00:11:19.680 --> 00:11:21.580 You barely squeezed by. 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:24.620 You did just enough to save yourself. 00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:28.519 And so there's some that fall into that trap of believing. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:32.019 That there's something you can do to add to your salvation. 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:35.319 That you can somehow save yourself. 00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:40.579 And at the same time there are plenty of people who you can ask that question to. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:42.059 Are you saved? 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:44.139 Are you going to heaven one day? 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:46.299 And their answer would be yes. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:49.360 I was baptized a long time ago. 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.899 So I'm covered now. 00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:56.319 Even though their life looks no different than the rest of the world. 00:11:56.759 --> 00:12:03.879 They claim to have a life-changing relationship with Jesus with no life change at all. 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:08.480 And so while we look at this we need now as much as ever. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:11.019 We need the words of Paul in Romans 3 28. 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:14.620 And we need the words of James in James 2 24. 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:21.700 And we need to see that these as they truly are not opposed to one another. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.639 But as complementary to one another. 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:28.159 And it's my hope and prayer that as we work through this passage today. 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:33.039 That God will open our eyes to the clear message of the gospel. 00:12:33.560 --> 00:12:36.320 That salvation is a gift from God. 00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:40.220 And it's not something that you can earn by your works. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:45.960 But it is also a gift that produces works in your life. 00:12:46.540 --> 00:12:48.120 So as we consider this this morning. 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:51.560 There's a couple of observations that I want us to see. 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:53.519 And to begin with is this. 00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:58.000 True knowledge does not lead to true faith. 00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:03.460 True knowledge does not automatically lead to true faith. 00:13:04.420 --> 00:13:06.160 James here in verse 14 says. 00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:07.680 What good is it my brothers. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:12.139 If someone says he has faith but does not have works. 00:13:12.359 --> 00:13:14.779 Can that faith save him? 00:13:15.599 --> 00:13:19.299 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food. 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:20.779 And one of you says to them. 00:13:20.959 --> 00:13:21.679 Go in peace. 00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:23.319 Be warmed and be filled. 00:13:23.819 --> 00:13:26.679 Without giving them the things needed for the body. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.799 What good is that? 00:13:28.479 --> 00:13:30.879 So also faith by itself. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:34.219 If it does not have works is dead. 00:13:34.219 --> 00:13:35.699 But someone will say. 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:37.599 You have faith and I have works. 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:40.039 Well show me your faith apart from your works. 00:13:40.239 --> 00:13:43.479 And I will show you my faith by my works. 00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:45.599 You believe that God is one. 00:13:45.939 --> 00:13:46.759 You do well. 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:49.039 Even the demons believe. 00:13:49.419 --> 00:13:50.099 And shudder. 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:54.299 Now there's some pretty direct words that we must deal with here. 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:56.079 As we look at this passage. 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:58.399 What good is it my brothers. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.279 If someone says he has faith. 00:14:00.459 --> 00:14:01.879 But does not have works. 00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:04.079 Can that faith save them? 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.080 In other words. 00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:10.040 If a person states that he or she believes all the right doctrines. 00:14:10.040 --> 00:14:13.720 But their life does not show obedience to Christ. 00:14:13.940 --> 00:14:16.639 What good is this type of faith? 00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:20.540 And the answer that's implied here is it's no good at all. 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:22.180 That's a dead faith. 00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:24.020 That faith is no good. 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:27.659 That's not even a faith that you could consider being faith. 00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:30.100 If we place our faith and our trust in Jesus. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.960 Then it's a life changing thing. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:35.019 Billy Graham said many wonderful things. 00:14:35.079 --> 00:14:36.860 But one of the things that he says. 00:14:36.939 --> 00:14:41.179 He says most people are going to miss heaven by 18 inches. 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:44.519 He says they know all the right stuff. 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:46.620 They know all the right doctrines. 00:14:46.699 --> 00:14:48.500 They can ace a theology test. 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:51.740 They know the right doctrine that's there. 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:55.120 But it hasn't been something that's made it into them. 00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:57.899 They're going to miss it by 18 inches. 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:01.840 It's not something that they've given their life to. 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:05.059 And that's what we see James talking about here. 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:07.600 And he does this and he illustrates it in different ways. 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.559 But one of the things he does. 00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.980 He says think of it like this. 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:12.919 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed. 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:14.480 And lacking in daily food. 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.800 And one of you says to them go in peace. 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:18.100 Be warmed and be filled. 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:20.240 Without giving them the things needed for the body. 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:21.820 What good is that? 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:26.580 How loving is it to say that you want someone to know about Jesus. 00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:28.879 That you want their needs to be met. 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:31.680 Without actually doing anything about it. 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:34.279 Charles Spurgeon reflecting on this. 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:38.379 He said if you're going to give a hungry man a tract. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.639 Like a gospel tract. 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:42.680 He said if you're going to give a hungry man a tract. 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.799 Make sure you wrap it up in a sandwich. 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:48.439 Make sure that you show them the love of Christ. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.739 And then let that point them to Christ. 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:53.359 As you share the gospel message with them. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:56.019 The observation is clear here. 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:57.819 You can have good theology. 00:15:58.079 --> 00:16:00.299 You can know the truth about who God is. 00:16:00.859 --> 00:16:04.620 And still not have a saving faith. 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:07.099 David Platt notes. 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:09.219 He says from the beginning in 2.14. 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:14.060 James is saying that it is possible to claim to have faith. 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:16.100 But not actually have it. 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:18.160 To claim to have faith. 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:20.000 But not be saved. 00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:24.779 James says even the demons believe the right theology about it. 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:27.000 Even the demons believe and they should. 00:16:27.040 --> 00:16:28.240 Or when you look at the gospels. 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:31.399 And Jesus would encounter someone who is demon possessed. 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:33.000 What would typically happen? 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:35.759 That person would fall flat on their face. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:38.899 And the demon would be afraid. 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:41.759 Because the demons recognized who it was. 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:43.220 The demons know there's only one God. 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:45.500 The demons believe that Jesus is his son. 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.919 But they are not saved. 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:49.340 They haven't given their life to this. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:53.580 The final observation that I want us to see this morning. 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:54.939 As we understand this. 00:16:54.939 --> 00:16:57.419 As James has gotten our attention. 00:16:57.419 --> 00:17:02.379 By showing us that true knowledge does not lead to true faith. 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.379 Is this. 00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:08.399 True faith in God produces faithfulness to God. 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:14.839 True faith in God produces faithfulness to God. 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.519 Starting in verse 20. 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:16.819 It says. 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:19.159 Do you want to be shown you foolish person. 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:22.159 That faith apart from works is useless. 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.019 He says. 00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.119 Let me give you an example. 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:27.699 Was not Abraham our father justified by works. 00:17:27.699 --> 00:17:30.479 When he offered up his son Isaac on the altar. 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:35.259 You see that faith was active along with his works. 00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:38.659 And faith was completed by his works. 00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:41.039 And the scripture was fulfilled that says. 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:42.799 Abraham believed God. 00:17:42.879 --> 00:17:45.399 And it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:48.339 And he was called a friend of God. 00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:51.279 You see that a person is justified by works. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:52.979 And not by faith alone. 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:54.740 And in the same way. 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:58.440 Was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works. 00:17:58.579 --> 00:18:00.360 When she received the messengers. 00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:02.759 And sent them out by another way. 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:07.039 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead. 00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:11.380 So also faith apart from works is dead. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:14.039 What James is communicating here. 00:18:14.120 --> 00:18:16.839 What James is saying to us here in this passage. 00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:22.539 Is that faith in Christ produces faithfulness to Christ. 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:23.920 James says. 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.240 Do you want me to prove it to you? 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:26.120 Do you want me to show you? 00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:27.779 Do you want me to give you an example of this? 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:28.819 And then he says. 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:33.079 Let's think about the lives of a couple of people you may be familiar with. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.779 Abraham and Rahab. 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:38.440 And let's just take Abraham's life for an example this morning here. 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:42.140 So James refers back to a couple of passages in Genesis. 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:45.400 To show how Abraham was justified. 00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:48.840 The way that James uses justified here. 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:52.539 Is a little different than the way that Paul uses justified. 00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:54.400 And some of his uses. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:55.840 When James says. 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:59.539 Was not Abraham our father justified by his works. 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:01.640 When he offered up his son Isaac on the altar. 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:05.240 He's using it in a very similar way that Jesus does. 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.540 Back in Matthew 11. 00:19:06.540 --> 00:19:07.720 When he says. 00:19:08.040 --> 00:19:12.120 Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds. 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.920 In this context. 00:19:14.060 --> 00:19:15.880 It means more along the lines of. 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:18.759 Validated or demonstrated. 00:19:19.520 --> 00:19:20.340 In other words. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:24.400 Abraham's faith was demonstrated by his works. 00:19:24.800 --> 00:19:26.220 And we know this. 00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:31.020 Because of the order in which the references occur in Genesis. 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.220 Genesis. 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:33.379 James says in 2.23. 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.879 Abraham believed God. 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:37.519 And it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:41.579 This is a reference that actually goes back to Genesis chapter 15. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:43.940 When Abraham believed God. 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:45.299 And at that moment. 00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:47.259 It was credited to him as righteousness. 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:49.940 This is well before he ever offered. 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:52.500 Was ready to offer up Isaac on the altar. 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:56.759 And so it's this faith that is justifying Abraham. 00:19:56.879 --> 00:20:00.339 But then it's demonstrated through his actions. 00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:02.379 And this is what James is saying. 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.639 Is calling us to. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:08.839 This faith was demonstrated by the fact that he was willing to offer up Isaac. 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:12.699 And after clearly getting our attention with all these things. 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:14.980 This talk about dead faith. 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:20.039 Then James is telling us here what true faith looks like. 00:20:20.679 --> 00:20:22.759 He gives us an example here. 00:20:22.879 --> 00:20:25.500 He shows us what true faith looks like. 00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:29.759 And what we see is that true faith produces fruit. 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.559 True faith produces fruit. 00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:34.000 Jesus tells us the same thing on the Sermon on the Mount. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.740 In the Sermon on the Mount he says. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:38.539 So every healthy tree bears good fruit. 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:41.480 But the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:45.019 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit. 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:47.319 Nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:50.880 For every tree that does not bear good fruit. 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:54.059 Is cut down and thrown into the fire. 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:57.339 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.339 Jesus is saying. 00:20:59.579 --> 00:21:04.019 He says do you want to know how you can tell the difference between true prophets and false prophets? 00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:06.059 Look at their lives. 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:08.339 Look at the fruit of their lives. 00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:10.480 You'll be able to know them by their fruits. 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:14.639 The true prophets are going to produce the fruit that I'm talking about. 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:17.440 It's going to be evident in who they are. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:20.400 And in a similar way James is saying. 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:24.980 Do you want to know what authentic faith looks like? 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.779 Then look it for fruit. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:28.720 Look it for fruit in your life. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.360 Look for fruit in the other's lives. 00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:36.779 Claims are not always an accurate reflection of what we actually believe. 00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:40.140 But our actions rarely lie. 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:46.060 Now I can't tell you the difference between too many varieties of trees. 00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:51.000 Some of you may can go out in the woods and just identify every single type of tree that's out there. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:54.540 Who knew that we have multiple types of pine trees in North Georgia? 00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:56.540 Does anybody know that we have multiple types of pine trees? 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.680 Okay everybody did but me. 00:21:59.060 --> 00:22:02.540 Okay but you have all these different types of pine trees. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:04.580 There are these different types of oak trees. 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:08.880 When I look out at the woods I just see a bunch of trees that are out there. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:13.080 But even somebody like me who can't tell the difference between trees. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:16.600 If I drive over to Long Creek South Carolina right now. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:18.360 Especially this time of the year. 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.560 I can go up. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:23.280 And if you've been to Long Creek South Carolina then you'll understand this illustration. 00:22:23.780 --> 00:22:26.680 But I can go there and look at all of these trees that are planted. 00:22:27.040 --> 00:22:30.060 And I can pretty easily tell you that's an apple tree. 00:22:30.840 --> 00:22:32.900 You know how I can tell that's an apple tree? 00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:36.460 Because it has apples on it. 00:22:36.580 --> 00:22:38.320 Because there's apples that are hanging down. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:43.000 So even somebody like me when I look at the trees over in Long Creek South Carolina. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:45.319 We have all of these apple orchards. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:47.480 I can look at those and there's an apple tree. 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:51.059 And I know that because it has apples hanging down. 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:53.419 I know it because of its fruit. 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:59.099 An apple tree produces apples because it is an apple tree on the inside. 00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:03.099 The fruit is the byproduct of what it is. 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:07.740 If it is a healthy apple tree guess what it's going to produce? 00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:10.059 Apples. 00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:11.259 Absolutely. 00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:14.119 If it's a healthy apple tree it's going to produce apples. 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:17.579 And I've told you this before on a number of occasions. 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:20.219 But I had an ethics professor who said one time. 00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:25.919 He says do you want me to give you an equation that will tell you what you actually believe about something? 00:23:26.439 --> 00:23:28.099 And who wants to know what they actually believe? 00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:29.679 I think we all want to know what they actually believe. 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:31.299 He says I've got an equation for you. 00:23:31.719 --> 00:23:33.379 He says the equation is this. 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:39.439 Stated belief plus actual practice equals actual belief. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.939 He says you can say whatever you want to say. 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:46.619 But your actions will show what you actually believe. 00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:51.359 For example I could get up here and I could say I believe that I can fly. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:56.099 I absolutely I'm going to tell everybody in here I can fly. 00:23:56.459 --> 00:24:01.799 And if I wanted to right now I could just fly out of these doors and just go flying around all over all over to go. 00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:05.919 And I could even just give you a passionate argument how I believe that I can fly. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:12.699 But if you take me up in an airplane and you open the door without a parachute and says all right we'll prove it. 00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.679 Let's see if you can fly. 00:24:13.959 --> 00:24:15.119 You know what I'm not going to do? 00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:17.299 I'm not going to jump out of that plane. 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:20.179 Even if you put a parachute on me I'm not going to jump out of the plane. 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:25.340 But our actions show what we actually believe. 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:28.740 Our actions are evident to what we actually believe. 00:24:28.820 --> 00:24:31.799 You can say that Jesus is Lord of your life. 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:35.340 You can know all the right answers to questions about theology. 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:41.080 But your actions are going to reveal what you truly are giving your life to. 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:43.200 Alistair Begg says it this way. 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:49.900 He says a sincere claim to have faith is not necessarily synonymous with a sincere faith. 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:54.200 Faith is belief that leads to action. 00:24:54.580 --> 00:25:00.640 This past summer like most summers our family spent a lot of time down at Catherine's parents house. 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:05.620 They have a house on Lake Hartwell and we like to go down there and the kids love to swim around. 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:08.340 And they have this two-story dock that's there. 00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:12.200 And the kids like to go up there and jump off of the dock into the water. 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:13.480 Now don't get worried. 00:25:13.580 --> 00:25:15.960 Catherine makes sure that we all have life jackets on. 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.539 And so when we go swimming there. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:20.019 But the kids love to jump out there. 00:25:20.080 --> 00:25:23.380 And all of the older grandchildren have done this for years now. 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:28.259 But Charlotte, our youngest, she decided that she wanted to do that this year. 00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:30.059 And so she goes up there. 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:32.100 She gets right to the edge of that dock. 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:33.279 She looks over it. 00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:35.039 And we say, all right, Charlotte, you ready? 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:37.859 One, two, three, jump. 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.119 She doesn't jump. 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:41.519 We say it over and over again. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.339 We count backwards. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.379 Three, two, one, jump. 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:45.740 We're like, Charlotte, either jump or let's go. 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:47.819 Okay, let's make a decision here. 00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:51.559 So finally she says, Daddy, I want you to swim out there. 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:54.879 And I want to jump and you grab me as soon as I hit the water. 00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:56.599 And I said, okay, I'll do it. 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:58.039 I swim over there. 00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.940 I'm like, okay, sweetie, I'm right here. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:01.360 I'm going to catch you. 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:04.080 You just jump off and Daddy has you. 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:05.920 Daddy's not going to let anything happen to you. 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.980 All right, here we go. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:09.720 One, two, three. 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:11.340 She doesn't jump. 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:16.460 And I could ask her, I say, Charlotte, do you believe that I'm going to catch you? 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.120 Yes. 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:21.600 Do you think that Daddy would ever let anything bad happen to you? 00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:22.980 She goes, of course not. 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:25.279 Well, then jump. 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:27.019 Then just jump. 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:29.620 And so she finally did jump and she got water in her ears 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.679 and cried for the rest of the night. 00:26:30.719 --> 00:26:31.379 It was horrible. 00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:34.079 But she did finally jump. 00:26:34.159 --> 00:26:35.259 She did finally make that. 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:39.279 She did finally believe that Daddy was going to be there and catch her in this. 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:43.039 You see, true faith is giving your life to Jesus. 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:46.500 It's more than walking an aisle and praying a prayer. 00:26:46.679 --> 00:26:48.699 You can force anyone to do that. 00:26:48.939 --> 00:26:51.399 It's more than knowing the right answers. 00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:53.559 Even the demons know the right answers. 00:26:53.959 --> 00:26:55.539 And they are not believers. 00:26:55.899 --> 00:26:58.500 That is just dead faith. 00:26:58.500 --> 00:27:02.500 True faith is putting control of your life into God's hands. 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:05.640 Basically, what it all boils down to is this. 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:11.160 You can't call yourself a follower of Jesus if you don't follow Jesus anywhere. 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:18.259 You can't call yourself a follower of Jesus if you're not following Jesus anywhere. 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:21.119 That is a dead faith. 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:25.439 Robert Plumer, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:31.859 he stated how he once heard a pastor describe how he had been saved at a young age 00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:35.379 but had continued to live a worldly life. 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:39.619 He labeled this experience as coming to know Jesus as Savior. 00:27:40.459 --> 00:27:44.099 The pastor said that at a later date he had come to know Jesus as Lord. 00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:49.159 And he spoke of the changes in his life that Jesus had made as Lord, 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:52.779 reordering his priorities and calling him to obedience. 00:27:53.719 --> 00:27:59.799 This pastor had an apparently sincere desire to call people to discipleship, 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:03.059 but he unwittingly was teaching them a false doctrine. 00:28:03.639 --> 00:28:07.459 He implied that it was possible to have a genuine saving faith 00:28:07.459 --> 00:28:11.000 and no works or fruit in one's life. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:14.220 He implicitly encouraged nominal Christians, 00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:16.599 that is Christians in name only, 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:20.700 still under God's wrath to rely on a distant memory 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:24.400 of the time they walked an aisle or prayed a prayer 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:28.859 followed by years of unrepentant sin and cold hearts. 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:31.339 Now please don't misunderstand me here. 00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:33.180 Your works never save you. 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:35.079 My works will never save me. 00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:38.400 Even if I could live a perfect life from this point forward, 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.480 it's not enough. 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:43.079 Present obedience doesn't make up for past disobedience 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:46.000 because present obedience is what is required. 00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:48.039 You're just doing the bare minimum. 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:53.460 Jesus Christ saves us through his perfect life and atoning death. 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:57.759 But he didn't save you from your sin to leave you in your sin. 00:28:58.360 --> 00:29:00.599 As God's adopted sons and daughters, 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:03.700 we experience conviction for sin 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:07.519 and loving guidance and discipline of our Heavenly Father. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:12.599 In his teaching, Jesus left no room for unrepentant faith. 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:16.700 There was no such thing as being a saved non-disciple. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:19.660 There's no such thing as calling yourself a follower of Jesus 00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:21.059 and not following him. 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:23.740 Rather, Jesus said in Matthew 16, 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:25.460 if anyone would come after me, 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:29.559 let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:33.700 For whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:37.579 But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:39.480 And so as we close right here, 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:41.220 there are two very real dangers 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:44.359 to our understanding of the gospel that we've dealt with today. 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:48.440 One is that you can somehow save yourself by your works. 00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:51.659 Let me tell you, there's nothing you can do to save yourself. 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:56.460 And the other danger is that as long as you believe the right theology, 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:58.000 then you will be saved. 00:29:58.040 --> 00:30:00.720 And you can go live however you want to live. 00:30:00.800 --> 00:30:03.540 As long as you get the right answers, then you're good. 00:30:04.300 --> 00:30:07.320 I hope and pray that we've been able to clearly see, 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:09.160 as many have put it, 00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:11.540 faith alone saves. 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:14.980 But a faith that saves is never alone. 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:17.860 It is always accompanied by living deeds. 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:19.779 And so as we think about this, 00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:22.019 maybe you're here for the first time. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:26.319 Maybe you've never been in church your entire life and you're here. 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:30.459 Or maybe you've been in church your whole life. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:35.779 And now you're starting to see what it means to be a follower of Jesus. 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:38.159 If that is a question, 00:30:38.659 --> 00:30:40.179 are you a follower of Jesus? 00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:43.559 If that is a question that you're struggling to answer today, 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.939 then I encourage you, 00:30:44.939 --> 00:30:47.139 when we stand here in just a moment and sing, 00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:48.920 I encourage you to come forward. 00:30:49.300 --> 00:30:51.580 That's a question I would love to talk with you about. 00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:56.640 That's a question that I would love for you to get to the bottom of before you leave today. 00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:01.380 Maybe you are here and you have been coming for quite some time 00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:03.840 and you're ready to make this church your church home. 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:07.120 Well, then this is a time that you can respond that way as well. 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:09.340 And we would love to talk with you about that. 00:31:09.520 --> 00:31:10.740 But I do encourage you, 00:31:10.800 --> 00:31:12.720 however God is leading you this morning, 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:17.940 won't you respond in a way that is obedient to what he has called you to do? 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:23.000 Father, thank you so very much for all that you do for us each and every day. 00:31:23.100 --> 00:31:25.200 God, we thank you for your word. 00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:28.220 We thank you for the difference that it can make in our lives. 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:30.980 And Lord, I pray that there's someone here today 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:34.559 that maybe is hearing this gospel message for the first time 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:37.059 or maybe for the thousandth time, 00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:39.179 but it's just making sense today. 00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:42.099 Lord, I pray that you would give them the boldness and obedience 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:43.779 to step forward and say, 00:31:44.179 --> 00:31:45.779 I'm ready to follow Jesus. 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:48.019 I'm ready to be a disciple. 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:50.039 I'm ready to follow you wherever you lead. 00:31:50.639 --> 00:31:53.359 And Lord, I just thank you so much for your word, 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:55.159 for what it teaches us about you, 00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:56.639 for what it calls us to do, 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:59.460 for how it shapes and molds our minds 00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:01.220 to understand you in a greater way. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:02.980 So thank you for all that you do. 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:05.220 We ask this in Jesus' precious name. 00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:05.899 Amen. 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:08.059 Amen.