WEBVTT

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 I don't know how many of you still have a landline phone in your house.

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 A few years ago, it would have been a really strange thing for someone not to,

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 but now it's not quite so common.

00:00:13.419 --> 00:00:15.320
 I have one that is rarely used.

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 When it rings, I know there are two possibilities.

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 One, that it's my mum.

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 Or two, that it's someone trying to sell me something.

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 But many of those calls are questionable.

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 They make a claim about who they are.

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 They say that they are from HMRC, from Microsoft, from my bank, without naming it.

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 They tell me about the problems that apparently I'm having with my broadband,

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 about the warranties about to expire on my 20-year-old fridge,

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 or about the fraudulent activity on my account.

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 But it only takes a few seconds of hearing them talk,

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 to know that they are not who they claim to be.

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 Who they say they are, and what they say does not match up.

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 As we look at tonight's passage, we'll see that James presents a question

00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:19.679
 about how to recognise genuine saving faith.

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 Then he gives four illustrations to try and help us understand the issues,

00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:33.300
 and ultimately to demonstrate the fundamental misunderstanding behind the original question.

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 So for those of you who like headings, we'll first be looking at a fundamental question in verse 14.

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 And then we'll look at the four illustrations.

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 The futility of meaningless words in verses 15 and 16.

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 The faith of demons in verses 18 and 19.

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 The faith of Abraham in verses 20 to 24.

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 And the faith of Rahab in verse 25.

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 And finally we'll conclude with James' two summary statements,

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 verses 17 and 26.

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 Which I guess if you want more alliteration you could call a frank answer.

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 And so let's start off with that fundamental question.

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 In verse 14.

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 What good is it, my brothers and sisters,

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 if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?

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 Can such faith save them?

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 This question is what this passage is all about.

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 And it's an important question.

00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:46.079
 But for many of you, this question will already be setting off a klaxon in your heads.

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 For some it will be a theological klaxon.

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 Are you questioning salvation by faith alone?

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 Surely this goes against everything we believe.

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 Everything that Paul teaches us.

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 Everything the great reformers stood for.

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 But for others it will be a more personal klaxon.

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 Are you questioning my salvation?

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 Are you questioning if I'm really saved?

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 But this is the question that's central to the whole argument

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 of James' letter.

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 Because it's a letter filled with instruction to action.

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 To do this and not to do that.

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 It talks a lot about how we speak.

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 About how we treat others.

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 And it's full of warnings against hypocrisy.

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 Against saying one thing

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 and living in a completely different way.

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 Back in chapter 1 verse 22 we read the warning

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 Do not merely listen to the word

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 and deceive yourselves.

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 Do what it says.

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 And we see that this passage continues with that theme.

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 This letter is primarily written to an audience

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 that have probably come to Christianity

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 from a Jewish background.

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 They have grown up with the Pharisees

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 teaching them on all the many rules

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 that they must follow to be right with God.

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 And then they have heard

00:04:18.799 --> 00:04:21.500
 this message of salvation

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 by grace

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 through the finished work of Christ.

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 And it seems that they may have thought

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 great.

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 That's me off the hook.

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 I can now just sit back and relax.

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 I can do whatever I want.

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 I don't need to worry about those sacrifices and rituals.

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 I also don't need to worry about

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 helping the poor

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 or loving my neighbour either.

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 And James wants to make it crystal clear

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 that that is not the gospel.

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 And so we come

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 in verses 15 and 16

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 to the first of these four illustrations

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 the futility

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 of meaningless words

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 where James writes

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 suppose

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 a brother or sister

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 is without clothes

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 and daily food

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 if one of you says to them

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 go in peace

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 keep warm

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 and well fed

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 but

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 does nothing

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 about their physical needs

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 what good is it?

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 While throughout the letter

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 James frequently

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 refers to the care of the poor

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 I don't think

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 that is actually

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 primarily

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 what his focus

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 in these verses

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 is about.

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 Instead

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 this scenario

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 is given

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 to illustrate

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 the futility

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 of meaningless words

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 how it's possible

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 to say things

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 that sound great

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 but have nothing more

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 behind them

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 than vague sentiment.

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 what good is it

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 to tell the person

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 you need

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 to be warm

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 and well fed

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 and then

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 do nothing to help

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 despite the fact

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 that you could?

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 It's pointless.

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 It is just

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 meaningless words.

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 You would have been better

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 saying nothing.

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 And I think

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 this is key

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 to understanding

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 that question

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 at the heart

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 of the passage

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 because James

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 asks

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 what good is it

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 if someone

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 claims

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 to have faith?

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 If someone

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 makes a claim

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 to have faith

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 but it goes

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 no further

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 than mere words

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 then it's pointless.

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 It's just

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 meaningless words.

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 They say

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 that they are

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 a Christian

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 but there is

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 no evidence

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 of the reality

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 of it.

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 They may

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 have confessed

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 with their mouth

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 but they have

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 not believed

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 in their heart.

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 It means

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 nothing

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 to them.

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 I think

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 probably

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 this is most

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 likely

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 to happen

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 in cultures

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 where

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 some form

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 of Christianity

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 is expected

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 of you.

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 At one point

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 that would have

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 been the case

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 here.

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 It still is

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 the case

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 in some parts

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 of the USA

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 where not

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 being a Christian

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 is seen

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 as a hindrance

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 in society.

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 We saw

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 in Acts

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 recently

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 how at first

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 many people

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 wanted to be

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 associated

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 with the early

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 church

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 until things

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 started getting

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 serious

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 and then

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 they began

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 to keep

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 their distance.

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 Then the only

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 people that

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 chose to associate

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 with them

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 in the temple

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 courts

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 were those

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 who had made

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 the decision

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 to follow

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 Christ

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 and to become

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 one of them.

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 In our society

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 in 21st century

00:07:53.719 --> 00:07:54.079
 Edinburgh

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 there is

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 nothing

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 really to be

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 gained

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 by claiming

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 to be a Christian.

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 In fact

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 it may well

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 be a hindrance.

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 In some

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 countries

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 it would be

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 a literal

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 death sentence.

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 But I think

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 we have to be

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 careful.

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 while there

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 may be

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 no pressure

00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:16.060
 in our

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 culture

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 at large

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 we all

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 live within

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 our own

00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:21.880
 microcultures

00:08:21.880 --> 00:08:22.420
 our own

00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:23.480
 bubbles of

00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:23.960
 people that

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 we associate

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 with.

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 And in our

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 social circles

00:08:28.100 --> 00:08:29.600
 it might be

00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:30.280
 the done thing

00:08:30.280 --> 00:08:31.460
 to say that

00:08:31.460 --> 00:08:32.040
 you're a Christian.

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 In particular

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 the children

00:08:36.820 --> 00:08:37.720
 in our church

00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:39.019
 grow up

00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:39.980
 in a culture

00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:41.040
 where being

00:08:41.040 --> 00:08:41.519
 a Christian

00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:42.379
 is the

00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:42.639
 norm.

00:08:44.340 --> 00:08:45.120
 We need

00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:45.740
 to be careful

00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:46.480
 that we

00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:47.179
 don't encourage

00:08:47.179 --> 00:08:48.379
 them to say

00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:49.120
 all the right

00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:50.279
 things just

00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:50.819
 to make us

00:08:50.819 --> 00:08:52.439
 happy without

00:08:52.439 --> 00:08:53.720
 it going any

00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:54.279
 further than

00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:54.679
 being mere

00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:55.139
 words.

00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:57.840
 I remember

00:08:57.840 --> 00:08:58.340
 one of the

00:08:58.340 --> 00:08:58.919
 guys I grew

00:08:58.919 --> 00:08:59.439
 up with in

00:08:59.439 --> 00:08:59.840
 church

00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:02.620
 recounted how

00:09:02.620 --> 00:09:03.100
 one of the

00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:03.659
 old ladies

00:09:03.659 --> 00:09:04.340
 in the church

00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:05.279
 would encourage

00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:05.860
 him to get

00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:06.480
 baptised.

00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:08.940
 it was

00:09:08.940 --> 00:09:09.379
 completely

00:09:09.379 --> 00:09:09.920
 well-meaning

00:09:09.920 --> 00:09:12.080
 but what

00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:12.500
 she didn't

00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:13.180
 realise was

00:09:13.180 --> 00:09:13.860
 that he

00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:14.240
 wasn't a

00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:14.680
 Christian at

00:09:14.680 --> 00:09:15.000
 the time.

00:09:15.940 --> 00:09:16.600
 He only

00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:17.039
 came to

00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:17.519
 church

00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:18.080
 under

00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:18.659
 duress

00:09:18.659 --> 00:09:19.700
 because his

00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:20.320
 parents forced

00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:20.639
 him to.

00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:23.940
 He later

00:09:23.940 --> 00:09:25.120
 came to a

00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:25.740
 real saving

00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:26.100
 faith

00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:27.960
 but until

00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:28.420
 then

00:09:28.420 --> 00:09:29.759
 it would

00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:30.019
 have been

00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:30.600
 easy for

00:09:30.600 --> 00:09:31.000
 him to

00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:32.420
 say and

00:09:32.420 --> 00:09:33.460
 do all

00:09:33.460 --> 00:09:33.820
 the right

00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:34.720
 things and

00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:35.320
 to fit in

00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:37.100
 but it

00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:37.320
 would have

00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:37.960
 been pointless.

00:09:38.800 --> 00:09:39.399
 It would

00:09:39.399 --> 00:09:40.120
 just be

00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:40.460
 meaningless

00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:42.440
 words and

00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:43.000
 James makes

00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:44.279
 it clear that

00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:45.139
 meaningless words

00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:45.639
 do not

00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:46.019
 save.

00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:47.080
 They are

00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:47.580
 futile.

00:09:49.680 --> 00:09:50.700
 And so we

00:09:50.700 --> 00:09:51.399
 come on to

00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:52.820
 our second

00:09:52.820 --> 00:09:54.700
 illustration in

00:09:54.700 --> 00:09:55.639
 verses 18 and

00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:57.200
 19 where we

00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:57.980
 see the faith

00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:59.240
 of demons.

00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:02.120
 Here James

00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:03.259
 challenges those

00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:04.360
 who say that

00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:04.659
 they have

00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:05.700
 faith to

00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:06.220
 show it.

00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:08.740
 I think it's

00:10:08.740 --> 00:10:09.500
 helpful here if

00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:10.000
 we remember

00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:11.019
 that there's

00:10:11.019 --> 00:10:12.019
 nothing special

00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:13.159
 about the

00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:14.500
 word translated

00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:15.039
 here as

00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:15.659
 works,

00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:16.840
 deeds or

00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:17.320
 acts.

00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:18.639
 This is not

00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:19.300
 some deep

00:10:19.300 --> 00:10:20.360
 theological term

00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.659
 with huge

00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:22.139
 amounts of

00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:22.560
 theological

00:10:22.560 --> 00:10:23.019
 baggage.

00:10:23.560 --> 00:10:24.399
 It's just a

00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.419
 normal everyday

00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:26.240
 word which

00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:27.180
 means what it

00:10:27.180 --> 00:10:27.519
 says.

00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:28.940
 Things that

00:10:28.940 --> 00:10:29.480
 people do.

00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:32.340
 And so James

00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:33.120
 challenges them

00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.080
 to show their

00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:35.440
 faith without

00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:36.180
 doing anything.

00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:38.060
 And he will

00:10:38.060 --> 00:10:38.460
 show his

00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:40.120
 faith by what

00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:40.580
 he does.

00:10:41.920 --> 00:10:42.879
 The faith that

00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:43.680
 they claim to

00:10:43.680 --> 00:10:44.879
 have cannot be

00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:45.139
 seen.

00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:47.280
 But their

00:10:47.280 --> 00:10:48.200
 actions can.

00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:49.960
 And how they

00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:51.500
 live betrays the

00:10:51.500 --> 00:10:52.340
 reality beneath

00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:52.940
 the surface.

00:10:52.940 --> 00:10:55.740
 then we see

00:10:55.740 --> 00:10:56.220
 that James

00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:57.220
 anticipates their

00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:57.880
 response.

00:10:58.480 --> 00:10:58.940
 Their response

00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:00.220
 but I

00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:00.800
 believe.

00:11:01.400 --> 00:11:01.680
 Surely,

00:11:02.360 --> 00:11:03.300
 surely that's

00:11:03.300 --> 00:11:03.720
 all that

00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:04.100
 matters.

00:11:05.140 --> 00:11:05.780
 And he

00:11:05.780 --> 00:11:06.320
 comes back

00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:06.660
 with a

00:11:06.660 --> 00:11:07.020
 stinging

00:11:07.020 --> 00:11:07.600
 retort.

00:11:08.280 --> 00:11:09.440
 You believe

00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:09.960
 that there is

00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:10.580
 one God?

00:11:11.280 --> 00:11:11.640
 Good.

00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:13.340
 Even the

00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:14.460
 demons believe

00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:14.840
 that.

00:11:16.160 --> 00:11:16.800
 Well done.

00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:18.659
 Your faith

00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:19.759
 is as good

00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:20.539
 as the

00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:20.799
 demons.

00:11:22.579 --> 00:11:23.279
 We're told

00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:23.979
 very little

00:11:23.979 --> 00:11:25.079
 about demons

00:11:25.079 --> 00:11:25.659
 but we can

00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:27.099
 expect that

00:11:27.099 --> 00:11:27.500
 they have a

00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:28.120
 far greater

00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:28.740
 knowledge of

00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:29.719
 spiritual realities

00:11:29.719 --> 00:11:30.959
 than we do.

00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:32.000
 And they

00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:32.639
 hate it.

00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:34.339
 As James

00:11:34.339 --> 00:11:34.919
 says, they

00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:36.059
 believe and

00:11:36.059 --> 00:11:36.659
 they shudder.

00:11:37.939 --> 00:11:38.959
 I think this

00:11:38.959 --> 00:11:39.699
 is a very

00:11:39.699 --> 00:11:40.639
 important distinction

00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:41.699
 that has to be

00:11:41.699 --> 00:11:42.039
 made.

00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:43.259
 And we're

00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:44.000
 perhaps not

00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:44.879
 always very

00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:45.259
 good at

00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:46.059
 expressing it.

00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:48.099
 believing in

00:11:48.099 --> 00:11:49.559
 God is

00:11:49.559 --> 00:11:50.319
 not what

00:11:50.319 --> 00:11:50.779
 matters.

00:11:52.459 --> 00:11:52.919
 Trusting

00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:54.159
 him is.

00:11:55.479 --> 00:11:56.459
 It's not a

00:11:56.459 --> 00:11:56.899
 matter of

00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:57.479
 intellectual

00:11:57.479 --> 00:11:58.159
 assent to

00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:58.639
 an idea

00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.779
 like believing

00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:01.599
 in extraterrestrial

00:12:01.599 --> 00:12:02.259
 life or

00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:02.779
 something like

00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:03.059
 that.

00:12:04.459 --> 00:12:04.899
 Rather,

00:12:06.059 --> 00:12:06.539
 it's about

00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:07.379
 trusting in

00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:08.539
 that God

00:12:08.539 --> 00:12:10.179
 and relying

00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:10.779
 on his

00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:11.099
 goodness

00:12:11.099 --> 00:12:12.339
 and in

00:12:12.339 --> 00:12:12.879
 particular

00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:14.000
 his mercy

00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:14.659
 shown to

00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:15.620
 us through

00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:16.159
 the death

00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:17.159
 and resurrection

00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:17.879
 of Christ.

00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:20.779
 Recently, we

00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:21.360
 had a talk

00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.459
 from Ash

00:12:22.459 --> 00:12:22.980
 Cunningham

00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:24.120
 on atheism.

00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:25.980
 And he

00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:26.759
 told a story

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:28.039
 of someone

00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:28.559
 that he had

00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:29.719
 met at a

00:12:29.719 --> 00:12:30.600
 student outreach

00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:32.319
 who at the

00:12:32.319 --> 00:12:32.899
 beginning of the

00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:33.899
 week was an

00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:34.259
 atheist.

00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:36.939
 It only took

00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:37.659
 him until

00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:39.259
 Tuesday to

00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:39.860
 be convinced

00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:41.039
 that there was

00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:41.419
 a God

00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:42.639
 God and

00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:43.399
 even to be

00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:43.879
 convinced

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:44.799
 that the

00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:45.079
 biblical

00:12:45.079 --> 00:12:46.000
 claims about

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.839
 God were

00:12:46.839 --> 00:12:47.139
 true.

00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:49.979
 It took

00:12:49.979 --> 00:12:50.319
 him the

00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:50.860
 rest of the

00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:51.719
 week to

00:12:51.719 --> 00:12:52.339
 decide that

00:12:52.339 --> 00:12:52.719
 this God

00:12:52.719 --> 00:12:53.219
 was good

00:12:53.219 --> 00:12:54.519
 and that he

00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:55.079
 wanted to

00:12:55.079 --> 00:12:55.559
 trust him.

00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:58.120
 To quote

00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:58.599
 Ash, he

00:12:58.599 --> 00:12:59.019
 said,

00:12:59.459 --> 00:13:00.339
 his atheism

00:13:00.339 --> 00:13:01.519
 was not built

00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:02.500
 primarily on

00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.199
 the idea that

00:13:03.199 --> 00:13:03.879
 God could not

00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.319
 exist.

00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:06.019
 It was built

00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:06.360
 on the

00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:07.559
 supposition that

00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:08.419
 God was not

00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:09.240
 worth following.

00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:11.659
 And James

00:13:11.659 --> 00:13:12.139
 wants his

00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:12.580
 readers to

00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:13.340
 know that

00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:13.620
 they have

00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:13.940
 to make

00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:14.539
 that step.

00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:16.299
 They have

00:13:16.299 --> 00:13:16.879
 to move

00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:17.799
 from believing

00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:19.080
 truth about

00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:20.759
 God to

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.500
 trusting in

00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:21.740
 him,

00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.240
 acknowledging

00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:24.019
 his goodness

00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:25.580
 and acknowledging

00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:26.779
 their need

00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:27.960
 for him.

00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:31.120
 And so

00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:31.560
 then we

00:13:31.560 --> 00:13:32.720
 come in

00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:33.600
 verses 20

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:35.080
 to 24 to

00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:35.480
 the third

00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:36.759
 illustration where

00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:37.259
 we see the

00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:38.480
 faith of

00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:38.879
 Abraham.

00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:41.360
 James

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:41.860
 writes,

00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:43.680
 you foolish

00:13:43.680 --> 00:13:44.320
 person,

00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:45.680
 do you

00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:46.460
 want evidence

00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.080
 that faith

00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:47.799
 without deeds

00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:48.360
 is useless?

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.480
 Was not

00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:50.980
 our father

00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:51.419
 Abraham

00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.019
 considered

00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:53.139
 righteous for

00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.919
 what he did

00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:54.600
 when he offered

00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:55.500
 his son Isaac

00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.060
 on the altar?

00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:58.220
 You see

00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.320
 that his faith

00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:00.379
 and his actions

00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:00.919
 were working

00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:02.700
 together and

00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:03.360
 his faith was

00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.159
 made complete

00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:05.379
 by what he

00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:05.659
 did.

00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:07.500
 And the

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.440
 scripture was

00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:09.180
 fulfilled that

00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:09.600
 says,

00:14:10.140 --> 00:14:10.460
 Abraham

00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:11.660
 believed God

00:14:11.660 --> 00:14:12.860
 and it was

00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:13.580
 credited to

00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:14.500
 him as

00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:15.040
 righteousness

00:14:15.040 --> 00:14:16.820
 and he was

00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:17.680
 called God's

00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:18.020
 friend.

00:14:19.420 --> 00:14:20.100
 You see that

00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:20.720
 a person is

00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:21.100
 considered

00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.340
 righteous by

00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:23.120
 what they do

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.120
 and not by

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:24.800
 faith alone.

00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.799
 God

00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:27.120
 said,

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:27.679
 this illustration

00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:28.339
 at first

00:14:28.339 --> 00:14:29.519
 seems the

00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.159
 most problematic

00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:30.899
 part of the

00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:31.299
 passage,

00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:33.240
 but actually

00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:33.799
 it's the

00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:34.359
 most helpful,

00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:36.199
 particularly

00:14:36.199 --> 00:14:37.339
 because there

00:14:37.339 --> 00:14:37.759
 are several

00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:38.579
 other passages

00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:39.679
 that deal

00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:40.199
 with the

00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:40.699
 exact same

00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:41.199
 events.

00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:43.319
 Because in

00:14:43.319 --> 00:14:43.879
 particular,

00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:45.259
 Paul writes

00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:46.000
 about Abraham's

00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.000
 faith in

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:47.659
 Romans 4,

00:14:48.339 --> 00:14:49.339
 where he

00:14:49.339 --> 00:14:49.779
 says,

00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:52.000
 what shall

00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:52.480
 we say

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.579
 that Abraham,

00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.399
 our forefather

00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:55.079
 according to

00:14:55.079 --> 00:14:55.600
 the flesh,

00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:56.620
 discovered in

00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.179
 this matter?

00:14:58.319 --> 00:14:58.959
 If in fact

00:14:58.959 --> 00:14:59.600
 Abraham was

00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.339
 justified by

00:15:00.339 --> 00:15:00.720
 works,

00:15:01.439 --> 00:15:01.939
 he had

00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:02.500
 something to

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.100
 boast about,

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.779
 but not

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:05.500
 before God.

00:15:06.339 --> 00:15:06.819
 What does

00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:07.480
 scripture say?

00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:08.759
 Abraham

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.839
 believed God

00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:10.600
 and it was

00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.279
 credited to

00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:11.779
 him as

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.240
 righteousness.

00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.360
 Now to the

00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:14.699
 one who

00:15:14.699 --> 00:15:15.159
 works,

00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:16.199
 wages are

00:15:16.199 --> 00:15:16.839
 not credited

00:15:16.839 --> 00:15:17.600
 as a gift,

00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:18.379
 but as an

00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:18.860
 obligation.

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:20.460
 However,

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:20.860
 to the

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.159
 one who

00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:21.600
 does not

00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:21.960
 work,

00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:23.100
 but trusts

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:23.639
 God who

00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.500
 justifies the

00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:25.139
 ungodly,

00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:26.539
 their faith

00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:27.200
 is credited

00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:28.539
 as righteousness.

00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.639
 Paul takes

00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:31.300
 the exact

00:15:31.300 --> 00:15:32.120
 same quote

00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:32.759
 from Genesis,

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:34.460
 that Abraham

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:35.419
 believed God

00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:36.060
 that was

00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:36.740
 credited to

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:37.159
 him as

00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:37.620
 righteousness,

00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.080
 to show

00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:39.940
 that Abraham

00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:41.279
 was not

00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:42.220
 made righteous

00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:43.220
 because of

00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:43.740
 his works,

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.460
 but that his

00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:45.940
 righteousness

00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:46.960
 was through

00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:47.580
 his trust

00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:47.879
 in the

00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.639
 God who

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.399
 justifies

00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:50.519
 the ungodly.

00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.340
 Paul makes

00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:53.139
 it explicitly

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:54.319
 clear in the

00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:54.639
 surrounding

00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:56.360
 chapters that

00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:57.179
 living a

00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:57.679
 good enough

00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:59.199
 life is

00:15:59.199 --> 00:15:59.679
 impossible,

00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:01.720
 and also

00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:02.199
 that no

00:16:02.199 --> 00:16:03.399
 number of

00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:04.340
 religious rituals

00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:05.779
 of sacrifice,

00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:06.679
 penance,

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:07.799
 or dedication

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.899
 could ever

00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:10.539
 compensate for

00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.100
 our failure.

00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:11.220
 people.

00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:13.580
 But Paul

00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.120
 continues

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.720
 further down

00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.200
 the chapter

00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:15.759
 to say,

00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:17.159
 the words

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:17.659
 I was

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:18.440
 credited to

00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:19.540
 him were

00:16:19.540 --> 00:16:20.159
 written not

00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:20.540
 for him

00:16:20.540 --> 00:16:20.879
 alone,

00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.300
 but also

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:22.940
 for us,

00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:24.240
 to whom

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:24.740
 God will

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:25.019
 credit

00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:25.580
 righteousness,

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.159
 for us who

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:27.680
 believe in

00:16:27.680 --> 00:16:28.159
 him who

00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:28.800
 raised Jesus

00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:29.259
 our Lord

00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:29.600
 from the

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:29.899
 dead.

00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.139
 He was

00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:31.920
 delivered over

00:16:31.920 --> 00:16:32.500
 to death

00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:32.920
 for our

00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:33.279
 sins,

00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.259
 and was

00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:34.820
 raised to

00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:35.840
 life for

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.040
 our

00:16:36.040 --> 00:16:36.560
 justification.

00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:39.059
 faith is

00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:39.839
 not some

00:16:39.839 --> 00:16:40.399
 sort of

00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:40.719
 vague,

00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.099
 fuzzy,

00:16:41.239 --> 00:16:41.519
 religious

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:41.919
 feeling,

00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.719
 but is a

00:16:43.719 --> 00:16:44.459
 life-changing

00:16:44.459 --> 00:16:45.299
 belief in

00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:46.679
 and reliance

00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:47.859
 on the

00:16:47.859 --> 00:16:48.719
 completed work

00:16:48.719 --> 00:16:49.159
 of Jesus

00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:50.419
 for our

00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:50.979
 salvation

00:16:50.979 --> 00:16:52.159
 through his

00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.219
 death and

00:16:53.219 --> 00:16:53.759
 resurrection.

00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:56.339
 So what

00:16:56.339 --> 00:16:57.059
 does James

00:16:57.059 --> 00:16:59.099
 mean when

00:16:59.099 --> 00:16:59.459
 he takes

00:16:59.459 --> 00:16:59.839
 the same

00:16:59.839 --> 00:17:00.699
 verse to

00:17:00.699 --> 00:17:01.059
 show that

00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:01.699
 faith without

00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:02.739
 deeds is

00:17:02.739 --> 00:17:03.079
 useless?

00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.960
 I think

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.519
 the passage

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.600
 that was

00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:07.980
 read to

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:08.340
 us in

00:17:08.340 --> 00:17:08.640
 Hebrews

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:10.539
 11 may

00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.100
 help our

00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:11.759
 understanding,

00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.240
 because almost

00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.319
 every sentence

00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.600
 in it begins

00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:16.819
 by faith.

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.440
 It is by

00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.279
 faith that

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.019
 Abraham left

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.440
 his home.

00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:21.880
 It is by

00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:22.840
 faith he

00:17:22.840 --> 00:17:23.500
 made his

00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:24.640
 home in

00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:25.079
 the promised

00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:25.559
 land.

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:26.700
 It is by

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.680
 faith that

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.220
 he offered

00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:28.920
 Isaac on

00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:29.319
 the altar.

00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:30.900
 All of

00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:31.480
 these actions

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.220
 were a result

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.180
 of his

00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:33.500
 faith.

00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:35.360
 His actions

00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:36.099
 demonstrated

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.519
 what he

00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:36.939
 believed.

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.639
 His actions

00:17:38.639 --> 00:17:39.339
 showed that

00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:39.899
 his faith

00:17:39.899 --> 00:17:40.779
 was real,

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:41.519
 that his

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.000
 trust in

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.419
 God was

00:17:42.419 --> 00:17:43.279
 not just

00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.099
 academic,

00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:45.859
 but that it

00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.439
 was what he

00:17:46.439 --> 00:17:46.979
 was basing

00:17:46.979 --> 00:17:47.459
 his life

00:17:47.459 --> 00:17:47.779
 upon.

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:49.539
 Now,

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.399
 that does

00:17:50.399 --> 00:17:51.019
 not mean

00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:52.199
 that Abraham

00:17:52.199 --> 00:17:52.699
 lived a

00:17:52.699 --> 00:17:53.379
 perfect life.

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.339
 Far from

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:55.579
 it.

00:17:57.179 --> 00:17:57.839
 That's the

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.319
 great thing

00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:58.679
 about the

00:17:58.679 --> 00:17:58.939
 Bible.

00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:00.079
 It gives

00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:00.379
 us a

00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:00.799
 warts and

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.459
 all view

00:18:01.459 --> 00:18:02.379
 of these

00:18:02.379 --> 00:18:03.219
 heroes of

00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:03.700
 the faith.

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:04.839
 We see

00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:05.240
 that their

00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.839
 lives are

00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.240
 a mess.

00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:07.860
 We see

00:18:07.860 --> 00:18:08.220
 that at

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:08.779
 times they

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.200
 doubted

00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:09.539
 God,

00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:10.700
 that they

00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.279
 thought that

00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:11.620
 they knew

00:18:11.620 --> 00:18:12.039
 better,

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.660
 but his

00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:14.279
 life gives

00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:15.019
 evidence that

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.559
 his faith

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.380
 is real.

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.720
 We see

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.220
 that James

00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.240
 said that

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:21.799
 Abraham was

00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.319
 considered

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:24.339
 righteous when

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:24.819
 he offered

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:25.240
 his son

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.779
 Isaac on

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.120
 the altar.

00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:27.940
 In the

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.339
 context,

00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:28.980
 it's clear

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.860
 that James

00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:30.460
 is not saying

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:30.779
 he was

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.220
 made

00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:31.740
 righteous

00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.840
 before God

00:18:32.840 --> 00:18:33.559
 by these

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.019
 actions,

00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:35.299
 but that

00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:35.600
 he was

00:18:35.600 --> 00:18:36.740
 shown to

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:36.880
 be

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.279
 righteous.

00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.579
 James makes

00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.160
 it clear

00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:40.759
 that his

00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.180
 righteousness

00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:42.360
 was credited

00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:42.920
 to him

00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:43.799
 when he

00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.279
 believed.

00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:46.319
 And if we

00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:46.940
 look back at

00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.319
 Genesis,

00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.460
 where that

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.240
 quotation comes

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:49.539
 from,

00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:50.720
 we see that

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.000
 there are

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.900
 decades between

00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.700
 these events.

00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:55.740
 That

00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:57.160
 Abraham's

00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:57.840
 actions when

00:18:57.840 --> 00:18:58.299
 his faith

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.000
 was tested

00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.700
 showed the

00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.420
 reality of

00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:02.000
 his faith

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.440
 that he

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:02.880
 has lived

00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:03.940
 with over

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.559
 decades.

00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.460
 But I

00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.140
 think what

00:19:08.140 --> 00:19:08.779
 James is

00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:10.799
 saying is

00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.079
 that if

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.819
 Abraham had

00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.759
 believed

00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.319
 God,

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:14.319
 went back

00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:14.880
 in Haran,

00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:16.240
 but had

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:16.940
 decided just

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.440
 to stay

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.460
 there because

00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.839
 he was quite

00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.220
 comfortable

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:20.500
 there.

00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:22.559
 If Abraham

00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.180
 had believed

00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:24.400
 God and

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.039
 never acted

00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:25.519
 on it,

00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:27.579
 if nothing

00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:28.460
 about his

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:28.980
 life had

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.480
 changed,

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:30.980
 he would

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.340
 have to

00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:32.019
 start asking

00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:32.620
 serious

00:19:32.620 --> 00:19:34.079
 questions about

00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.740
 the reality

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.880
 of Abraham's

00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:36.259
 faith.

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.799
 And so it

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.480
 is with

00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:39.840
 us.

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.259
 If we are

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.980
 striving to

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.440
 work our

00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:43.840
 way to

00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:44.720
 God by

00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.079
 our good

00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:45.460
 deeds,

00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:46.539
 by going

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:46.980
 to church

00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.460
 as often

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:47.779
 as we

00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:48.079
 can,

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.319
 having

00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:49.779
 non-stop

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.059
 worship

00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:50.779
 music playing

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.039
 in our

00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.460
 headphones,

00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:52.420
 helping out

00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:52.700
 with the

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.180
 food bank,

00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:53.799
 giving to

00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.279
 everyone we

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:54.539
 can,

00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:55.059
 opening our

00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:55.360
 homes,

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:55.779
 sharing

00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:56.539
 amazing

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:57.220
 hospitality,

00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.099
 giving a

00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:58.680
 listening ear

00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:58.940
 and a

00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.420
 shoulder to

00:19:59.420 --> 00:19:59.839
 cry on,

00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:00.159
 and just

00:20:00.159 --> 00:20:01.339
 hoping that

00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:01.680
 it might

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.259
 be enough,

00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.659
 we need to

00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:04.279
 give up now.

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:05.940
 You can't.

00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:07.039
 It's a

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.920
 hopeless task,

00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:09.259
 and it's not

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.980
 what James is

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:10.240
 teaching.

00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.599
 You need to

00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.240
 run to

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.579
 Jesus.

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:15.420
 You need to

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:15.920
 run to him

00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.220
 with your

00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:16.599
 failure,

00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.940
 your inadequacy,

00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.819
 your guilt,

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.619
 and then,

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:21.819
 trusting in

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.019
 him,

00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.519
 you can go

00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:24.240
 out and

00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:24.879
 act in his

00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.339
 strength.

00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:26.919
 by his

00:20:26.919 --> 00:20:27.399
 spirit,

00:20:28.139 --> 00:20:28.679
 and live a

00:20:28.679 --> 00:20:29.079
 life of

00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:29.579
 service,

00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.359
 out of

00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.299
 love and

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:31.799
 gratitude,

00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:33.359
 instead of

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:33.659
 out of

00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:34.159
 guilt and

00:20:34.159 --> 00:20:34.480
 fear.

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.619
 But if

00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.220
 instead you're

00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:38.559
 thinking,

00:20:39.179 --> 00:20:39.480
 yeah,

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.539
 I'm fine.

00:20:42.139 --> 00:20:43.079
 I said a

00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.619
 prayer at an

00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:44.419
 SU camp 20

00:20:44.419 --> 00:20:44.959
 years ago,

00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:47.419
 but,

00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:47.919
 you know,

00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:49.319
 since I

00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:49.740
 left that

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.519
 camp all

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:50.959
 those years

00:20:50.959 --> 00:20:51.199
 ago,

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:51.539
 I've not

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.220
 really given

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.119
 another thought.

00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:55.379
 my faith

00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:56.000
 doesn't really

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.939
 feature anywhere

00:20:56.939 --> 00:20:57.579
 in how I

00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.399
 live my

00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:58.839
 life.

00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.199
 Nothing

00:21:00.199 --> 00:21:01.159
 changed,

00:21:01.379 --> 00:21:02.899
 and to be

00:21:02.899 --> 00:21:03.159
 honest,

00:21:03.239 --> 00:21:03.939
 you're quite

00:21:03.939 --> 00:21:04.379
 happy that

00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:04.559
 way.

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.139
 If that's

00:21:07.139 --> 00:21:07.439
 you,

00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.279
 then I

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:08.559
 think that

00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:09.259
 is exactly

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:09.899
 who James

00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:10.439
 is addressing.

00:21:11.699 --> 00:21:12.439
 And he's

00:21:12.439 --> 00:21:12.819
 saying that

00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.299
 the faith

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.199
 you claim

00:21:14.199 --> 00:21:14.759
 to have

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:16.179
 is useless.

00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:18.380
 If your

00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:18.799
 faith is

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.519
 in no way

00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.440
 affecting your

00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:20.880
 actions,

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.380
 then you

00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:22.720
 need to

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.500
 really start

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.120
 questioning

00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:25.320
 the reality

00:21:25.320 --> 00:21:26.120
 of your

00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:26.480
 faith.

00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:28.080
 And

00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:28.440
 likewise,

00:21:29.060 --> 00:21:30.060
 you need

00:21:30.060 --> 00:21:30.519
 to run

00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:30.980
 to Jesus.

00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.620
 You need

00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:32.960
 to run

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.400
 to him

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.200
 with your

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:34.860
 hypocrisy,

00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:36.039
 your pride,

00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.299
 your laziness,

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:37.779
 and your

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.120
 fear.

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.759
 You need

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.200
 to ask him

00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:40.720
 to change

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.120
 you from

00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.519
 within,

00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:42.900
 to give

00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:43.299
 you new

00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:43.740
 life,

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.920
 to put his

00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:45.560
 spirit within

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:45.879
 you,

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:46.940
 and to

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.319
 give you

00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:47.859
 the power

00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:48.460
 to live

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.019
 for him.

00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:52.000
 But for

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.539
 many of

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:52.799
 us,

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.319
 we will

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:54.819
 know that

00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.659
 our faith

00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:56.639
 is real.

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.079
 We know

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.500
 that God

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.099
 has really

00:21:59.099 --> 00:21:59.799
 moved in

00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.379
 our lives,

00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:01.960
 and that

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.419
 we are not

00:22:02.419 --> 00:22:02.940
 the person

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:03.240
 that we

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:03.980
 once were,

00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:05.779
 and certainly

00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:06.159
 not the

00:22:06.159 --> 00:22:06.599
 person that

00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:06.859
 we were

00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.339
 headed to

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:07.700
 become.

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.099
 We know

00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:10.679
 his spirit

00:22:10.679 --> 00:22:11.259
 is at work

00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.899
 within us,

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.679
 and yet

00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:14.899
 we see

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:15.940
 so little

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.580
 change.

00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:18.259
 We see

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.620
 that our

00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:19.120
 actions

00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:20.100
 are barely

00:22:20.100 --> 00:22:22.019
 distinguishable

00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:23.320
 from those

00:22:23.320 --> 00:22:24.460
 around us.

00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:26.460
 We see

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:26.740
 that we

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.180
 have become

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.100
 complacent,

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:30.019
 that the

00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:30.519
 sins we

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.019
 used to

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.340
 struggle

00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:31.759
 with,

00:22:32.560 --> 00:22:33.120
 we no

00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:33.500
 longer

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:33.920
 struggle

00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.300
 with,

00:22:34.360 --> 00:22:35.160
 not because

00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:36.000
 they're not

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.500
 there any

00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:36.860
 longer,

00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:37.840
 but because

00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:38.259
 we've just

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:39.040
 accepted them

00:22:39.040 --> 00:22:40.100
 as part of

00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:40.640
 our lives.

00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:42.759
 we know

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.220
 that we

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:43.660
 are walking

00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.420
 contradictions,

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.140
 that what

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:46.620
 we declare

00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:47.280
 on Sunday

00:22:47.280 --> 00:22:48.200
 and what

00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:48.560
 we live

00:22:48.560 --> 00:22:49.080
 on Monday

00:22:49.080 --> 00:22:49.780
 are far

00:22:49.780 --> 00:22:50.340
 too far

00:22:50.340 --> 00:22:50.860
 apart.

00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.100
 And

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:53.500
 firstly,

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:55.040
 we need

00:22:55.040 --> 00:22:55.280
 to have

00:22:55.280 --> 00:22:55.800
 confidence

00:22:55.800 --> 00:22:56.380
 in our

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:56.820
 salvation.

00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.460
 We should

00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.280
 rest secure

00:22:59.280 --> 00:22:59.759
 in the

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.360
 saving work

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:00.920
 of Christ,

00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:02.100
 that he

00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:02.759
 who begun

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.200
 a good

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.640
 work in

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.640
 us will

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.500
 be faithful

00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.120
 to complete

00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:06.420
 it,

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:07.820
 and that

00:23:07.820 --> 00:23:08.360
 no one

00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:09.180
 will snatch

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.780
 us out of

00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.319
 his hand.

00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.180
 But we

00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:13.480
 too must

00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:13.899
 run to

00:23:13.899 --> 00:23:14.319
 Christ.

00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:15.759
 We must

00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.720
 repent of

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.259
 our sin,

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.399
 our apathy,

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.619
 our hypocrisy,

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.619
 and we

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.220
 must ask

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.019
 for his

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.639
 strength

00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:23.899
 to live

00:23:23.899 --> 00:23:24.440
 for him

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.500
 each day

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.500
 as he

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.119
 slowly

00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:27.920
 transforms

00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.579
 us into

00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.319
 his likeness.

00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:30.899
 We will

00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:31.359
 fail

00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:32.440
 again

00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:33.619
 and again,

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.139
 but he

00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:35.700
 is faithful.

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.059
 He will

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.480
 pick us

00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:37.799
 up,

00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:39.019
 dust us

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:39.399
 down,

00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.639
 set us

00:23:40.639 --> 00:23:40.899
 on our

00:23:40.899 --> 00:23:41.480
 feet again

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.899
 and help

00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:43.420
 us take

00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.899
 one more

00:23:44.899 --> 00:23:45.480
 step.

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.660
 And then

00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:49.940
 in the

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.220
 final

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:51.279
 illustration

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:52.420
 in verse

00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:52.920
 25,

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:55.319
 we see

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:55.879
 the faith

00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:56.559
 of Rahab.

00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.720
 James

00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.240
 writes,

00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.220
 in the

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.799
 same way

00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.680
 was not

00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:01.980
 even

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:02.599
 Rahab

00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:02.819
 the

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.480
 prostitute

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.399
 considered

00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:04.859
 righteous

00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:06.000
 for what

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.539
 she did

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.220
 when she

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.460
 gave

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:07.940
 lodging

00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.259
 to the

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:08.680
 spies

00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.460
 and sent

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:09.620
 them

00:24:09.620 --> 00:24:10.000
 off

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.320
 in a

00:24:10.320 --> 00:24:10.559
 different

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.100
 direction.

00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.240
 We have

00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:13.640
 lengthy

00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:14.299
 accounts

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:14.880
 about

00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.480
 Abraham's

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:15.880
 long

00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.160
 journey

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.360
 of

00:24:16.360 --> 00:24:16.680
 faith,

00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:18.059
 but we

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.500
 know very

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:18.860
 little

00:24:18.860 --> 00:24:19.160
 about

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:19.559
 Rahab.

00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.059
 We have

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.460
 an account

00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:22.600
 of this

00:24:22.600 --> 00:24:23.380
 one event

00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:23.680
 in her

00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.720
 life in

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:24.960
 the book

00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.460
 of Joshua.

00:24:26.320 --> 00:24:26.920
 Then she's

00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:27.279
 mentioned

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.160
 briefly here

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.860
 and in

00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:30.519
 Hebrews 11

00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:32.160
 and she

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.539
 also

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.440
 probably

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.139
 gets a

00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:34.319
 name

00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:34.700
 call

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.359
 in the

00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.000
 genealogy

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.480
 in

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:36.879
 Matthew's

00:24:36.879 --> 00:24:37.220
 Gospel.

00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.420
 Rahab

00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:41.339
 is a

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.960
 prostitute

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.519
 in the

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:42.839
 city of

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.240
 Jericho

00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:44.519
 when the

00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:44.920
 people of

00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:45.480
 Israel are

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.000
 approaching

00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.079
 under the

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:47.680
 leadership of

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:48.019
 Joshua,

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.259
 following their

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.000
 years of

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:50.460
 wandering

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.059
 in the

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.420
 wilderness.

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.400
 And the

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.180
 people of

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:55.599
 Jericho

00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:56.519
 have heard

00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.180
 that they

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:57.740
 are approaching.

00:24:57.740 --> 00:25:00.420
 As Rahab

00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.120
 explains,

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.579
 I know

00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.460
 that the

00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:03.940
 Lord has

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.380
 given you

00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:04.960
 this land

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:06.759
 and a

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.480
 great fear

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:07.740
 of you

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.319
 has fallen

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:08.819
 on us

00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.460
 so that

00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:09.980
 all who

00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.319
 live in

00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:10.920
 this country

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.599
 are melting

00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.120
 in fear

00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:13.059
 because of

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.240
 you.

00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.299
 We have

00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:15.900
 heard how

00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:16.500
 the Lord

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.680
 dried up

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.200
 the water

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.519
 of the

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.019
 Red Sea

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.980
 for you

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.339
 when you

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:20.740
 came out

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.240
 of Egypt

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.620
 and what

00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.059
 you did

00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.819
 to Sihon

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.299
 and Og,

00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.160
 the two

00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:25.599
 kings of

00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.200
 the Amorites

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:26.680
 east of

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.140
 the Jordan,

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.180
 whom you

00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:28.799
 completely

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.640
 destroyed.

00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:31.519
 When we

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.079
 heard of

00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:32.240
 it,

00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:32.759
 our hearts

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.480
 melted in

00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.380
 fear and

00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:34.920
 everyone's

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.299
 courage

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.160
 failed because

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.539
 of you.

00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:37.839
 For the

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.240
 Lord,

00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.180
 your God,

00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:40.079
 is God

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.500
 in heaven

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.859
 above and

00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.099
 on the

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.700
 earth below.

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:44.980
 So we

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.440
 see that the

00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.240
 people know

00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.859
 that the

00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:47.400
 Israelites are

00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:47.859
 approaching

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:49.279
 and are

00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.680
 terrified.

00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.259
 They've

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:52.779
 heard how

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.299
 their neighbours

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.839
 across the

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.200
 Jordan,

00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:55.539
 the Amorites,

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.559
 were unable

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.279
 to stand up

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:57.859
 against them.

00:25:59.440 --> 00:25:59.799
 But as

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.079
 well as

00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:00.539
 what happened

00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.059
 recently,

00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:02.200
 they know

00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:02.440
 of what

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:02.960
 happened

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:03.759
 about 40

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.379
 years ago

00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:05.039
 when the

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.319
 Israelites

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.160
 left Egypt.

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.399
 But what's

00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:09.299
 really terrifying

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.559
 them,

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.339
 what's causing

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:11.960
 them to melt

00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.579
 in fear,

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:14.460
 is they've

00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.119
 also heard

00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:15.460
 that they're

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.339
 coming with

00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:16.960
 the protection

00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.759
 of a powerful

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.000
 God who's

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.859
 working miracles

00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.480
 for them.

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:22.779
 and it's

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.279
 into this

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.799
 context that

00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.380
 Joshua has

00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:26.420
 sent two

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.220
 spies into

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:27.700
 the city

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:29.319
 to see the

00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:29.799
 lie of the

00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:30.880
 land and

00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.380
 they've sought

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.220
 shelter in

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:33.059
 Rahab's house.

00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:36.160
 In that

00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:36.740
 situation,

00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:38.620
 when the

00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:39.380
 authorities came

00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:39.960
 looking for

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.220
 them,

00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.019
 she decided

00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:43.160
 to hide the

00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:44.839
 spies and

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.120
 let them

00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:45.860
 later escape

00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:46.440
 in secret.

00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:48.720
 In return,

00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.220
 the spies

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:50.420
 promised that

00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.120
 she and her

00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:52.240
 family would

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.799
 be saved

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:54.100
 when they

00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:54.440
 come and

00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:54.960
 destroy the

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.220
 city.

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.360
 She had the

00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:58.100
 exact same

00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:59.240
 evidence as

00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.960
 everyone else

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.420
 in the city.

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.340
 She even

00:27:02.340 --> 00:27:02.820
 had the same

00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.980
 belief that

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.820
 their success

00:27:04.820 --> 00:27:05.880
 was because

00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.500
 the Lord,

00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.240
 their God,

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:07.920
 was with them.

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:09.960
 And based

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.259
 on that

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.799
 information,

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.380
 based on what

00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:12.860
 she believed

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:13.299
 she had a

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.840
 choice to

00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:14.140
 make,

00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:16.440
 would she

00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.240
 stand with

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:17.759
 her people

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:19.120
 in defiance

00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:19.420
 of the

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:21.120
 Lord and

00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:21.420
 put her

00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:21.880
 faith in

00:27:21.880 --> 00:27:22.420
 the strength

00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:22.740
 of their

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.720
 walls and

00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.380
 their armies,

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.880
 which would

00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:27.920
 be quite

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.360
 reasonable.

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:28.840
 It was one

00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:29.540
 of the

00:27:29.540 --> 00:27:29.980
 greatest

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.560
 fortified

00:27:30.560 --> 00:27:31.140
 cities of

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:31.560
 the time.

00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:34.960
 Or would

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.940
 she put

00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.520
 her faith

00:27:36.520 --> 00:27:37.100
 in the

00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:37.420
 Lord?

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:38.759
 Would she

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.140
 acknowledge

00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:40.500
 him as

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.160
 God in

00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.700
 heaven and

00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:42.020
 on earth

00:27:42.020 --> 00:27:43.360
 below and

00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:43.780
 side with

00:27:43.780 --> 00:27:44.060
 him?

00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:45.280
 and put

00:27:45.280 --> 00:27:45.780
 her life

00:27:45.780 --> 00:27:46.320
 into his

00:27:46.320 --> 00:27:46.740
 hands?

00:27:49.320 --> 00:27:50.060
 She was

00:27:50.060 --> 00:27:50.980
 putting her

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.460
 life in

00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.040
 danger if

00:27:52.040 --> 00:27:52.259
 she had

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.840
 been caught,

00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:53.920
 and yet

00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:54.520
 she saw

00:27:54.520 --> 00:27:55.900
 where real

00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:56.940
 security lay.

00:27:59.520 --> 00:28:00.259
 Faced with

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.940
 that choice,

00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:01.520
 she had to

00:28:01.520 --> 00:28:01.840
 make a

00:28:01.840 --> 00:28:03.280
 decision about

00:28:03.280 --> 00:28:04.140
 whose side

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.759
 was she

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.020
 on.

00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:06.840
 And it

00:28:06.840 --> 00:28:07.400
 couldn't just

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:07.700
 be an

00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:08.080
 academic

00:28:08.080 --> 00:28:08.540
 decision.

00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:09.860
 She had

00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.440
 to act

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:10.840
 on it.

00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:12.520
 Whatever

00:28:12.520 --> 00:28:13.280
 she chose

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.079
 would

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:14.680
 determine

00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:14.940
 the

00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.379
 trajectory

00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:15.839
 of the

00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.240
 rest of

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.759
 her life.

00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:19.039
 Faith

00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.500
 was not

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.139
 to believe

00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:20.960
 that the

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.339
 Israelites

00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.160
 were coming

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:22.539
 with the

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:22.920
 power of

00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:23.480
 God behind

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:23.720
 them.

00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:26.039
 Faith

00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.420
 was not

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:26.940
 even to

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.559
 believe that

00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.700
 on balance,

00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:29.980
 all things

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.480
 considered,

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.660
 she would

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.139
 be better

00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:32.779
 off siding

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.660
 with the

00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.779
 Lord instead

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.279
 of against

00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:35.519
 him.

00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.759
 Faith was

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.160
 to step

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:39.200
 out and

00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.599
 make that

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.039
 decision

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.960
 reality.

00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.119
 She

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:42.639
 couldn't

00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:42.879
 do

00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:43.220
 nothing.

00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:43.420
 That

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:43.740
 wasn't

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:43.879
 an

00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:44.139
 option.

00:28:45.139 --> 00:28:45.379
 She

00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:45.879
 couldn't

00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:46.500
 remain

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:46.980
 passive.

00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:48.779
 Either

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.539
 she would

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:49.879
 hide the

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:51.039
 spies or

00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:51.299
 she would

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:51.619
 hand them

00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:51.859
 over.

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.599
 Either she

00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:54.000
 would trust

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.639
 God or

00:28:55.639 --> 00:28:55.940
 she would

00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:56.480
 trust the

00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:56.920
 armies of

00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.299
 Jericho.

00:28:59.319 --> 00:28:59.799
 And like

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.299
 Rahab,

00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:01.420
 we have a

00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:02.460
 decision to

00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:02.779
 make.

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:05.099
 As Peter

00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.779
 reminded us

00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.299
 this morning,

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.539
 we can't

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.659
 choose two

00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.200
 contradictory

00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.380
 options at

00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:10.660
 the same

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:10.980
 time.

00:29:12.100 --> 00:29:12.680
 We're

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.200
 called to

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.980
 choose this

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.840
 day who

00:29:14.840 --> 00:29:15.200
 we will

00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:15.620
 serve.

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.480
 And like

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.000
 Rahab,

00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.360
 such a

00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:20.620
 decision is

00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:21.320
 a life-changing

00:29:21.320 --> 00:29:21.840
 decision.

00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.680
 Like Rahab,

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.100
 it can't

00:29:25.100 --> 00:29:25.560
 remain an

00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:25.980
 academic

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.480
 question.

00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:28.400
 It's going

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:28.920
 to affect

00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.460
 our lives.

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.019
 It's going

00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:31.400
 to affect

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:32.019
 our choices,

00:29:32.600 --> 00:29:33.320
 our words,

00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:34.640
 our actions.

00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.620
 It may

00:29:36.620 --> 00:29:37.080
 affect our

00:29:37.080 --> 00:29:37.820
 career choices,

00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:39.279
 what we

00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:39.579
 do with

00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:39.720
 our

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.159
 weekends,

00:29:40.399 --> 00:29:40.639
 what we

00:29:40.639 --> 00:29:40.919
 do with

00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:41.059
 our

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.359
 money.

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.559
 It could

00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.299
 completely

00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:45.759
 mess up

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:45.899
 our

00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:46.299
 plans.

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.220
 In his

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:50.079
 autobiography,

00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:51.220
 A Better

00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:51.779
 Ambition,

00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.279
 Tim

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:53.740
 Farron,

00:29:53.879 --> 00:29:54.819
 the former

00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.279
 leader of

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.720
 the Liberal

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.439
 Democrats,

00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.720
 recounts his

00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:59.119
 struggles to

00:29:59.119 --> 00:29:59.379
 be a

00:29:59.379 --> 00:30:00.139
 faithful follower

00:30:00.139 --> 00:30:00.819
 of Christ

00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:02.159
 within the

00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:02.659
 world of

00:30:02.659 --> 00:30:02.980
 national

00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:03.579
 politics.

00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:05.819
 when he

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.339
 finally

00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.659
 decided that

00:30:07.659 --> 00:30:07.919
 he could

00:30:07.919 --> 00:30:08.359
 no longer

00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:09.619
 continue in

00:30:09.619 --> 00:30:10.159
 that role,

00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:12.179
 he finished

00:30:12.179 --> 00:30:12.779
 his resignation

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.619
 speech like

00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:14.019
 this.

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.500
 I want to

00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:16.960
 say one

00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.460
 more thing.

00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:19.539
 I joined

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.079
 our party

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.539
 when I was

00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:20.939
 16.

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.720
 It is in

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.240
 my blood.

00:30:24.199 --> 00:30:24.859
 I love our

00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:25.299
 history,

00:30:25.679 --> 00:30:26.139
 our people.

00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.099
 I thoroughly

00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:27.639
 love my

00:30:27.639 --> 00:30:28.019
 party.

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:29.980
 Imagine how

00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.859
 proud I am to

00:30:30.859 --> 00:30:31.299
 lead this

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.659
 party,

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.880
 and then

00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.640
 imagine what

00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:34.120
 would lead

00:30:34.120 --> 00:30:34.840
 me to

00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.500
 voluntarily

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.279
 relinquish

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:36.860
 that honour.

00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:38.720
 In the

00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.140
 words of

00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:39.960
 Isaac Watts,

00:30:40.580 --> 00:30:40.800
 it would

00:30:40.800 --> 00:30:41.259
 have to be

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.340
 something so

00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:42.840
 amazing,

00:30:43.340 --> 00:30:44.180
 so divine,

00:30:44.600 --> 00:30:45.180
 it demands

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:45.960
 my heart,

00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.180
 my life,

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.200
 my all.

00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:50.660
 Whatever you

00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:51.220
 think of his

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:51.740
 politics,

00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:53.240
 or of how he

00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:53.740
 dealt with

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.279
 some of the

00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:55.320
 challenges that

00:30:55.320 --> 00:30:55.860
 he faced,

00:30:57.080 --> 00:30:57.940
 that is what

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.440
 we are called

00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.640
 to, to a

00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:00.340
 life that gives

00:31:00.340 --> 00:31:00.980
 everything,

00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:02.300
 as the

00:31:02.300 --> 00:31:03.340
 only reasonable

00:31:03.340 --> 00:31:04.000
 response.

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.720
 And so,

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.720
 having looked at

00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:09.220
 these four

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:09.800
 illustrations,

00:31:10.580 --> 00:31:11.080
 what is

00:31:11.080 --> 00:31:11.380
 James'

00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.019
 conclusion?

00:31:13.580 --> 00:31:14.360
 What is

00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:15.060
 his frank

00:31:15.060 --> 00:31:15.519
 answer?

00:31:17.600 --> 00:31:18.360
 What is

00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:18.779
 his answer

00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.120
 to the

00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.620
 question,

00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:20.900
 can faith

00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:21.740
 without works

00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.200
 save?

00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.360
 In verse

00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:25.080
 17, he's

00:31:25.080 --> 00:31:25.779
 pretty blunt.

00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.840
 Faith by

00:31:27.840 --> 00:31:28.360
 itself,

00:31:29.560 --> 00:31:30.120
 if it is

00:31:30.120 --> 00:31:30.759
 not accompanied

00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.400
 by action,

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.079
 is dead.

00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:35.700
 And just

00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.319
 in case you

00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:36.640
 had a

00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:37.259
 different meaning

00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:37.759
 of dead

00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.339
 in mind,

00:31:39.400 --> 00:31:39.819
 he's even

00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.579
 more explicit

00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.680
 in verse 26.

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:43.759
 As the

00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.460
 body without

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.059
 the spirit

00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:46.119
 is dead,

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.720
 so faith

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.480
 without deeds

00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.460
 is dead.

00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.539
 James makes

00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.240
 it clear here

00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:53.700
 that when he

00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.339
 says dead,

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:54.900
 he does not

00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:56.539
 mean resting,

00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:58.039
 inactive,

00:31:58.659 --> 00:31:59.740
 not ideal,

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:01.559
 but still

00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:02.579
 faith.

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.399
 He means

00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:04.759
 dead.

00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.399
 He means

00:32:06.399 --> 00:32:06.899
 it is not

00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:07.399
 faith at

00:32:07.399 --> 00:32:07.720
 all.

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:09.700
 And so,

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.119
 what's his

00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:10.519
 answer?

00:32:10.879 --> 00:32:11.319
 Can such

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:12.079
 faith save?

00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:14.000
 I think we've

00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:14.920
 seen through

00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:15.720
 the examples

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.720
 that his

00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.480
 answer is a

00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.200
 big no.

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:20.779
 Such so-called

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.379
 faith

00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:22.839
 cannot save.

00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:25.480
 But we

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:25.899
 have to be

00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:26.119
 clear,

00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:28.319
 this is not

00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:28.799
 because we

00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.279
 need something

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.679
 extra,

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.139
 something

00:32:31.139 --> 00:32:31.659
 additional,

00:32:32.159 --> 00:32:33.000
 as well as

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.359
 faith.

00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.359
 He's not

00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:35.699
 saying,

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:36.439
 yeah,

00:32:36.639 --> 00:32:37.220
 faith is all

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.839
 very well,

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:39.559
 but for

00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:40.220
 salvation you

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.759
 need works

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.399
 as well as

00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:41.699
 that.

00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:43.939
 He's saying,

00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:45.199
 if it doesn't

00:32:45.199 --> 00:32:45.639
 change your

00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:46.039
 life,

00:32:46.959 --> 00:32:47.419
 it's not

00:32:47.419 --> 00:32:48.059
 faith at

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.379
 all.

00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:51.840
 Because he's

00:32:51.840 --> 00:32:52.860
 shown us in

00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:53.240
 the first

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.400
 example that

00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:55.160
 mere words

00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:56.100
 will not do

00:32:56.100 --> 00:32:56.480
 us any

00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:56.740
 good.

00:32:58.060 --> 00:32:58.740
 He's shown

00:32:58.740 --> 00:32:59.100
 us through

00:32:59.100 --> 00:32:59.600
 the example

00:32:59.600 --> 00:32:59.920
 of the

00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:00.580
 demons that

00:33:00.580 --> 00:33:01.800
 intellectual

00:33:01.800 --> 00:33:03.020
 belief on

00:33:03.020 --> 00:33:03.500
 its own

00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:04.860
 will not

00:33:04.860 --> 00:33:05.280
 save.

00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:07.840
 He's shown

00:33:07.840 --> 00:33:08.140
 us through

00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:08.620
 the example

00:33:08.620 --> 00:33:09.120
 of Abraham

00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:10.300
 that we are

00:33:10.300 --> 00:33:11.080
 saved by

00:33:11.080 --> 00:33:11.560
 faith,

00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:13.400
 not by our

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:13.840
 works,

00:33:15.300 --> 00:33:16.040
 but that

00:33:16.040 --> 00:33:16.440
 how we

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.520
 will live

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:18.799
 will show

00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:19.480
 the reality

00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:19.940
 of our

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.259
 faith.

00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:22.339
 It has

00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:22.859
 shown us

00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:23.180
 through the

00:33:23.180 --> 00:33:23.740
 example of

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.900
 Rahab that

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:25.220
 we have a

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:25.639
 choice to

00:33:25.639 --> 00:33:25.920
 make.

00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:27.660
 We have to

00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:28.740
 decide who

00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.119
 we will

00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:29.480
 follow,

00:33:30.619 --> 00:33:31.539
 and that

00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:32.819
 decision will

00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.339
 change our

00:33:33.339 --> 00:33:33.740
 lives.

00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:35.960
 James goes

00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:36.460
 on in the

00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:36.980
 rest of the

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:37.980
 book to

00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.740
 detail some

00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:40.339
 aspects of

00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:40.980
 what a life

00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:41.579
 lived for

00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:42.660
 Christ will

00:33:42.660 --> 00:33:43.240
 look like,

00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.359
 a life of

00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:44.920
 humility,

00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:46.480
 careful speech,

00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.400
 of helping the

00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:47.740
 needy.

00:33:51.060 --> 00:33:51.740
 But as I

00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:52.220
 come to an

00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:53.800
 end, I'm

00:33:53.800 --> 00:33:54.480
 very conscious

00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.040
 that dealing

00:33:56.040 --> 00:33:56.519
 with this

00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:57.940
 passage, that

00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:58.759
 some things I've

00:33:58.759 --> 00:34:00.420
 said may be

00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:01.100
 troubling to

00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:01.660
 some of you.

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.480
 If anything I've

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.140
 said has not

00:34:05.140 --> 00:34:05.580
 accurately

00:34:05.580 --> 00:34:07.100
 communicated what's

00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:07.800
 in the passage,

00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.160
 then I'm sorry,

00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:10.680
 forget what I've

00:34:10.680 --> 00:34:10.940
 said.

00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.380
 But if what is

00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.119
 troubling you was

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:14.940
 not my words,

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.099
 but the words of

00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.940
 scripture that

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.380
 we have read

00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:19.059
 together, then

00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:19.860
 you should take

00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:20.400
 it seriously.

00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:22.920
 It's not for

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:24.099
 me to question

00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:24.819
 your salvation,

00:34:25.339 --> 00:34:26.119
 that's between

00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:27.299
 you and God.

00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:29.319
 But if anything

00:34:29.319 --> 00:34:30.860
 I've said has

00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:31.519
 caused you to

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.159
 question the

00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:32.819
 reality of your

00:34:32.819 --> 00:34:34.019
 faith, then

00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.500
 as I said

00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:35.880
 before, run to

00:34:35.880 --> 00:34:36.299
 Jesus.

00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.339
 And for all

00:34:38.339 --> 00:34:40.019
 of us, there's

00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:41.019
 a real challenge

00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:41.339
 here.

00:34:41.340 --> 00:34:43.700
 are we happy

00:34:43.700 --> 00:34:44.940
 to compromise,

00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:47.180
 to live lives

00:34:47.180 --> 00:34:48.519
 that don't make

00:34:48.519 --> 00:34:49.760
 it clear where

00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:50.420
 our allegiances

00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:50.880
 lie?

00:34:52.120 --> 00:34:53.000
 Or are we

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:54.280
 willing to

00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:56.160
 step out and

00:34:56.160 --> 00:34:57.600
 live lives that

00:34:57.600 --> 00:34:58.340
 are transformed

00:34:58.340 --> 00:35:00.019
 by the power of

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.720
 the Spirit at

00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:01.600
 work within us?

00:35:02.720 --> 00:35:03.800
 A life that

00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:05.000
 demonstrates that

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:06.640
 our faith is the

00:35:06.640 --> 00:35:07.539
 real, genuine

00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:09.460
 thing and not a

00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:09.760
 fake.

00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:12.780
 Let's pray

00:35:12.780 --> 00:35:13.119
 together.

00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.559
 Father, we

00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:18.240
 thank you for

00:35:18.240 --> 00:35:20.280
 your word.

00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:22.599
 We thank you

00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:26.199
 that our

00:35:26.199 --> 00:35:29.019
 salvation is

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:30.460
 only through

00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:31.220
 faith in you.

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:33.000
 We thank you

00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:34.179
 for the work of

00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:35.019
 Jesus on the

00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:36.679
 cross, that he

00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:38.079
 bore all our

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:38.380
 sin.

00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:41.420
 and that he

00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:42.860
 was raised to

00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:43.460
 give us new

00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:43.900
 life.

00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:49.119
 But Father, we

00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:52.300
 confess that

00:35:52.300 --> 00:35:54.840
 too often our

00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:56.000
 lives don't show

00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:57.099
 this reality.

00:35:59.159 --> 00:36:01.659
 Too often we

00:36:03.720 --> 00:36:04.980
 see great

00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.460
 things.

00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:08.960
 we think great

00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.480
 things.

00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:12.659
 And then we

00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:13.360
 live lives

00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:15.960
 that look just

00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:16.440
 like anyone

00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:16.880
 else.

00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.079
 Father, we

00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:21.720
 pray that you

00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:23.880
 will forgive

00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:24.820
 our hypocrisy

00:36:24.820 --> 00:36:27.880
 and that you

00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.400
 will give us

00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:28.980
 strength,

00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:32.260
 that you

00:36:32.260 --> 00:36:32.800
 will give us

00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:33.420
 a desire

00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:35.719
 to become

00:36:35.719 --> 00:36:36.219
 more and

00:36:36.219 --> 00:36:36.740
 more like

00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:39.059
 you and

00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:39.320
 that you

00:36:39.320 --> 00:36:39.820
 will work

00:36:39.820 --> 00:36:40.940
 in us each

00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:41.440
 day to

00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:41.920
 bring about

00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:42.179
 this

00:36:42.179 --> 00:36:42.860
 transformation.

00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:47.019
 And for

00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:48.119
 any whose

00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:48.900
 faith is not

00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:49.300
 in you,

00:36:50.659 --> 00:36:51.240
 Father, we

00:36:51.240 --> 00:36:51.900
 pray that

00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:53.940
 they will see

00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:55.460
 that there is

00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:55.980
 no hope

00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:56.840
 anywhere else,

00:36:57.639 --> 00:36:59.420
 but that

00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:00.000
 you are

00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:03.000
 there waiting

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.599
 to welcome

00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:03.880
 them.

00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.240
 And we

00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:06.659
 pray that

00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:07.039
 they might

00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:07.559
 turn to

00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:08.400
 you tonight.

00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:10.840
 We ask

00:37:10.840 --> 00:37:11.179
 this in

00:37:11.179 --> 00:37:11.420
 Jesus'

00:37:11.579 --> 00:37:11.740
 name.

00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:12.900
 Amen.